Tag: Official visits

Blue-chip JUCO receiver locks in LSU official visit

Benson is one of the most highly sought JUCO players in the nation, and he’ll be heading to Baton Rouge next month.

LSU is in competition to land one of the top JUCO prospects in the country in receiver [autotag]Malik Benson[/autotag], who has attracted the attention of some of the top programs in college football.

The Lansing, Kansas, native plays for junior college powerhouse Hutchinson Community College, also in Kansas, and he released a top five this past weekend that included the Tigers, in addition to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Oregon. He has a total of 25 scholarship offers.

Benson has set official visit dates for each school in the top five, and he’ll be coming to Baton Rouge on June 3. That will be his second trip to see a school in his top five, as he will head to Eugene to see the Ducks on May 20. After his trip to the bayou, he will see Knoxville (June 10) and Athens (June 17).

In Benson’s lone season at the JUCO level, he recorded 43 catches for 1,229 yards — a single-season program record — in addition to 11 receiving touchdowns. His unbelievable 28.6 yards per catch was also a single-season NJCAA record.

The Tigers will have to fend off a lot of top competition, but coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] will hope to make an impact when he makes his way to campus next month for an official visit.

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Swinney explains the change in Clemson’s official visit policy

The Clemson Insider caught up with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney on Wednesday evening at the Prowl and Growl at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center in Rock Hill, S.C. TCI asked Swinney about the change in his official visit policy and why he and …

The Clemson Insider caught up with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney on Wednesday evening at the Prowl and Growl at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center in Rock Hill, S.C.

TCI asked Swinney about the change in his official visit policy and why he and the Tigers will now allow some official visitors in June, something they haven’t done in the past.

Swinney went in-depth in his response and explained that the only prospects Clemson will give June official visits to are ones who have already been on campus in the past for unofficial visits.

“The biggest thing we’ve changed is just not doing spring visits, and we’re still not doing that,” Swinney said. “Last year – and really it’s kind of because of COVID and all that stuff and the way things happened – we did the Elite Retreat last year as a part of our camp, and it was really good. And we’ve already got some committed kids. Anticipate probably having a few more between now and that first weekend in June. And we’ve kind of restructured our camps just a little bit. So, we’ve taken that one weekend, and we’ve had a lot of guys come here.

“So, it’s only going to be for kids who have been on campus, so we really haven’t changed that part of it. The only guys that are going to be coming in on an official visit will be people who’ve been to Clemson at some point, whether it be a game last year or they came this spring or they were in our camp, and we’ve got camps coming up. So that part of it, the actual official visit part will be a little different. Last year with the Elite Retreat, it was pretty much like an official, it just was they came on their own. So again, all these kids have already been here on their own.”

Swinney expects the official visit weekend in June to provide Clemson with positive momentum going into the Swinney Camps, coming out of the camps, and going into the dead period in the summer.

“I think it will be a really, really good weekend for us and give us good momentum going into camps, coming out of camps, going into the dead period in the summer,” he said. “And a lot of these kids want to get it out of the way. They want to make their decisions. So, that’s been I think a good change for us.”

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Clemson steps up social media game for recruits

Best is the standard at Clemson football, and this past weekend, the creative solutions team for the Tigers stepped up their social media game for recruits on campus. If you are on social media, you have seen plenty of pictures from photoshoots …

Best is the standard at Clemson football, and this past weekend, the creative solutions team for the Tigers stepped up their social media game for recruits on campus.

If you are on social media, you have seen plenty of pictures from photoshoots during visits. Years ago, Clemson was one of the first to do this, and it didn’t take long for other schools to follow.

Clemson’s creative solutions team this past weekend did individual videos for each visitor, with integrated pictures from the photoshoots along with scenes from gamedays at Memorial Stadium.

Here is an example of a video sent to one of the visitors:

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help.  #SaveNicks

Auburn running back commit Damari Alston officially visiting Auburn

One of Auburn’s top commits will be in Auburn this weekend.

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Damari Alston is one of several recruits who will be visiting Auburn this weekend. 

Alston is committed to play running back at Auburn and committed to the Tigers back in July. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Alston is the 31st running back and 326th best prospect overall according to the 247Sports Composite ranking.

Alston has been playing some of the best football of his high school career lately, rushing for over 170 yards and two touchdowns in each of his past three games. In total, he has rushed for 838 yards and 14 touchdowns for Woodward Academy in the first six games of his senior season.

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Two-sport Auburn commit Tre Donaldson to officially visit Auburn

Tre Donaldson will be in AUburn this weekend.

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Tre Donaldson is committed to play both football and basketball at Auburn and will officially visit Auburn this weekend. 

Donaldson committed to Auburn back in August and will play point guard for the basketball team and defensive back for the football team. He starts at safety, point guard, and quarterback for Florida State University School.

Donaldson is a four-star recruit in football and is the 20th best safety in the country and the 266th recruit overall according to the 247Sports Composite. He is a three-star recruit in basketball and is the 18th best point guard in the country and the 135th recruit overall in the 247Sports Composite.

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LSU Tigers still in the mix for five-star wide receiver Evan Stewart

Appears as though the LSU Tigers are still in the mix for 2022 five-star WR Evan Stewart of Frisco, Texas.

Looking at the 2022 recruiting class for the LSU Tigers, Ed Orgeron already has four-star Aaron Anderson (New Orleans, LA), A.J. Johnson (New Orleans, LA), and Decoldest Crawford (Shreveport, LA) committed to the class. However, there is still a rather large name still waiting to make his final decision.

