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          Big Ten Blog

          Best of the visits: Big Ten

          • Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Staff WriterJan 18, 2015, 11:50 AM ET
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            • ESPN staff writer
            • Joined ESPN in 2011
            • Graduated from Central Michigan
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          We are in the final contact period before signing day, which means official visits are upon us. This weekend was an important one for the Big Ten, as plenty of top targets were on campuses. The visiting prospects took to Twitter and social media to document their trips.

          Here is a look at the visits from the eyes of the recruits:

          It wouldn’t be a visit weekend without cookie cakes, so to kick this post off properly, Northwestern commit Simba Short shared his cookie cake spread while on his visit to see the Wildcats.

          Cookie cakes are the way to any recruit’s commitment.

          Michigan State doesn’t have much to fill in the 2015 class, but linebacker Anthony McKee is one prospect the coaches would still like to land. McKee took a visit to see the Spartans this weekend and is slated to make it out to Wisconsin and Minnesota as well.

          Maryland only had a few official visitors on campus in commit Adam McLean and Oseh Saine, who committed on his visit this weekend.

          Offensive lineman Quarvez Boulware also committed to Maryland this weekend, but he came up on an unofficial visit.

          McLean took to Twitter to show off the entertainment side of his visit at a restaurant.

          While the Terps gained the most from their visit weekend, there is no denying Michigan had the biggest prospects on campus.

          The Wolverines hosted ESPN 300 prospects Roquan Smith and Chris Clark as well as South Carolina commit Damon Arnette and defensive end Shelton Johnson.

          Smith is the No. 29-ranked prospect in the country and became immediately interested when Michigan hired defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. The Wolverines vaulted into his top list, and Smith set up this visit to see what Michigan has to offer.

          Smith will decide on signing day, and as of right now Michigan will be on his short list for that decision.

          The Wolverines are also on the short list for Clark, who was committed at one point. He has UCLA and Michigan in his top two and still has a visit to see the Bruins next weekend before deciding.

          The two uncommitted prospects were joined on the visit by a few Michigan commitments, including safety Tyree Kinnel.

          The visit was just as important for Kinnel as the uncommitted prospects because Kinnel got a chance to help recruit, but he also got the opportunity to build a relationship with the new coaching staff in person.

          Penn State’s big visit weekend won’t be until next weekend, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t an exciting weekend for the Nittany Lions. Coach James Franklin posed with Flavor Flav at Penn State's basketball game. Flav later tweeted he has a cousin on Penn State’s basketball team.

          Illinois had a good opportunity to get a few 2016 prospects on campus as it waits for a few big 2015 visitors next weekend. Offensive lineman Nik Urban made the trip and tweeted he was too small for his car, a problem most offensive linemen likely have.

          Iowa also hosted a 2016 target in running back Toren Young, who took to Twitter to express his feelings on the visit.

          Minnesota still has a few big 2015 targets left in this class, and one was on campus this weekend in defensive tackle Jamal Milan. Milan still has a visit to Illinois on Jan. 23 and will make his decision on signing day between the Gophers, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa State.