College Football Recruiting: Which Games Will the Top Recruits Be Attending?
This time of year, the college football recruiting news centers around official visits: watching the big names at the big games and, of course, speculating what the visits mean.
It's the nature of the business.
Prospects carefully choose their official visits, deciding not just which schools to take trips to, but the optimal time to do so as well.
There's really no comparison between visiting Alabama on the weekend they play San Jose State and visiting on the weekend the Florida Gators come to town for a rematch of the 2009 SEC Championship.
Keep in mind, though, that a good game isn't necessarily a hot spot for recruiting. Ohio State at Wisconsin may feature two Big Ten powerhouses ranked in the top 10, but the Badgers don't really draw a large recruiting crowd.
Here's our list of the top games in October for recruiting visits. Expect the Who's Who of 2011 recruits to be in attendance at many of these contests.
October 2: Florida at Alabama
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This year's Florida-Alabama matchup is one of the most anticipated games of the 2010 season and will have huge implications for the SEC, the BCS, and on a lighter note, some of the top recruits in the nation.
Not only will many Crimson Tide commitments be in attendance, but prospective recruits considering both programs will no doubt be drawn to this one.
You couldn't pick a better weekend in 2010 to head to Tuscaloosa.
Look for names like running back Isaiah Crowell, defensive end Jermauria Rasco, defensive end Ray Drew, and linebacker Curtis Grant to be on the sidelines.
October 2: Stanford at Oregon
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Oregon vs. Stanford doesn't have the same ring that Florida vs. Alabama does, but for West Coast recruiting, there might not be a better game to be at in October—except maybe Stanford's matchup with USC, but we'll get to that later.
With the Ducks hosting the Cardinal, there should be a good showing of recruits who are thinking of making their way out to Oregon on a permanent basis.
In a contest pairing the top-ranked teams of the Pac-10, both of whom are currently ranked in the top 10 in the nation, the crowd at Autzen Stadium should be packed to the brim.
That should leave quite an impression on prospects like athlete Cot Lyerla and possibly linebacker Anthony Wallace, who was there last week but may just pop back in for this one.
October 9: Alabama at South Carolina
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In most cases, the focus of a contest isn't on one particular person, and while Alabama's visit to South Carolina will have huge implications from a football standpoint, we can't help but think about Jadeveon Clowney.
Clowney, the South Carolina native and near-unanimous No. 1 overall recruit of the 2011 class, has the Gamecocks and Crimson Tide listed as his top two choices.
He may end up going another route, but most experts are convinced he'll land at one of those two schools.
With South Carolina's surge up the standings, the matchup with Alabama should turn out to be even bigger than most originally anticipated, and you can bet Clowney will be there watching.
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October 9: Louisiana State at Florida
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Moving on to yet another SEC rivalry and yet another hot spot for recruiting visits, the LSU-Florida game will undeniably draw a lot of attention from prospects considering both schools.
For those of you who don't really dig the love for the SEC, keep in mind that the conference has dominated the recruiting scene for years and big SEC matchups usually draw the biggest crowds of prospects.
While there are also games like Cal at USC, you can't really compare the two in this case.
Curtis Grant, Jermauria Rasco, and defensive tackle Tim Jernigan are all very high on both LSU and Florida; if there's a matchup for these three 5-star prospects to be in attendance, this is it.
October 9: Florida State at Miami
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Nick O'Leary, whose biggest claim to fame at the moment is being the grandson of golfing great Jack Nicklaus, was in the news for all the wrong reasons a couple of weeks back.
After a controversial loss, O'Leary made an obscene gesture to opposing fans as he made his way off the field. That led to a two-game suspension that his coaches and teammates heavily opposed.
We mention this because it's sure to come up again when Miami and FSU face off in their annual rivalry. Of course, the action on the field will be the bigger story, but it won't be the only one.
O'Leary, whose top two schools are the Hurricanes and Seminoles, should be one of the biggest names in attendance, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the media focus on the negative side of things.
October 9: Michigan State at Michigan
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Michigan State versus Michigan presents one of the best rivalries in college football, and for in-state recruits, it's a must to attend.
For the first time in years, both schools have a chance to enter the game ranked in the top 25.
It's no secret that the Wolverines have a bigger recruiting stake in this one than the Spartans do, but more prospects look at both schools than you'd think.
A deflated performance by Michigan or an impressive showing from Michigan State could sway a few on-the-fencers.
October 9: USC at Stanford
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As mentioned before, Stanford's trip to Oregon might be the biggest game in terms of the standings, but when it comes to Pac-10 recruiting, USC is still king, regardless who's ranked higher.
The Trojans may be eliminated from postseason play and face stiff recruitment sanctions, but they're still one of the top recruiters in the country.
Stanford has the top class in the conference this year, but the Cardinal have pretty much wrapped things up, while USC is in the mix for a ton of top-rated talent.
With USC hoping to keep athlete De'Anthony Thomas on the books, seal the deal with wide receiver George Farmer, or close in on offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, the shots of the sideline should be interesting.
October 16: Texas at Nebraska
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Like a few other October games, the focus of the Texas-Nebraska game will be on one particular recruit. But in this case, it's one of the top recruits in the country: Aaron Green.
Arguably the top uncommitted running back in the country (unless you favor Isaiah Crowell), Green has narrowed his choice down to four schools. But most experts have pointed toward Texas and Nebraska for months, and it would be surprising if he didn't end up at one of these two schools.
Texas' visit to Nebraska is not only one of the marquee contests of the year and a rematch of last year's Big 12 Championship; it could be huge for Green's decision-making process as well.
October 23: Louisiana State at Auburn
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It's always key when a recruit has narrowed his focus down to two schools, and in Greg Robinson's case, those two schools are LSU and Auburn.
So we take this SEC matchup as a perfect moment for Robinson, one of the top offensive tackles in the 2011 class, to come closer to a decision.
The battle of the Tigers is always a good one. Robinson won't be the only recruit in attendance, but he's sure to be the one talked about the most.
Don't forget guys like Ray Drew or running back Mike Blakely, two 5-stars heavily considering Auburn.
October 23: Georgia Tech at Clemson
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Georgia Tech's matchup with Clemson doesn't have quite the same implications of last year's ACC Championship—in fact, it's not even close—but the game is worth noting.
For all of the Tigers' issues on the field and loss of depth in the offseason, don't forget that Clemson has one of the top recruiting classes in the country.
Names like Mike Bellamy, Marline Lane, and Charone Peake highlight the class; they might have committed already, but if there's a game on Clemson's schedule to be at, this is it.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
