5 Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 15

National signing day is now just two months away, putting pressure on college football programs to stockpile talent. It's also crunch time for high school prospects, who must determine where they plan to spend the next stage of their playing careers.

Campus visits carry more weight with each passing week, and there are several worth watching in the coming days. Here's a look at five key recruits expected to embark on meaningful trips.

Oregon: 5-Star DE Josh Sweat (Chesapeake, Virginia)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 6 overall; No. 1 among weak-side defensive ends

High School Success

Josh Sweat rose to prominence for his freakish athleticism as an underclassman and put the pieces together to look like a polished product in 2013. The 6'5", 240-pound defender destroyed offensive schemes throughout his junior campaign at Oscar Smith High School, compiling 22 sacks and 94 tackles.

He spent plenty of time in opposing backfields, recording 31 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Sweat was primed for another dominant run this fall but suffered a season-ending knee injury in September.

His skills were on display this summer at The Opening, an invite-only showcase held at Nike's world headquarters. Sweat completed the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds and overwhelmed many of the nation's premier offensive linemen.

Recruitment Status

This is the final campus visit before Sweat announces his highly anticipated decision. He will declare a commitment Dec. 10, with five programs vying for his pledge.

Ohio State, Georgia, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Oregon are the last teams left from a lengthy list of scholarship offers. There were questions of whether Sweat would make it out to Eugene, especially after surgery, but Ryan Bartow of 247Sports (via an article from his colleague Justin Hopkins) confirmed he will indeed head west this weekend.

Sweat previously spent official visits at the other four finalists.

Oklahoma: 4-Star LB John Houston (Gardena, California)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 38 overall; No. 3 among outside linebackers

High School Success

John Houston is the latest coveted recruit to emerge out of Los Angeles-area powerhouse Junipero Serra High School. He's a complete defender who rushes quarterbacks off the edge, stuffs rushing attempts across the field and smoothly patrols intermediate passing lanes.

The 6'3", 211-pound playmaker enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2014, leading the team with 147 total tackles, per MaxPreps. Houston, who secured 61 solo stops, added three sacks and three interceptions.

He tallied at least 120 tackles during each of the past three seasons. Houston finished his high school career with more than 400 tackles, providing sustained evidence of elite productivity.

Recruitment Status

Houston has left things largely wide open even during the late stages of his recruitment process. This is his fourth official visit of the season.

He previously traveled to Arizona State, Oregon and Miami. Odds are in favor of Houston landing in the Pac-12, with USC viewed as a strong favorite. Junipero Serra has an impressive pipeline to USC, including standout freshman Adoree' Jackson.

Virginia Tech: 3-Star WR Lawrence Cager (Towson, Maryland)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 337 overall; No. 42 among wide receivers

High School Success

Vastly underrated Calvert Hall product Lawrence Cager was among the country's most improved pass-catchers this season. The 6'5", 202-pounder looked more physical and quicker (he recently told me his 40-yard dash is down two-tenths of a second since spring).

Cager makes acrobatic catches and helps out his quarterback with a massive catch radius. He possesses elite wingspan and becomes a dangerous weapon in the red zone, climbing the ladder to haul in high-placed passes.

Blocking skills are often overlooked at the receiver position, and you don't often see major contributions in that facet at the high school level. Cager is an exception, routinely aiding teammates by clearing perimeter rushing lanes.

"I refuse to take a play off," he told me last month. "If you're loafing on my side of the field, I will pick you up and throw you."

Recruitment Status

Cager enjoyed a late rise in this recruiting cycle, collecting the majority of his offers since July. He's capitalized on the flurry of interest by examining several options.

Ohio State hosted him last weekend, and Notre Dame is next on the list. Virginia Tech is his fourth official visit, while Alabama rounds things off. He also plans to line up an unofficial visit to Ole Miss before finalizing a decision in January.

Texas: 4-Star LB Darrin Kirkland Jr. (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 178 overall; No. 4 among inside linebacker

High School Success

Darrin Kirkland Jr. is the kind of enforcer every defensive coordinator looks to place in the heart of his defensive attack. The 6'2", 235-pound Lawrence Central High School standout is a punishing hitter who fights through blocks at the second level, exhibiting strong instincts against the run.

He recorded 105 tackles and four interceptions in just seven games this season, per MaxPreps. Kirkland performed admirably in pass coverage while competing in a seven-on-seven setting this summer at The Opening.

Recruitment Status

Kirkland was one of several recruits to decommit from Michigan during Brady Hoke's final season at the helm. He backed off his verbal pledge in early November and has stayed busy since that decision.

Oklahoma and Tennessee welcomed him to campus last month, while USC is also viewed as a contender. Kirkland is an ideal fit for the attitude shift Charlie Strong is trying to instill in his Longhorns defense, and he would be counted on to contribute early in Austin.

USC: 4-Star LB Porter Gustin (Salem, Utah)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 60 overall; No. 6 overall

High School Success

Porter Gustin belongs in the discussion when you talk about this class' pure athletic specimens. The 6'5", 240-pound prospect has exceptional speed and leaping ability at his size, producing at a prolific pace on both sides of the ball for Salem Hills High School.

He was named one of six finalists for U.S. Army All-American Player of the Year earlier this week. Gustin leads the state of Utah with 152 tackles and also wreaks havoc as a pass-rusher with 10.5 sacks, per MaxPreps.

His high level of play carries over to quarterback, where he's passed for 2,864 yards and 22 touchdowns. Gustin has added nearly 900 yards and 10 scores on the ground.

Recruitment Status

Things are looking great for the Trojans. He's expected to visit USC for the second straight weekend, and a commitment looks quite possible.

Still, there's a crowded field for his services. Notre Dame and Arizona State hosted Gustin earlier this season, while Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema paid him a personal visit this week, per 247Sports.