Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 5

As the calendar flips to October, the second month of the college football season is littered with great games around the nation. 

Week 5 features three pairs of teams ranked in the Top 10 doing battle against one another.

The loaded slate is also attractive for recruits mapping out their plans to visit schools on their short list. 

Which visits should fans around the country be monitoring over the weekend?

Let’s take a look at the most important recruiting visits for Week 5 of the college football season.

Alabama: 5-Star LB Dylan Moses

Class: 2017

High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Size: 6'2.5", 235 lbs

Scout.com Ranking: No. 1 outside linebacker; No. 6 overall

While he’s being recruited by a bevy of powerhouses, most observers and pundits—according to his 247Sports crystal ball page—figure that the recruitment of 5-star linebacker Dylan Moses will come down to SEC heavyweights Alabama and LSU.

After LSU parted ways with long-time head coach Les Miles earlier in the week, the Crimson Tide are hoping to gain momentum with Moses. Fortunately for them, he will be on campus as an official visitor for this weekend’s matchup against Kentucky.

It’s the first official visit for Moses—who is also set to take trips to Miami and Texas in October, along with Ohio State in November.

Even though Moses is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Alabama head coach Nick Saban and his staff have had success pulling recruits from the Pelican State in recent years.

This weekend represents the Tide’s opportunity to make a strong push as the recruitment of Moses—who will enroll at the school of his choice in January—begins to wind down.

Clemson: 4-Star S Xavier McKinney

Class: 2017

High School: Roswell High School (Roswell, Georgia)

Size: 6'1", 192 lbs

Scout.com Ranking: No. 17 safety; No. 172 overall

Ever since he decommitted from Alabama in the summer, Clemson is a school that has been linked heavily to 4-star safety Xavier McKinney.

After all, the Tigers have a commitment from his prep teammate in 4-star corner LeAnthony Williams Jr. and signed another in February in linebacker Tre Lamar.

McKinney will be one of several elite recruits on hand to see the Tigers take on Louisville in a prime-time showdown between a pair of schools ranked in the top five.

Florida, Georgia and Ohio State are among the other programs tied to him.

However, this weekend’s visit will be pivotal for the Tigers in maintaining a leg up on the competition to land McKinney.

Florida State: 2018 4-Star WR Warren Thompson

Class: 2018

High School: Armwood High School (Seffner, Florida)

Size: 6'4", 185 lbs

Scout.com Ranking: No. 14 wide receiver; No. 88 overall

Florida State has marquee home dates looming against Clemson in October and Florida in November.

However, the Seminoles will use this weekend’s home matchup against North Carolina to welcome a small group of visitors to Tallahassee.

According to Chris Nee of Noles247, one anticipated target who will be inside Doak Campbell Stadium is 2018 4-star receiver Warren Thompson. 

Thompson, who could play defensive back or receiver at the next level, is being recruited by the Seminoles to play on the offensive side of the ball.

Miami—where Thompson was once briefly committed—and Florida are other schools who have been linked to his recruitment in the early stages. 

The Seminoles are hoping to become a major player in his process moving forward, and this weekend’s visit is a step in the right direction.

Georgia: 5-Star CB Jeffrey Okudah

Class: 2017

High School: South Grand Prairie High School (Grand Prairie, Texas)

Size: 6'1", 190 lbs 

Scout.com Ranking: No. 1 safety; No. 11 overall

With a group of six finalists that include Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State and USC, it’s clear that 5-star corner Jeffrey Okudah has designs on playing in college away from his home state of Texas.

The nation’s top corner already visited Oklahoma two weeks ago. This weekend, he will make the trek all the way to Athens, Georgia to see the Bulldogs take on Tennessee.

As noted by Kipp Adams of Dawgs247, Okudah thinks highly of Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and his reputation for molding defensive players.

It also appears as if the Bulldogs staff will focus their recruiting efforts heavily on Okudah this weekend. He is the only scheduled official visitor, as detailed by Rusty Mansell of Dawgs247.

The Buckeyes are believed to be the favorites in the Okudah sweepstakes, per his 247Sports crystal ball page. But the Bulldogs will take a giant swing this weekend at becoming a bigger factor in his recruitment moving forward.

Michigan: 5-Star LB Baron Browning

Class: 2017

High School: Kennedale High School (Kennedale, Texas)

Size: 6'3", 230 lbs

Scout.com Ranking: No. 2 outside linebacker; No. 25 overall

Michigan is a school that has the rare luxury of playing its first five games of the 2016 season at home. 

The No.4 Wolverines will wrap up their homestand against No. 8 Wisconsin this weekend in a matchup that will provide a bit of clarity in the Big Ten.

Meanwhile, head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff are set to welcome a number of elite targets.

Included in that group is 5-star linebacker Baron Browning—who will make the long trip from his home state of Texas up to Ann Arbor this weekend for his first official visit.

Ohio State and Texas are another pair of schools who are in the mix with the nation’s No. 2 outside linebacker.

However, Michigan will have an electric atmosphere for this weekend’s contest. They're hoping it'll be enough to make a lasting impression on Browning as he enters the final stages of his recruitment.

Stanford: 4-Star LB Leonard Warner

Class: 2017

High School: Brookwood High School (Snellville, Georgia)

Size: 6'4", 226 lbs

Scout.com Ranking: No. 18 outside linebacker; No. 215 overall

Even though Stanford has a tough road contest against No. 10 Washington on Friday night, the Cardinal will still have an important visitor on campus when they return home after the game.

According to Trent Smallwood of Rivals, the Cardinal will host 4-star linebacker Leonard Warner on an official visit this weekend.

While there’s a lot of distance between Warner’s home state of Georgia and Palo Alto, California, there are a few reasons the Cardinal should be optimistic about their chances of landing him.

For starters, one of the main priorities for Warner is finding a school that presents him with a strong academic plan for success, as noted by DawgNation’s Jeff Sentell.

Also, two of Stanford’s seven commitments in the 2017 class hail from the Peach State.

Warner is also considering programs such as Duke, Florida State and Georgia.

As Josh Newberg of Noles247 reported, a decision could come from Warner soon after his visit to Palo Alto concludes.

That could also mean the Cardinal get the last crack at Warner, which places a high priority on his visit this weekend going well.

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

Follow @SanjayKirpalani