The 10 Biggest Official Visits in the SEC

By Matthew Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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This weekend will afford SEC coaches with one final opportunity to make their recruiting pitches to the nation’s top prospects.

We have finally reached the final recruiting weekend before National Signing Day.

As teams are making their final push to gain signatures on Wednesday, let’s take a look at the 10 biggest official visits taking place in the SEC this weekend.

DT Eddie Vanderdoes (Alabama)

The Crimson Tide were relatively late to the party for the long-time USC commit, but Nick Saban does have the good fortune of getting Vanderdoes’ final official visit. Alabama likely still has some ground to make up in his recruitment, but you can never count out a team that has won three of the last four national championships.

QB Damon Mitchell (Arkansas)

A long-time Georgia Tech commitment, Mitchell did not even become seriously interested in the Razorbacks until this past Sunday when Bret Bielema visited his home. Now, Mitchell will take his official visit to Arkansas this weekend, and it looks like there is a very real possibility that he will end up in Fayetteville.

DT Montravius Adams (Auburn)

Ranked as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the class, Adams has played his recruitment very close to his vest thus far. Auburn is one of Adams’ five finalists, and the Tigers will have the last opportunity to make an impression on the talented defender. Most experts consider Adams to be a Clemson lean, although those feelings are not based on anything that he has said to the media.

LB Reuben Foster (Auburn)

Foster’s recruitment has been one big roller coaster ride, but the Tigers have remained involved throughout. A one-time Auburn verbal commitment, Foster even has an Auburn tattoo on his forearm. The Tigers are thought to be in the lead for his services, and could lock things up with a solid visit this weekend.

DT Jaynard Bostwick (Florida)

Bostwick is down to a final three of Alabama, Florida and Miami, with the Gators getting the last of his official visits. His visits to Tuscaloosa and Coral Gables both went exceptionally well, so the Gators will have a lot to live up to when he is on campus. Defensive tackle has been a focus for Will Muschamp in this recruiting class, and Bostwick would be the best of the bunch if he were to commit.

LB Matthew Thomas (Georgia)

Ranked as one of the top linebackers in the nation, Thomas has a final five of Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami and USC. The home state schools – Florida State and Miami – have long been considered as the favorites, but the Dawgs are certainly not out of the running. Mark Richt has been tearing it up in recruiting recently, and landing Thomas would be another major pull.

CB David Kamara (LSU)

Kamara, a former Clemson verbal commitment, recently went on the record stating that Ole Miss is his top school. Those comments came right after he took his official visit to Oxford, though, and he is still interested to see what the Tigers have in store for him. LSU has a very rich tradition of producing defensive backs, which could help its cause coming down the stretch,

S Antonio Conner (Mississippi State)

A good friend of the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Robert Nkemdiche, Conner has long been considering just two schools: Alabama and Ole Miss. With the Bulldogs’ recent decision to hire former South Panola standout Deshea Townsend, however, Mississippi State is making a late push for his services. It will likely still take a miraculous effort, but Dan Mullen can at least be pleased to get Conner on campus.

ATH Tyler Boyd (Tennessee)

Boyd committed to Pittsburgh at the recent US Army All-American Bowl, but has still decided to take a couple of official visits. The scoop with Boyd is that his family really likes the Panthers, while he is intrigued by some of the other schools on his list. Butch Jones has done a great job to get Boyd on campus, and this will be his one chance to steal him from the Panthers.

LB E.J. Levenberry (Tennessee)

Levenberry has been a Florida State verbal commit since April of 2012, but the Volunteers have made a late push for his services. Driving to Knoxville with his father, Levenberry will spend the weekend in Knoxville before making his final decision upon his return to Virginia. He is another prospect who became interested in the Vols after the hiring of Butch Jones.