College Football's Most Important Offers of the Week
Summer visits are a critical part of the recruiting process.
Getting players on campus, regardless of whether they are committed to a program or not, can change the trajectory of a player’s recruitment.
In the case of committed players, visits to other schools leave the door open for a chance to reopen their recruitments.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
One player the Florida Gators are hoping to get a foot in the door with is 3-star defensive end and current Ole Miss pledge Bryan Jones.
Last week, while on a visit to Gainesville, Jones—who rates as the nation’s No. 14 strong-side defensive end and the No. 350 player overall in the 2017 class—picked up an offer from the Gators:
Jones also visited fellow Sunshine State power Miami for its Paradise Camp, as detailed by Andrew Ivins of 247Sports.
According to Shea Dixon of Geaux247, LSU is another school that is involved with Jones—who goes to Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
However, with the Gators now in the mix with Jones, it’s clear that the Rebels will have to fight to hold on to his pledge until signing day.
USC After Top 2017 CB
Five of USC’s nine commitments in the 2017 cycle come from prospects outside the state of California.
Trojans head coach Clay Helton and his staff were busy last week searching for studs away from their home territory.
Their travels led them to offer one of the nation’s top corners in 4-star Ambry Thomas:
"Thankful to receive an offer from USC Trojans #FightOn ✌️✌✌✌✌ pic.twitter.com/DlXF6pDsc3
— Ambry Thomas 1⃣3⃣ (@Tavonn_) July 13, 2016"
The 5’11 ½”, 174-pounder rates as the nation’s No. 13 corner and the No. 101 player overall in the 2017 cycle.
Big Ten powers Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State are among the programs in the mix with Thomas.
However, the Trojans are gunning for a chance to get Thomas on campus and become a bigger factor in his recruitment.
Penn State Offers Top 2018 CB
While Thomas is one of the elite corners in the 2017 cycle, Texas corner Verone McKinley III represents one of the nation’s best talents at that position in the 2018 class.
Last week, McKinley reported an offer from Penn State:
"Blessed to receive an offer from Penn State University!!⚪️女 #WeAre pic.twitter.com/p2dUZhqqfk
— Verone McKinley III (@vmckinley3) July 12, 2016"
Heading into his junior season, the 5’10”, 165-pounder has amassed more than 25 offers from programs around the country—with Alabama, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma. Texas A&M and Texas Tech are among the schools involved with him early.
The Nittany Lions are one of the programs hoping to lure McKinley away from the Lone Star State.
TCU After In-State 2018 WR
In contrast to USC, TCU is a program that rarely strays from targeting prospects away from its home base in Texas.
For example, eight of the nine commitments in TCU’s 2017 class are homegrown prospects.
Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson and his staff aren’t likely to stray from that formula in the 2018 cycle. Last week, TCU offered 2018 in-state pass-catcher Brennan Eagles:
"Very excited to received offer #6 from Texas Christian University ⚪️⚫️ #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/xn1t5sCQLA
— Brennan Eagles (@_BrennanEagles_) July 13, 2016"
In terms of gaining college interest, the 6’3 ½”, 202-pounder from Alief Taylor High School in Houston is among the hottest rising juniors in the country, as detailed by Jeremy Clark of 247Sports.
Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Michigan State and USC are some of the other schools that have already offered Eagles.
However, the tender from the Horned Frogs is likely to appeal to Eagles considering the team’s recent success and its pass-friendly offense.
Best of the Rest
- Kentucky Christian University offered safety Nez Dacosta.
- Purdue offered 3-star athlete Popo Aumavae.
- Baylor offered 3-star corner Noah Daniels. The Bears also offered 3-star linebacker and current Houston commit Mohamed Sanogo.
- West Virginia offered 3-star offensive lineman Caleb Chandler.
- Florida offered 3-star linebacker Monty Rice.
- LSU offered 4-star defensive end and current UCLA commit Hunter Echols. Ryan Bartow of 247Sports reported the Tigers also offered linebacker Akileis Leroy.
- Ole Miss offered 4-star defensive end and current Duke pledge Drew Jordan. The Rebels also offered 3-star defensive tackle Jayden Peevy.
- Vanderbilt offered 2-star defensive end Kenneth Orji.
- Auburn and Ole Miss offered 4-star tight end Jeremy Ruckert.
- Maryland and Oklahoma offered 4-star athlete Kalon Gervin.
- Scout.com's Corey Bender reported Louisville offered 4-star safety Cajuan Smith.
- NC State offered 4-star athlete Amari Burney.
- Virginia Tech offered athlete D.J. Crossen.
- Penn State offered athlete Charlie Katshir. The Nittany Lions also offered athlete John Morgan.
- TCU offered 3-star offensive lineman Chasen Hines. The Horned Frogs also offered receiver JaMarr Chase.
- Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles reported Texas Tech offered 4-star defensive tackle Shabazz Dotson.
- Arizona State offered 4-star offensive lineman Tommy Brown.
- Washington offered 4-star corner Kyler Gordon.
- Alabama offered JUCO defensive tackle Emmit Gooden.
- Auburn offered 4-star offensive lineman Dylan Wonnum. The Tigers also offered 4-star offensive lineman William Barnes.
- Florida offered linebacker Damone Clark.
- Georgia offered 4-star defensive end Stephon Wynn.
- Kentucky offered receiver Anthony Lewis.
- Tennessee offered 4-star linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu.
- Texas A&M offered 5-star defensive end Xavier Thomas.
- Syracuse offered corner Kenyatta Watson II.
- Auburn offered receiver Jalen Curry.
- LSU offered receiver De’Vion Harmon.
- Bartow reported Virginia Tech offered defensive lineman Altrique Barlow.
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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