4-star DE down to three, could commit

Olney (Md.) Good Counsel defensive end Ryan Watson has been a tough one to reach for the media. The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder had been linked with many schools during the summer but narrowed his list down to four. Now after taking his first official visit, he is down to three schools with one visit remaining.

"I visited Purdue this past weekend it was a really nice trip," said Watson, ranked as the No. 17 strongside defensive end in the country. "They have a good campus and good people. There are a lot of students there but the campus is small it seems, everything I needed would be close and I liked that. I was hosted by defensive tackle Bruce Gaston and he likes it there. They need defensive tackles so I think I'd fit in well and play early."

Purdue was the first official visit for Watson.

"I've been to schools but an official visit is different," he said. "I got to see so much from where I'd be living to where I'd be eating to all the football aspects of things. I liked the coaches and I like that they need help right away because I'd like to play early."

Watson was supposed to visit Michigan State this upcoming weekend and then Pitt the weekend after that, but he changed plans.

"Michigan State is out," he said. "That was my decision. I like the coaches but I researched a little more and found I'm not that interested in the program. I want to focus on Purdue and Pitt."

So the Pitt visit is now this weekend. The Panthers have been rumored to be his leader for some time now. Could he end the process this weekend?

"I could, it depends," he said. "I want to see the living environment and how I get along with the coaches. I've been there once before and I really liked it so if I feel good about it this weekend, I could just make my decision. But if not, I will have some thinking to do."

A third school is trying to stay in the picture as well.

"Georgia Tech is pushing hard," he said. "Coach Al Groh has been talking to me a lot and I have a current teammate in Rod (Roderick Chungong) going there and an ex-teammate in Louis (Louis Young) already there, but I'm not sure if I'll visit. It depends on this weekend."

Pitt just lost three coaches including his recruiting coach Tony Dews. Does that make an impact?

"Not at all really," he said. "Coach Randolph is still there and he'd be my position coach so it doesn't affect me at all."

Watson had offers from more than 25 different college programs before narrowing down his list to his final three.