Weekend Visit Preview: Loaded groups headed to Florida, Tennessee

We have reached the mid-point of the college football season, and the Weekend Visit Preview is back, breaking down which top prospects will be on what campuses for games over the next few days. After an eventful first few half of the season, which have included a number of key official and unofficial visits, some of the the biggest uncommitted names in the 2023 and 2024 classes will be out and about again this weekend.

Eyes will be on Knoxville, where not only does Tennessee host No. 1/3 Alabama, but the Volunteers will do so in front of a number of major recruiting targets in both the junior and senior classes. Elsewhere in the SEC East, Florida welcomes LSU to the Swamp, where those two will face off with some of the Gators’ biggest remaining targets in attendance.

As always, these will be updated as more information becomes available.

Big contingent at the Swamp

Florida had major success with its first recruiting weekend of the season when it hosted as ton of prospects as the Gators defeated then-No. 7 Utah in front of a raucous crowd. Now, they’ll look for a repeat performance — both on the field and on the recruiting side of things — with Saturday night’s game against LSU.

Multiple five-stars will be in attendance, headlined by 2023 Montgomery (Ala.) Carver teammates James Smith and Qua Russaw, who will make their long-awaited official visits. Alabama is considered the team to beat for both in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). But Billy Napier and Co. made a big impression on the duo when they came to town in late July for an unofficial visit. Smith and Russaw are expected to play together at the next level, so to get one, you’ll have to get both on board. On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons said recently he thinks the Gators are running in third behind Alabama and Auburn, but the Gators have a chance to make a big impact with the official visits.

Two prospects visiting who the Gators hope will be in their 2023 class by the end of Thursday are On3 four-star cornerback Bryce Thornton and top-100 defensive back Dijon Johnson. Both are set to announce their commitments this afternoon/evening, with the Gators trending in the On3 RPM for both. They’re expected back in Gainesville and will now be looked upon as recruiters trying to bring in more talent to what could end up as top-10 class. Four-star South Carolina DL commit Xzavier McLeod is also expected in as the Gators look to flip him away from the Gamecocks.

In the 2024 class, two elite wide receivers from the Sunshine State will on hand Saturday night: No. 1-ranked receiver Joshisa Trader, and his teammate, five-star wideout Jeremiah Smith. The Gators are very much in the mix with both early on, battling Miami, Ohio State, Alabama and a number of others. They’ll surely be spending some time with top-100 running back Stacy Gage and coveted four-star quarterback DJ Lagway, Florida’s top targets at those positions in this cycle.

One potential major visitor that hasn’t confirmed his trip is Five-Star Plus+ cornerback Cormani McClain, who the Gators are battling Alabama for. He’s yet to take an official visit to Gainesville, but is extremely familiar with Florida’s program and likes what Napier is building. Getting him on campus period would be another major win after he opted to cancel his Alabama official visit last weekend.

For the complete list of visitors and coverage of the Gators, head over to GatorsOnline.

Tennessee gets a massive opportunity with Alabama game

No game this weekend will be more anticipated than the showdown between No. 8 Tennessee and No. 1/3 Alabama at Neyland Stadium. The Vols are nationally relevant again, both because of their on-field success but also what they’ve been able to do in recruiting. Saturday presents yet another chance to take a major step forward in both of those areas.

The official visitor list is a short one: five-star IMG Academy (Fla.) EDGE Samuel M’Pemba. A few other prospects were supposed to take OVs but ultimately it will just be M’Pemba, who the Vols have been coveting for quite some time. Georgia is considered the heavy leader in the On3 RPM right now, with a couple of predictions in the Bulldogs’ favor. But Tennessee has a shot to make a lasting impression on him as considers his top four schools.

On3 five-star defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs is expected back in town after taking an official visit in September. The Vols are right in the thick of things with him, alongside Alabama and Georgia, and one source told Simmons that Tennessee might have a slight edge at this juncture with the nation’s No. 3 defensive lineman.

Four-star EDGE Tomarrion Parker was originally scheduled to take an official visit to Florida this weekend, but the communication with the Gators’ staff has fallen off recently, according to GatorsOnline’s Corey Bender. Instead, Parker plans to be in Knoxville, with Tennessee battling Clemson to land the elite pass-rusher out of Alabama.

Similar to the Gators, Tennessee has a top prospect it is working tirelessly to get on campus this weekend, and that’s four-star Ohio State wide receiver commit Carnell Tate. Simmons reported earlier this week that the Vols expect to get him to Knoxville, but the trip isn’t set in stone. Should he come, he’ll be reunited with five-star Tennessee QB commit Nico Iamaleava, who has been pushing hard for him to flip to the Vols.

A host of other 2023 commits — and a few from 2024 — are also expected in, along with blue-chip juniors Jonathan Paylor, Jake Merklinger, Omillio Agard, Edwin Spillman, Kaleb Beasley, Boo Carter and more.

Other notable visits around the country

• Notre Dame has long had a heavy presence in St. Louis, and that isn’t changing under first-year head coach Marcus Freeman. The Fighting Irish already have one commitment from the area with four-star defensive back Christian Gray and are looking for more. Top on that is list is Christian Brothers College four-star running back Jeremiyah Love, who checks in as the No. 5 RB in 2023. The Irish are the trending program in the On3 RPM, and Love is expected back in South Bend ahead of what could be a decision time coming very soon. He’ll be joined by coveted 2024 wide receiver targets Jeremiah McClellan and Ryan Wingo, two more from the St. Louis area.  
  
  Keep an eye on borderline four-star athlete Brandyn Hillman as well, who will be in town for his official visit. The Fighting Irish have a major lead for the country’s No. 18 athlete, who sits just outside four-star status.
  
• With about as much momentum as anyone in the country behind them, Ole Miss will have a handful of key 2023 and 2024 visitors in Oxford during the next few days. Top on the list if one of their own commits: four-star linebacker Suntarine Perkins, who is fresh off an Alabama visit last weekend. The Rebels are trying desperately to keep him home, but they have a battle on their hands with the Crimson Tide. Lane Kiffin and Co. will also welcome in Michigan State four-star running back commit Kedrick Reescano for an official visit, as well as four-star uncommitted safety Isaac Smith. A handful of top 2024s will also be in town.
  
• Texas has already done most of its damage so far in the 2023 cycle, but the Longhorns will bring a pair of intriguing prospects — On3 No. 3 athlete Jelani McDonald and No. 22 tight end Ka’Morreun Pimpton to Austin this weekend, alongside commits Arch Manning, Derion Gullette and more. McDonald is currently committed to Ohio State, but Texas made a recent offer to him and has piqued his interest. Pimpton is Vanderbilt commit, but the Longhorns are one of a handful of schools (including LSU) working to flip him from the Commodores.
  
• A week after visiting LSU, four-star EDGE Tausili Akana is expected to make his official visit to Oklahoma this weekend. The Sooners are right in the mix in this one, along with the Tigers, Texas, Nebraska and a handful of others.