College Football's Most Important Offers of the Week
The rivalry between Alabama and Auburn often spills over to the recruiting trail.
One player who figures to be a player both the Tide and the Tigers will battle over in the 2017 cycle is in-state 4-star defensive end LaBryan Ray.
Last week, the Tigers jumped into the mix by offering the No. 9 player overall from the Yellowhammer State:
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The 6’4”, 270-pounder has become one of the hottest prospects in the country over the last few months.
The nation’s No. 5 strong-side defensive end and No. 178 player overall in the 2017 class picked up offers from Missouri, Notre Dame and Texas A&M earlier this month.
Ray, who earned an invite to The Opening after performing well at the Atlanta Nike Opening Regional, is approaching 30 offers heading into the spring.
The three programs that have most recently hosted Ray on campus are Alabama, Florida State and Tennessee.
Still, with both Alabama and Auburn now firmly in the picture with him, Ray’s recruitment could come down to the bitter in-state rivals.
Oklahoma After 4-Star Georgia WR
One position that Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and his staff will search for quality and quantity in the 2017 cycle is wide receiver.
Last week, the Sooners hit the Peach State to offer 4-star receiver Trey Blount:
The 6’2”, 200-pounder, who rates as the nation’s No. 36 receiver and the No. 275 player overall in the 2017 cycle, has more than 20 offers heading into the spring.
Among the schools in the mix with Blount are Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon and Tennessee.
However, with the Sooners possessing a wide-open offensive attack that is friendly to receivers, Blount’s latest offer could prove to shake up his recruitment moving forward.
Michigan Offers Pair of Touted 2018 QBs
Michigan’s 2017 class is already off to a strong start with the commitment of 5-star quarterback Dylan McCaffrey.
However, Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff are not slowing down in their pursuit of top quarterback prospects.
Last week, the Wolverines offered 2018 quarterback Trevor Lawrence—who is rated as the nation’s top overall prospect in the 2018 class by 247Sports:
BamaOnline's Hank South reported that the Wolverines also offered 4-star quarterback Jack West.
While both players reside in the heart of SEC country, Harbaugh has already shown that he and his staff can pull elite talents from coast to coast—which could spice things up a bit in the recruitments of both Lawrence and West.
Clemson Offers 2019 LB
With 30 offers to his credit before he enters his sophomore year, 2019 linebacker Owen Pappoe has already established himself as one of the nation’s most talented underclassmen.
His performance at the Atlanta Nike Opening Regional camp earlier this month showed those in attendance why he’s been nicknamed The Freak.
Last week, defending ACC champion Clemson became the latest school to offer the 6’0”, 200-pounder:
Clemson is one of a handful of programs Pappoe has recently visited. Given that proximity from home will play a role in his decision, the Tigers figure to be a school that remains in the mix with him until he makes a commitment.
Best of the Rest
- Florida State, Mississippi State, Missouri and Texas offered 3-star receiver Tyrell Shavers.
- Mississippi State, Notre Dame and Ole Miss offered 4-star receiver Jalen Reagor. The Fighting Irish and the Rebels also offered 4-star offensive lineman Robert Hainsey.
- Florida and Penn State offered 4-star corner Kary Vincent.
- Baylor and Mississippi State offered 3-star corner Kobe Boyce.
- Mississippi State and Texas A&M offered 4-star linebacker Justin Foster.
- Adam Gorney of Rivals.com reported that Auburn and Georgia Tech offered 4-star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
- Duke and North Carolina offered 3-star offensive lineman Zach Quinney.
- Notre Dame offered 4-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele. Tom Loy of 247Sports reported that the Fighting Irish also offered 4-star corner Deommodore Lenoir.
- Duke offered 4-star defensive end Jordan Williams.
- Louisville offered 4-star offensive lineman Marcus Minor.
- Syracuse offered 3-star linebacker Rayshard Ashby.
- Illinois offered 3-star running back Chase Hayden.
- Keith Niebuhr of AuburnUndercover reported that Indiana offered 3-star defensive end Drew Jordan.
- Scout.com's Corey Bender reported that Iowa offered running back Erin Collins.
- Purdue offered 4-star linebacker Avery Roberts.
- Kansas offered 4-star athlete Keldrick Carper.
- Kansas State offered athlete Gervarrius Owens.
- TCU offered 4-star running back O’Maury Samuels.
- Gorney reported that Arizona offered 3-star quarterback Jack Sears.
- Arizona State offered 3-star offensive lineman Xavier Newman.
- California offered 4-star athlete Bruce Jordan-Swilling. The Golden Bears also offered 4-star running back Eno Benjamin.
- USC offered 4-star tight end Jimmy Jaggers.
- Florida offered 3-star corner Jaylon Johnson.
- Georgia offered 5-star receiver Joseph Lewis. The Bulldogs also offered 3-star tight end Jake Marwede.
- LSU offered 4-star offensive lineman Netori Johnson.
- Mississippi State offered 3-star defensive end Guy Thomas. The Bulldogs also offered 4-star receiver Laviska Shenault.
- Missouri offered 3-star corner Ameer Speed. Brian Perroni of 247Sports reported that the Tigers also offered 3-star linebacker Terrel Bernard.
- Ole Miss offered 4-star receiver and current Oklahoma commit CeeDee Lamb.
- South Carolina offered 3-star linebacker Kenney Britt.
- Tennessee offered offensive lineman Nick Brahms.
- Texas A&M offered 4-star offensive lineman Trey Smith.
- Notre Dame, Ohio State and Utah offered linebacker Palaie Gaoteote.
- Florida, Michigan and USC offered tight end Judge Culpepper.
- NC State and Notre Dame offered receiver Brian Hightower.
- Notre Dame and Tennessee offered corner Houston Griffith.
- Louisville offered defensive tackle Austin Fontaine.
- Pittsburgh offered receiver Will Mallory.
- Maryland offered quarterback Allan Walters.
- Ohio State offered corner Brendan Radley-Hiles.
- Wisconsin offered receiver Jahan Dotson.
- West Virginia offered receiver Jacob Copeland.
- LSU offered defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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