Rivals Roundtable: Discussing the weekend visits

Our recruiting analysts discuss the weekend’s biggest visits and which teams have the most riding on how they perform today in front of important recruits.

RELATED: Ranking the 10 biggest visits of the weekend

John Garcia: Five-star DT Justus Terry at Georgia. UGA is going to come out with a purpose on Saturday against rival Auburn after what happened last week in Tuscaloosa. But just as importantly, the Bulldogs will have a loaded group of targets on campus in just their second true home game of the 2024 season – and first in the SEC. Terry, a former commitment, has frequented Athens throughout his recruitment but the clock is starting to tick towards the Early Signing Period that opens on Dec. 4. While the big defender looks at Alabama, Florida State and others, some present his recruitment as a lock to Georgia. Others think he would be back onboard with said commitment if his destination was predetermined. Either way, official visit season is behind Terry so every unofficial game trip he takes is a big one, especially if the ball remains in UGA’s court. Expect Kirby Smart and Co., to work in some quality time with the in-state star in hopes of building a lead in the race for his signature.

Adam Gorney: Justus Terry is headed back to Georgia and this is a critical visit for the Bulldogs as Alabama continues to battle for the five-star defensive end and the word out of Tuscaloosa is there is guarded optimism that the Crimson Tide are seriously in Terry’s recruitment. The Manchester, Ga., standout has now been committed to Georgia and USC and after he backed off the pledge to the Trojans the feeling was that he could quickly re-commit to the Bulldogs. That has not happened months later and that has given Alabama an opening. Getting Terry back in Athens, around the coaching staff and the players, could move Georgia right to the top again. If it doesn’t that could be cause for concern.

Sam Spiegelman: Malik Clark to South Carolina. Clark declared for Florida State over South Carolina and North Carolina over the summer after the Noles impressed him and his family during his June official visit. That luster has faded into the fall, especially as the in-state Gamecocks continued to press hard behind the scenes. Clark returned to Columbia in September for the Akron game and is set to return this weekend with Ole Miss in town. That’s currently the only visit on tap for the Rock Hill (S.C.) High pass-catcher. There was already a good deal of confidence long-term about the Gamecocks sticking around in Clark’s recruitment as sources involved in this recruitment felt South Carolina would be a tough one here. After reopening his recruitment, there is a strong sense the Gamecocks are going to be hard to beat here.

John Garcia: Florida State hosting Clemson. For the last decade or so, these were the default top two contenders for the ACC crown. Each started slow out of the gate in 2024, but then went in separate directions. However, Mike Norvell and company are expecting a sold-out stadium with the Tigers coming to town and droves of top recruits, including No. 1 weakside defensive end and former commitment Javion Hilson, will be in town for a fresh look at the program. A strong effort against Dabo Swinney‘s bunch – meaning a competitive game with some signs of progress and/or creativity offensively – could work well in the perception business. FSU’s class has sunk to No. 39 nationally with just 11 commitments, the lowest number of pledges among the 17 programs in the expanded ACC. Hanging around won’t guarantee a decision for the garnet and gold, but it will remind prospects that Norvell can steady the ship and bounce back much like we saw throughout last season.

Adam Gorney: Florida has a ton of prospects coming to Gainesville including many committed to other schools so if the Gators can open it up and take down UCF, which lost by 27 to Colorado last weekend, then things could get interesting with coach Billy Napier, who is on the hottest of hot seats. The schedule is still diabolically difficult in November with Georgia, Texas, LSU and Ole Miss before finishing with rival Florida State, so tough that it almost feels like the Gators were set up to fail, but it’s one step at a time for Napier and that starts with UCF. If the Gators can win – and win convincingly – then that buys him some more time to recruit, get some flips and get this thing going. If not, then Napier might not see that November slate.

Sam Spiegelman: Georgia is welcoming a talented group of prospects to Athens this weekend as Auburn comes into town, including a few priority targets along the defensive line such as five-star DT Justus Terry, as well as other blue-chippers up front Joseph Mbeatchou, Christian Ingram and Braxton Kyle. All four of these DL hold offers from the Dawgs, including Kyle, a Rutgers verbal.The Dawgs will also host a pair of four-star safeties committed to Auburn in Eric Winters and Anquon Fegans. Georgia was a finalist for both Alabama natives before they ultimately selected the Tigers. Fegans is still considering his options into the fall. Additionally, Georgia will get a handful of the nation’s best in the 2026 cycle to Athens, including in-state blue-chippers WR Aaron Gregory and OL Zykie Helton, DL Carter Luckier and DB Nassir McCoy. Five-star OT Jackson Cantwell will also make the trip to the Peach State for this game, as the Dawgs look to capitalize on the talent on campus in both the 2025 and 2026 classes.