Rivals Roundtable: Discussing the biggest visit weekends
It’s another monster weekend of recruiting visits, especially in Austin where UGA visits Texas, and our analysts discuss the most important visits on tap today.
RELATED: Adam Gorney’s 10 biggest visits
1. What is the biggest recruiting visit this weekend?
John Garcia Jr.: Five-star DE Javion Hilson at Texas. Texas has the game of the weekend in town, with a real chance to separate as the no-brainer No. 1 team in the land should it take care of home turf against Georgia. Many top recruits will be in town, but there is a chance to solidify things with Hilson, the top available edge prospect in the class. He has been to Austin before and heavily considered the Longhorns following an official visit, but held off. Now he’ll be able to get a few more key questions answered on a return trip to town, in the middle of what should be a memorable atmosphere at the same time. Texas A&M is the only other trip on Hilson’s visit list going forward, so UT has the chance to make quite the impression on the field and beyond.
Adam Gorney: Texas is going to be the epicenter of the college football world this weekend and five-star defensive end Justus Terry is going to be in Austin. This could end up being a Georgia-Alabama battle until the end but the five-star has a purpose in heading all the way to Texas and if the Longhorns really impress him against Georgia, then maybe a seed is planted in his head that there are other options available than just the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide. In the end, one game might not matter to Terry and his two favorites might not change but the atmosphere is going to be electric in Austin and it’s going to be a new place for him to see – and determine if the Longhorns could be a surprise contender in his recruitment.
Marshall Levenson: Five-star defensive lineman Justus Terry will spend the weekend in Austin to watch the Longhorns take on Georgia. There are some heavy hitters in play for Terry as Georgia, Alabama and others are in the picture. Texas looks to be the cream of the crop in college football this season and will have plenty to impress Terry with. A strong visit could certainly boost their status in Terry’s recruitment. As they land elite prospects across every position on the field and landing a five-star defensive lineman would put them over the top.
Greg Smith: Immanuel Iheanacho visiting Tennessee has my interest. The big (6-7, 340) offensive tackle didn’t make it last week as planned but quickly rescheduled the visit for this weekend. This will be a hotly contested recruitment with Penn State, Alabama and many SEC schools also chasing him. The ability to land David Sanders in this class and follow it up with Iheanacho would have Vols fans jumping for joy.
Sam Spiegelman: Isaiah Campbell to Tennessee. Four-star North Carolina defensive lineman Isaiah Campbell reopened his recruitment last month after a long stint committed to Clemson. The following weekend, Campbell was back at North Carolina as the in-state Tar Heels and also Tennessee make a strong push toward the finish line with the No. 5 defensive tackle in the Rivals250 for this class, Campbell returns to Rocky for an official visit this weekend as the entire defensive staff as well as head coach Josh Heupel continue to press all the right buttons with Campbell and his family. As the Vols look to add some final pieces to their star-studded 2025 class, Campbell set a top priority list with an opportunity to take a massive step forward during his penultimate visit before locking in a final decision.
2. Which school can do most to help its recruiting efforts with a big win this weekend?
John Garcia Jr.: Louisville. The Cardinals started the 2024 season strong enough to build some buzz and now an undefeated top-10 Miami comes to town. In the span, Louisville has built up a strong recruiting list for this weekend and there could be a field-storming scenario should things break their way on Saturday. Memorable would be an understatement for just about every prospect in town, to say the least. More importantly, the ACC is seemingly up for grabs compared to year’s past, and a Cardinals win would even the odds – at least in the loss column – in taking down one the final two undefeated programs in the league (Pitt). Throw in the 12-team playoff and how the league feels more wide open as the season progresses, and this could become a clear turning point for the better for Jeff Brohm and company.
Adam Gorney: Texas went to Alabama last season and won convincingly. Now the Longhorns host Georgia in the biggest college football game of the year so far and it’s another opportunity for coach Steve Sarkisian to prove there’s a new sheriff in town. There are going to be numerous five-stars in attendance, a ton of elite four-stars, a lot of young prospects and then it’s going to be the most-watched game of the weekend so if Texas can beat Georgia, if the Longhorns can convincingly take down Nick Saban and Kirby Smart in back-to-back seasons, then recruiting should be off the charts.
Marshall Levenson: This is a weekend that there is really only one real answer available given the significance of a singular matchup and that will take place in Austin, Texas, as the Longhorns take on Georgia. The list is a loaded one and just a handful of the headlining players are enough to make the case an easy one. Five-star defensive lineman Justus Terry, Javion Hilson and four-star wide receiver Michael Terry lead the way as top uncommitted targets. A handful of flip targets the Longhorns are pursuing, including four-star Texas A&M wide receiver commit Kelshaun Johnson and four-star Florida State defensive tackle commit Kevin Wynn.
Greg Smith: Indiana has a huge opportunity this weekend. The program has its first sellout since the 2021 season for the Big Noon Kickoff game with Nebraska. The atmosphere should be off the charts and there will be plenty of recruits on hand. That includes 2026 four-star inside linebacker Cam Thomas, who is fresh off a good visit to Illinois. Flip target Tyrone Burrus will also be on campus.
Sam Spiegelman: Texas is playing host to the biggest game of the college football season to date this weekend. The Longhorns are expecting a deep group of blue-chippers from across the state of Texas and across the Southeast on the 40 acres. Among the notable blue-chippers expected include official visits from five-star defensive lineman Justus Terry, four-star athlete Michael Terry and four-star Florida defensive line commitment Joseph Mbatchou, and an unofficial visit from four-star DL Kevin Wynn.
