B/R Recruiting Notebook: Star Athletes Discuss Top Schools, Key Official Visits

In two weeks, college football recruits will put ink to paper and go from commit to signee status. National signing day is Feb. 3, and between now and then, college coaches will be on the grind finalizing their 2016 recruiting classes.

With the dead period now over, look for college coaches to go all-in on these athletes who are taking January official visits.

Alabama Visit on Deck for 5-star Juarez

Torrance, California, 5-star prospect Mique Juarez prefers playing outside linebacker, but playing inside linebacker isn't beneath him, particularly if it means getting on the field early.

As the nation's No. 2 outside linebacker in the 2016 class, Juarez is preparing for his last scheduled official visit this weekend. Juarez, who tweeted his top three of UCLA, Ole Miss and Alabama last Wednesday, will visit Alabama this weekend.

Juarez visited Ole Miss in November. He visited Washington and Oklahoma in December. Ole Miss and UCLA have been battling for the lead, but this weekend's visit could be beneficial for an Alabama program fresh off winning a national championship last Monday.

Or could it?

"To be honest, I'm not really looking for a team that always wants to win," Juarez said. "I'm looking for a place with the type of character that always wants to improve on and off the field—not just football. School and education is important, too."

"I'm trying to be coached in the proper way, but I'm also looking out for my future with my family," he added. "...If football doesn't work out, I'll have a good education out of it."

Juarez, who said he will announce on national signing day, said he can get everything he wants out of his top three schools. He's looking to earn a degree in either kinesiology or business. 

Credit: 247Sports.com

WR Fitzpatrick Visiting Pac-12 School

Waterford, Michigan, 4-star wide receiver Desmond Fitzpatrick was scheduled to take an official visit to Mississippi State this past weekend. Unfortunately, he had to miss the trip because of illness.

That's bad news for Mississippi State, but it could mean good news for Arizona. Fitzpatrick told Bleacher Report on Sunday that the Wildcats will get his final official visit this weekend. Schools like Nebraska, Louisville and Indiana are considered front-runners in Fitzpatrick's process, but he's built a solid relationship with the Arizona coaches such that the Wildcats could be a dark horse.

"I just want to go and check everything out on the campus," said Fitzpatrick, a top-300 player who has nearly 20 reported offers. "I love everything about them [Arizona]. I've been close to their staff since they were at Michigan. I just want to feel comfortable with their campus when I visit."

Fitzpatrick visited Nebraska in November and Indiana in December. He was considering an official visit to Louisville next weekend, but is planning on staying home to prepare for a signing day announcement.

5-Star Jack Jones: Playing Both Sides Matters

Long Beach, California, 5-star athlete Jack Jones released his top five of Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, UCLA and USC last month. That top five still remains intact.

And after a successful official visit to Alabama over the weekend, the question now is: What's next?

"

#RollTide its something serious  pic.twitter.com/xomujvrw0D

— MR. PRESIDENT (@royaljacc) January 17, 2016"

Jones took officials to Arizona State and Texas A&M in September and October, respectively. With the Alabama visit in the books, he still has two visits available—if he chooses to use them—with two weekends left before national signing day.

Whatever Jones does in the next couple of days, he knows what he wants from his future college home. Even though he had eight tackles and an interception playing cornerback in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Jones said he wants to be used as the super-versatile option to where he can benefit the offense, defense and special teams.

"I really want to play both sides of the ball until they tell me I can't anymore," Jones said. "Consistently talking, they all have a program I'm looking into in college. They said I could play both sides of the ball, and they said they'd give me an opportunity to play as a freshman."

Jones is now ranked as the nation's No. 3 cornerback after being ranked as an athlete for several months. He can still be beneficial at several skill-position spots, including cornerback, wide receiver, Wildcat quarterback and kickoff and punt return specialist.

Stanford Pledge Meets Famous on-Campus Figure

McAllen, Texas running back Trevor Speights committed to Stanford on Dec. 7. He received word over the weekend that he was officially admitted into the university. The icing on the cake: getting to meet one of Stanford's most well-known faces.

Speights and his family met political scientist, diplomat and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a return visit to Stanford. Rice holds several positions in and around Stanford's faculty, but she also teaches a political science course that Speights is interested in.

"It was a great experience. She talked a lot about the government," Speights said. "I think I'm going to sign up to take her class first semester. Stanford is so amazing. It has so many things most schools can't offer."

Speights is excited about the opportunities Stanford will bring academically. Athletically, he's looking forward to becoming an impact player for coach David Shaw and his staff. Speights rushed for nearly 10,000 yards and 116 touchdowns in his high school career, including almost 3,200 yards and 50 touchdowns his senior season.

Sleeper Alert: Can Northern Iowa Keep Kansas POY?

It's around this time of year when 11th-hour commits become commonplace. It's also around this time where sleepers get last-minute offers. Christian Jegen is hoping to be an example by Feb. 3.

Jegen, a 6'2", 192-pound athlete from Shawnee, Kansas, was named the Kansas Gatorade Football Player of the Year after recording 65 catches for 1,274 yards and 16 touchdowns as a wide receiver for Mill Valley High School. He also rushed for 824 yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively, Jegen finished the year with 34 tackles and two interceptions at the cornerback position.

Jegen verbally committed to Northern Iowa on Sunday, but with a few days left until national signing day, don't be surprised if FBS programs try to sway him. He has an official visit set to Iowa next weekend, and schools like Kansas and UNLV have shown interest.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles