Most Important College Football Recruiting Visits of Week 8

Week 8 of the college football season will showcase a trio of Top 25 matchups among SEC West schools. 

In addition to the fireworks down south, there are a handful of matchups around the nation that figure to provide intrigue over the weekend.

With signing day less than four months away and the regular season nearing its final month, schools from coast to coast are relishing the opportunity to host elite recruits each week.

Which visits taking place this weekend should fans be paying close attention to?

Let’s take a look at the most important college football recruiting visits of Week 8.

Alabama: 5-Star RB Cam Akers

Class: 2017

High School: Clinton High School (Clinton, Mississippi)

Size: 5'11", 212 lbs

Scout.com Ranking: No. 2 running back; No. 4 overall

The marquee matchup of the week features a showdown of Top 10 programs doing battle when No. 6 Texas A&M travels to Tuscaloosa to face No. 1 Alabama.

The Crimson Tide are expected to have a bevy of elite recruits in the stands for a game that could loom large in the playoff picture.

One of the most important names on that list is 5-star running back Cam Akers—who was once committed to the Tide before reopening his recruitment in March.

The trip to the Capstone marks the first official visit for the nation’s No. 2 running back and No. 4 player overall in the 2017 cycle. He’s also taken unofficial visits to Georgia and Ole Miss.

Florida State, LSU, Ohio State and Tennessee are also among the schools in the mix for Akers.

But the Tide will take a big swing this weekend in hopes of earning his pledge for the second time.

Auburn: 5-Star S Devon Hunter

Class: 2017 

High School: Indian River High School (Chesapeake, Virginia)

Size: 6'1", 206 lbs 

Scout.com Ranking: No. 1 safety; No. 5 overall

After a slow start to the season, No. 21 Auburn is on a three-game winning streak entering its contest against No. 17 Arkansas this weekend.

Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn and his staff will also use the weekend to welcome in 5-star safety Devon Hunter.

As Keith Niebuhr of 247Sports reported, Hunter already visited the Plains twice over the summer and will be making this trip on his own dime.

Three unofficial trips is enough to suggest that Hunter, who rates as the nation’s top safety and the No. 5 player overall in the 2017 class, is serious with regards to his interest in the Auburn program.

Alabama, Clemson, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are among the other schools in the mix for Hunter.

However, the Tigers have a great opportunity to make a lasting impression on Hunter this weekend.

Iowa: 4-Star WR Oliver Martin

Class: 2017

High School: West Senior High School (Iowa City, Iowa)

Size: 6'1", 185 lbs

Scout.com Ranking: No. 30 wide receiver; No. 216 overall

Iowa has a big game this weekend as the Hawkeyes welcome No. 10 Wisconsin for a pivotal Big Ten matchup. 

However, Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff will have one of the most important recruits left on their radar in attendance.

For the third time this fall, 4-star wide receiver Oliver Martin—a local product who hails from Iowa City, Iowa—will make the short trek to campus, as detailed by Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.

Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Oregon are among the other schools who are pursuing Martin.

However, if the Hawkeyes hope to keep him from leaving the state, visits such as the one this weekend are pivotal in showing him how much he’s needed in their 2017 class.

Michigan: 4-Star DT Jay Tufele

Class: 2017

High School: Bingham High School (South Jordan, Utah)

Size: 6'3", 297 lbs

Scout.com Ranking: No. 3 defensive tackle; No. 37 overall

Michigan’s 2017 class features 16 commitments from 10 different states.

Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff have scoured the nation looking for the best talent.

They are hoping that trend continues in their pursuit of 4-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele.

The Utah native—who rates as the nation’s No. 3 defensive tackle and the No. 37 player overall in the 2017 cycle—will take his first official visit to Ann Arbor this weekend when the Wolverines host Illinois.

BYU, Ohio State, Utah and UCLA are among the other schools pursuing Tufele.

As Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports reported, Tufele is amped up about this weekend’s trip.

"I’m so excited to be down there and see life in Ann Arbor and everything, and get to know all the players and get to know the coaches as well and see what happens from there," he told Wiltfong.

Washington: 4-Star CB Elijah Molden

Class: 2017

High School: West Linn High School (West Linn, Oregon)

Size: 5'10", 175 lbs 

Scout.com Ranking: No. 17 corner; No. 142 overall

No. 5 Washington's fast start to the 2016 season could prove to be a huge boost to the Huskies recruiting efforts.

Two weeks after dismantling rival Oregon, the Huskies will try to sweep the state by defeating Oregon State at home this weekend.

Additionally, the Huskies will host one of the top prospects from the state of Oregon in 4-star corner Elijah Molden.

He took his first official visit to Stanford last month. Molden was also in attendance as an official visitor for Oregon as the Huskies blasted the Ducks in Autzen Stadium 70-21.

The Huskies have another shot to impress Molden this weekend. Assuming his visit goes well, Washington has a chance to make a major move in his recruitment.

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