Another major offer for Hutchings

Michael Hutchings picked up an offer from Oregon on Thursday and it wasn't a major surprise to the Concord (Calif.) De La Salle standout since he already knows one particular Ducks' coach really well already.

Hutchings has developed a strong relationship with defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti through months of talking and also because the dean at De La Salle is Aliotti's brother, Joe, and Hutchings goes to school with their nephew.

Knowing the Aliotti family plays a small factor in Hutchings' recruitment and the 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect said Oregon is definitely being taken seriously moving forward in his recruitment.

"It's not really a surprise," Hutchings said of the Oregon offer. "I knew it was going to be coming sometime soon. I just didn't know when. It was good. Coach Aliotti was there (Thursday) and he talked to our dean, his brother, so there's a little bit of a connection there.

"I've been on the phone with coach Aliotti for probably the last eight months or so. Oregon has a different kind of recruiting style. They're a little more laid back but it wasn't a surprise at all."

USC is still considered the favorite for Hutchings but Oregon could play an interesting role in Hutchings' recruitment. Already having that relationship with the Aliotti family definitely cannot hurt the Ducks' chances.

"It's funny to see," Hutchings said.

"There are three brothers and I know them all with Joe our dean and then Nick and then there's another brother whose son goes to our school. They're all talkative, they're all funny, they're all loud and they relate to us. Nick is a straight-up guy. I know he doesn't feed a lot of BS through the recruiting process. He's been straight-up with me the whole time.

"It's definitely a serious consideration after talking to him. With their defense, it fits me. They already have an idea of where I can play. It's like a rover position as a strong safety, outside linebacker position where Eddie Pleasant plays right now."

Hutchings said he wants to visit Oregon and Washington this off-season. He has already taken trips to USC, UCLA and Cal so seeing other Pac-12 schools is the priority.

Washington has also made a move up his list not only because defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi left Cal for the Huskies but Hutchings is impressed with the triumvirate of Lupoi, defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox and linebackers coach Peter Sirmon.