The Class of 2018 is turning for the home stretch. While more than 2,000 prospects took advantage of the December signing period, more than 75 ESPN 300 prospects remain uncommitted following the three-day, late-December window. That means there is even more emphasis on the top prospects still available. Some major recruiting battles are coming down to final visits and head coach in-home visits, with all the major players in college football jockeying to close in emphatic fashion.
With just two official visit weekends remaining, here is a look at some of the top recruiting battles remaining in the class.
Patrick Surtain Jr. | CB, 6-foot-2, 192 lbs., Plantation, Florida, American Heritage, ESPN 300 No. 5
The favorite: LSU
Main competition: Alabama
Others in the mix: Ohio State, Miami, Florida, Clemson
LSU was the long-time favorite in Surtain recruitment, but as expected, national champion Alabama is surging late. Nick Saban has prioritized the five-star, but the Tigers still have a couple of key in-home visits remaining, with Ed Orgeron trying to close. While the five-star could make additional official visits the next two weekends, the team with the best chance to unseat the top two could be the hometown Hurricanes.
Tyson Campbell | CB, 6-foot-3, 181 lbs., Plantation, Florida, American Heritage, ESPN 300 No. 9
The favorite: Georgia
Main competition: Alabama and Miami
One thing is looking probable in the recruitment of this five-star: Campbell and teammate Patrick Surtain Jr. aren't likely to pick the same college. The Hurricanes surged during the season, but Georgia and Alabama have made this recruitment anything but a layup for Mark Richt. The Bulldogs have had plenty of success recruiting American Heritage in recent years, with Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie both starring in Athens, and Campbell could be the next from the school to sign with the SEC champions.
Nick Petit-Frere | OT, 6-foot-5, 265 lbs., Tampa, Florida, Berkely Prep, ESPN 300 No. 13
The favorite: Alabama
Main competition: Florida
Others in the mix: Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State
The five-star's recruitment headed into January with the potential to go a number of directions, but after Petit-Frere's visit to Alabama last weekend, the Crimson Tide are surging. While Alabama is sitting in a good position, this weekend's official visit to Florida is going to be huge in Petit-Frere's signing day decision. The Gators were considered the favorites at various times in the past year, but the 2017 season and subsequent coaching change have altered the path of this recruitment. A final weekend visit to Ohio State remains scheduled, as Urban Meyer looking to beat Florida and Alabama.
William Barnes | OT, 6-foot-5, 312 lbs., Apopka, Florida, Apopka High, ESPN 300 No. 53
The favorite: North Carolina
Main competition: Florida
Others in the mix: Ole Miss and Auburn
The family ties to North Carolina have always had the Tar Heels in position to reel in one of the Sunshine State's best, and that was helped by the uncertainty and coaching change at Florida. Auburn looked like a serious contender, but Texas's hiring Herb Hand away from the Tigers slowed momentum. Ole Miss has emerged as a threat to North Carolina, but it will be Barnes' official visit to Gainesville this weekend that could change the course of this recruitment.
Tommy Bush | WR, 6-foot-4, 189 lbs., Schertz, Texas, Samuel Clemens, ESPN 300 No. 71
The favorite: Georgia
Main competition: Baylor
Others in the mix: Ole Miss, Michigan State, Florida, Texas, Arkansas
There have been a number of twists and turns in the recruitment of the Under Armour All-America Game receiver, but Baylor has been the constant. Bush has been the Bears staff's top target for more than a year, while others have come and gone, and now they are trying to fight for a fifth and final official visit. Georgia's momentum has made its way to Texas, with Baylor and a re-engaged Texas trying to keep the playmaker home. Bush's decision between Baylor, Texas, Florida and Arkansas for the final official visit will be telling in who will emerge.
Quay Walker | OLB, 6-foot-3, 220 lbs., Cordele, Georgia, Crisp County, ESPN 300 No. 73
The favorite: Alabama
Main competition: Georgia
Others in the mix: Tennessee, Florida and Auburn
During Under Armour All-America Game week in Orlando, the long-time Alabama verbal set off alarms after mentioning that he might not take an official visit to Tuscaloosa. Well, Walker was on campus last weekend, and the Crimson Tide are doing everything they can to hold on to the elite outside linebacker prospect with the home-state Bulldogs trying to keep every top prospect home with the momentum Smart and staff have created. Tennessee is also in the picture due to Jeremy Pruitt's hiring in Knoxville, and Florida and Auburn remain in the mix.
Justyn Ross | WR, 6-foot-4, 197 lbs., Phenix City, Alabama, Central High, ESPN 300 No. 74
The favorite: Alabama
Main competition: Clemson and Auburn
Headed into this weekend's official visit to Auburn, Ross' recruitment is still in play, but the Tigers must hit a grand slam to beat surging Alabama and Clemson. The ACC champions were considered the team to beat for much of the season and were the most talked about team during Under Armour All-America Game week in Orlando. But the Crimson Tide have a tidal wave of momentum working right now after another national championship, the emergence of a passing signal-caller and last weekend's home run official visit. This one could go either way between Alabama and Clemson.
Jaylen Waddle | WR, 5-foot-10, 169 lbs., Houston, Texas, Episcopal High, ESPN 300 No. 77
The favorite: Alabama
Main competition: Texas A&M
Others in the mix: TCU, Oregon, Florida State, Texas
This is a must-win recruitment for Texas A&M and newly hired head coach Jimbo Fisher. Waddle was considered a Florida State lean less than a year ago and in the early part of the summer before Alabama made a big move. Now less than three weeks before signing day, this looks like a Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher battle with recruiting momentum tough to come by for Fisher in this transition class. With Christian Kirk off to the NFL, Texas A&M has playing time to sell while Alabama has everything else to sell.
Isaac Taylor-Stuart | CB, 6-foot-2, 192 lbs., San Diego, California, Helix High, ESPN 300 No. 78
The favorite: USC
Main competition: Alabama
Others in the mix: Tennessee, Texas A&M, Georgia
This is one the Trojans need to win, but it's not going to be easy. Taylor-Stuart will be making his official visit to Alabama this weekend, and the Crimson Tide are surging with the hire of Jeff Banks, who was Taylor-Stuart's primary recruiter at Texas A&M for the past year. The Banks hire in Tuscaloosa has knocked down the Aggies' chances, with Georgia now seen as the biggest potential threat to USC and Alabama. A Feb. 2 visit to Tennessee is scheduled, but it's not likely that the Volunteers will beat USC or Alabama.
Richard Gouraige | OT, 6-foot-5, 271 lbs., Tampa, Florida, Cambridge Christian, ESPN 300 No. 85
The favorite: Clemson
Main competition: Florida
Others in the mix: Ole Miss and Auburn
The Florida commitment is trending toward Clemson headed into his trip to Gainesville. With Florida needing offensive linemen in the class, Dan Mullen and staff will not go down without a fight and have Gouraige on campus this weekend with a number of talented linemen, including tackle Nick Petit-Frere.
Joseph Ossai | OLB/DE, 6-foot-4, 220 lbs., Conroe, Texas, Oak Ridge High, ESPN 300 No. 140
The favorite: Texas
Main competition: Texas A&M
This pass-rusher appeared headed to Texas A&M for much of his recruitment, but Texas has been steadily chipping away since the summer. Now with the coaching change in College Station and the momentum for the Longhorns' No. 3-ranked class, Texas is in position to win a key head-to-head recruitment against the Aggies. Both programs need Ossai's pass-rush ability badly, and while the Longhorns have surged to the pole position, the Aggies are not throwing in the towel with an announcement not expected until signing day.