Evan Stewart of Liberty (Frisco, TX), has yet to make his final decision with five schools still in the mix. He originally committed to the Texas Longhorns before backing off that pledge, UT is still very much in the race to land one of the top receivers in the country.

Stewart originally visited Baton Rouge prior to the NCAA’s dead period began in early April of 2020. He could still return for another visit to Death Valley as he looks to lock in his final visits. Stewart has visited Texas, Florida, and Alabama. It seems like LSU would be the next in line to host the five-star wide receiver.

Stewart recently spoke about his five teams in the mix with 247Sports.

“LSU is kind of like the same thing. … They’re real business. Really it’s the same thing. There’s not really much different between Alabama and LSU, you know what I mean?”

Stewart obviously values the work ethic and how much the Tigers put into their program. What will it take for LSU to lock up one of the most sought-after receivers in the country?

“Really it’s getting my dad on board,” Stewart said. “My dad is a very hard-going man, and he really wants me to get my degree and he really wants those academics. Same with my mom. You’ve gotta get my mom on board, too. So if both my parents aren’t on board, then I know that’s not gonna be the decision I make.”

Evan Stewart’s Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 4 37 11 5
Rivals 4 83 17 7
ESPN 5 8 3 1
247 Composite 5 35 10 4

Vitals

Hometown Frisco, Texas
Projected Position Wide Receiver
Height 6-0
Weight 175

Recruitment

  • Offered on Mar. 19, 2020
  • No official visit scheduled at time of publication

Offers

  • Louisiana State
  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Texas
  • Texas A&M

Crystal Ball

Film

Twitter

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Texas Football: List of prospects on campus for final summer official visit weekend

Going into the final weekend of visits before another dead period, Steve Sarkisian and his staff will be hosting more important targets.

June has been one of the most hectic months in the history of college football recruiting. With the NCAA dead period being lifted, prospects from both the 2022 and 2023 prospects were visiting college campuses like crazy. Most had official visits lined up for four consecutive weekends.

Texas was no different. Every single week, at least one priority target was on campus. Over the weekend of June 12, it was mostly juniors with players such as Arch Manning, Rueben Owens, and Johntay Cook on campus. Flash forward one week and Texas’ top needs in the 2022 class were seeing Austin on official trips.

Going into the final weekend of visits before another dead period, Steve Sarkisian and his staff will be hosting more important targets. Four-star safety Bryce Anderson will be in Austin following the State 7v7 tournament in College Station. Texas is attempting to close the gap with Texas A&M.

Two important offensive linemen will visit as well, but unofficially. Kyle Flood, alongside Bo Davis, will be upon the busiest members of Sarkisian’s staff.

Here are the prospects on campus for final summer official visit weekend:

LOOK: Photos from Texas’ big 2022 recruiting weekend

Step No. 1 of making an official visit is getting in front of a camera and posing in the uniform. Check out some of the top photos here.

Elite after elite 2022 prospects made their way down to Austin for an official visit this weekend. A mix of current commits and top priority targets remaining on the board was able to meet and socialize with the Texas staff for the first time in person.

Five-stars Kelvin Banks (offensive tackle) and Denver Harris (cornerback) may have been the biggest uncommitted names visiting, while longtime commits Maalik Murphy (quarterback) and Jaydon Blue (running back) came to do some recruiting. While nobody has committed from the weekend yet, nothing but good can come from getting guys on campus.

Step No. 1 of making an official visit is getting in front of a camera and posing for photos in the uniform. Texas’ famous all-white uniform seemed a popular choice this weekend. Everyone but Murphy and four-star safety Bryan Allen went for the go-to away jersey.

Photos with Sarkisian, in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and behind the “All Gas, No Brakes” block letters were shared throughout the Twittersphere. A touch of Texas twang was added by a few prospects as well, getting a cowboy hat involved.

Check out some of the best photos recruits posted from their Texas official visit on the next page

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WATCH: Texas commits Maalik Murphy and Armani Winfield pose in jerseys for the first time

Maalik Murphy and Armani Winfield were able to put on the famous Texas jersey. The QB went for burnt orange, while the WR went icy white.

Two of Texas’ strongest commitments were finally able to make it to campus this weekend. Four-star quarterback Maalik Murphy and four-star wide receiver Armani Winfield are in Austin for the first time together on official visits.

Since Steve Sarkisian began shaping the 2022 class, maintaining Murphy and Winfield has been crucial. Both are critical recruiters within the class, working on different players throughout the cycle.

Even with a ton of targets on campus, the two commits got to have some fun themselves. Murphy and Winfield were finally able to put on the famous Texas jersey on Friday. The quarterback sported the burnt orange, while icy white was the choice for Winfield.

Murphy stayed the course with his high school number, No. 4. This number is currently occupied by Jordan Whittington, maybe something new could be on the horizon. As for Winfield, he went with No. 9, the former jersey of Collin Johnson. Al’Vonte Woodard currently wears the number.

You can see the two show off their future college uniforms here:

For Murphy, development is the keyword surrounding the signal-caller. The potential to be great is there, but a lack of serious playing time throughout his high school career is where questions arise. Sarkisian will have a project on his hands going forward.

Winfield was the first commit Sarkisian was able to land. In fact, he told the Texas staff in the middle of Alabama‘s national championship game against Ohio State. He may not possess the world-class speed Sarkisian desires from his receivers, but Winfield is still one of the best in the country.

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Texas Football: Most important recruits that are expected to be on campus this weekend

This weekend will be a monster one for the Texas football program as they’re expected to host numerous top 2022 and 2023 recruits.

Texas’ football program is gearing up for a monster weekend on the Forty Acres. Continue reading “Texas Football: Most important recruits that are expected to be on campus this weekend”