College Football's Most Important Offers of the Week

Recruiting is never final until a prospect signs a national letter of intent or enrolls at their school of choice. 

That’s why it’s commonplace in these times for recruits to make an early decision only to reopen their recruitment or flip their decision in the middle of the process.

One of the latest examples of this came last week with 3-star corner Josh Thompson.

The 6’0”, 182-pounder had been committed to TCU since mid-June. However, fellow in-state power Texas jumped in last week to offer him.

Three days after receiving the offer from Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong and his staff, the Nacogdoches High School (Texas) product announced his intention to flip his pledge to Texas.

According to EJ Holland of 247Sports, the decision for Thompson came down to his comfort level with the Texas campus.

“Basically, I just feel at home,” Thompson told Holland. “I have a great relationship with the players and the coaches. I really like the atmosphere there. It’s just a great place overall.”

Thompson, who has 25 offers to his credit, becomes the seventh pledge in the Longhorns' 2017 class.

2017 Georgia DT Racks Up 9 Offers

It’s safe to say last week was a memorable one in the recruitment of 3-star defensive tackle Emmanuel McNeil. 

The 6’4”, 280-pounder added nearly half of his 20 total offers to his list.

The Big Ten had four representatives enter the mix for McNeil, with Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Ohio State all tendering the Lawrenceville, Georgia native. 

SEC powers Florida and LSU offered him, as did ACC giants Florida State and Miami. 

Pac-12 titan USC rounded out his offer spree.

McNeil rates as the nation’s No. 34 defensive tackle and the No. 442 player overall in the 2017 cycle.

USC Offers In-State SEC Pledge

Last month, the Florida Gators dipped into the state of California to land a commitment from 4-star corner Elijah Blades.

However, the 6’2”, 170-pounder’s recruitment may have gotten a jolt of intrigue last week when home-state power USC officially offered him. 

"

BLESSED TO SAY THAT I HAVE RECEIVED ANOTHER OFFER FROM USC #FIGHTON ✌ pic.twitter.com/tYg22yN0GZ

— ELIJAH - BLADES SZN™ (@savageszniv) July 25, 2016"

Blades, who rates as the nation’s No. 28 corner and the No. 221 player overall in the 2017 cycle, hasn’t given any indication that he’s wavering on his pledge to the Gators, as detailed by Chris Trevino of 247Sports.

However, the pressure to stay closer to home could intensify if the Trojans prioritize Blades moving forward.

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Ohio State After Top 2018 CB

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and his staff are closing in on a top-rated recruiting class in the 2017 cycle, but they already have one eye looking ahead to the 2018 class. 

Last week, the Buckeyes offered 4-star corner Anthony Cook. 

The 6’1”, 168-pounder from Houston rates as the nation’s No. 4 corner and the No. 31 player overall in the 2018 class.

"

Extremely Blessed and Excited to receive an offer from The Ohio State University !!! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/sZ6lfWXIwN

— Anthony Cook (@_ACook21) July 27, 2016"

Meyer and his staff have found success recruiting the Lone Star State in recent years—with current starting quarterback J.T. Barrett and current 4-star running back and Buckeyes pledge J.K. Dobbins serving as examples.

Landing Cook, who holds 25 offers heading into his junior season at Lamar High School, will prove to be another challenge for Meyer and his staff as his recruitment plays out.

Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, LSU and Texas are among the other programs showing early interest in the No. 3-ranked player from the state of Texas in the 2018 cycle.

Best of the Rest

• Florida State offered 3-star linebacker and current UCF commit DeMarco Artis.

• Georgia Tech offered 3-star offensive lineman Michael Minihan. He subsequently committed to the Yellow Jackets later in the week.

• Virginia Tech offered receiver Tyree Henry.

• Nebraska offered 3-star athlete Tariq Castro-Fields.

• Penn State offered 4-star receiver Jeremiah Holloman.

• Oklahoma State offered 3-star athlete Thabo Mwaniki.

• California offered 3-star athlete and current Arizona pledge Tony Fields. The Golden Bears also offered 3-star athlete and current USC commit Randal Grimes.

• Auburn offered 3-star athlete and current Florida pledge Kadarius Toney.

• Georgia offered 3-star corner Ameer Speed.

• Tennessee offered 3-star athlete and current Texas A&M commit Devin Morris.

• Vanderbilt offered 3-star defensive end Jalen Harris.

• Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon and Texas offered 5-star defensive end Xavier Thomas.

• Oklahoma State and Tennessee offered 4-star athlete Jordan Moore.

• Tennessee and Virginia Tech offered quarterback 3-star Justin Fields.

• Maryland offered 3-star athlete Andrew Cunningham.

• Ohio State offered 4-star corner Tre' Douglas.

• Penn State offered 4-star offensive lineman Blaine Scott.

• Texas offered 3-star defensive end Jarell Cherry.

• Texas Tech offered 4-star running back Joshua Fleeks.

• UCLA offered 4-star athlete Talanoa Hufanga.

• Auburn offered 5-star receiver Terrace Marshall.

• Kentucky offered receiver Julian Major.

• Mississippi State offered linebacker Damone Clark.

• Missouri offered 4-star offensive lineman Wyatt Blake.

• Nebraska offered athlete De'Gabriel Floyd.

• Colorado offered receiver Theo Wease.

• Texas Tech offered quarterback Grant Tisdale.

• Alabama offered quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who is the younger brother of 2017 4-star passer and current Crimson Tide commit Tua Tagovailoa.

• Texas A&M offered athlete Jordan Whittington.

• Virginia Tech offered running back Chris Tyree.

• LSU offered quarterback Harrison Bailey.

• Rusty Mansell of Dawgs247 reported that Tennessee offered athlete Arik Gilbert.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.