Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 9
The final weekend of October's college football slate presents another opportunity for America's premier prospects to examine campus environments. If you've ever journeyed to a university during Halloween weekend, you're well aware that few times of year create as much excitement among students.
Compelling matchups and costumed fans take center stage, as several recruits are set to soak in the action. Here's a look at key visits scheduled for coveted players in different corners of the country.
Florida State: 4-Star LB Devin Bush Jr.
1 of 5
Class: 2016
High School: Flanagan (Hollywood, Florida)
Size: 5'11", 226 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 10 inside linebacker; No. 231 overall
Seminoles legacy Devin Bush Jr. heads to Tallahassee after early-season trips to Auburn and Michigan. Those two programs, along with Florida State, fill out his list of finalists.
Bush, whose father played defensive back on the 1993 national championship team and now serves as head coach at Flanagan High School, aims to announce a decision before January, according to Gerry Hamilton of ESPN. The Seminoles will look to capitalize on his comfort level with the university.
"I talk with the coaching staff daily," he told Hamilton. "They are a winning program, they will always be a winning program, and they aren’t far from home. I know a handful of guys up there from South Florida, so it would be like home for me."
Bush tallied 67 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season.
TCU: 3-Star ATH Roshauud Paul
2 of 5
Class: 2017
High School: Bremond (Bremond, Texas)
Size: 5'11", 160 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 36 overall; No. 427 overall
Roshauud Paul is among the Lone Star State's more compelling high school juniors on offense. He does damage at quarterback for Bremond, torching opponents as a runner and passer.
The dynamic dual-threat talent has completed 70 percent of pass attempts for 2,970 yards and 35 touchdowns since his sophomore season, according to MaxPreps. During this span, Paul also picked up 2,610 yards and 44 scores on the ground.
His overall effectiveness was on full display in Bremond's most recent matchup, a 41-7 win over Milano High School. He tossed a pair of touchdowns, rushed for another three scores and returned a punt to the end zone, per Larry Bowen of the Eagle.
Paul projects as a player capable of contributing in a variety of offensive roles depending on how he develops physically, and a transition to wide receiver is certainly possible.
He initially committed to TCU last spring but backed off that verbal pledge in August, so this visit presents a vital opportunity for the Horned Frogs to regain some ground.
UCLA: 4-Star OT Tramonda Moore
3 of 5
Class: 2016
High School: John Marshall (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Size: 6'6", 330 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 18 offensive tackle; No. 171 overall
The Bruins extended a scholarship offer to massive blocker Tramonda Moore last month, and he's quickly reciprocated interest. UCLA is set to host Oklahoma's top-rated high school senior, who has garnered widespread attention during recent months.
Moore began summer break without a single FBS offer, but things shifted dramatically since Oklahoma State opened the floodgates in June. He added offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, TCU, Georgia, Florida State, Miami and Auburn before the start of his senior season.
UCLA was relatively late to this pursuit, but that hasn't deterred the Bruins from gaining momentum. Head coach Jim Mora is focused on solidifying protection for young phenom quarterback Josh Rosen, and Moore has the components of a quality bookend up front.
He's approaching campus visits with a list of important questions.
"I'm looking at the coaching staff. My position coach, can I relate with him?" Moore told Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles. "How many players have been to the league? What is that program's winning percentage? I'll be looking at stuff like that."
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Auburn: 3-Star DE Keir Thomas
4 of 5
Class: 2016
High School: Miami Central (Miami, Florida)
Size: 6'2", 250 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 21 strong-side defensive end; No. 424 overall
Keir Thomas committed to Florida State eight months ago, but things seem to be trending away from Tallahassee for the pass-rusher.
"Me and [Seminoles recruiting coordinator Tim] Brewster don’t communicate like we used to. I haven’t talked to him in a while," Thomas told Keith Niebuhr of 247Sports this week.
Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has plenty of experience targeting prospects in the Sunshine State and now sets his sights on the Miami product. Thomas, once expected to follow former teammates Dalvin Cook, Da'Vante Phillips and Calvin Brewton to Florida State, could eventually land in Auburn's class.
"I just want to see love, that’s it. They recruit me hard," he told Niebuhr.
Thomas secured 20 sacks and 28 tackles for loss last season, according to Wayne McGahee of Scout.com. He's brought the quarterback down 11 times so far as a senior, per Niebuhr.
Texas A&M: 4-Star RB Trayveon Williams
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Class: 2016
High School: C.E. King (Houston, Texas)
Size: 5'9", 185 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 6 all-purpose back; No. 301 overall
Texas A&M is attempting to pry a pivotal pledge away from TCU. Running back Trayveon Williams, committed to the Horned Frogs since May, will spend this weekend in College Station.
It's an opportunity that's always intrigued him.
"A&M was my second school throughout the whole process so I owe it to myself to check them out," he told Taylor Hamm of 247Sports. "[Running backs coach Clarence] McKinney thinks if I come in there that I would immediately compete for playing time."
Williams is a versatile big-play threat out of the backfield. He averaged nearly 10 yards per carry last season en route to 2,391 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, adding another 411 yards and five scores as a receiver.
He's gained 1,209 yards on the ground through eight games as a senior, according to Hamm, totalling 19 touchdowns in the process. Expect the visit to test the conviction of his commitment to TCU, while Texas, Oklahoma and Houston also played an earlier role in this recruitment.
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