Atkinson looks to set more visits

Josh Atkinson has two official visits set - to Notre Dame and Oregon during back-to-back weekends in September - and the three-star cornerback from Livermore (Calif.) Granada is close to finalizing two more, both with Pac-10 schools.

Atkinson said he'd like to officially visit Washington and Arizona State and that the field for his fifth trip is "wide open" with Miami, Alabama, Oregon State and others as possibilities.

Notre Dame has dramatically moved up in recent weeks for Atkinson and his brother George, a four-star athlete who will accompany Josh on both planned visits. The Atkinson Bros. visit Notre Dame on Sept. 10 and then with the Ducks the following weekend.

Those two programs can be considered frontrunners for Atkinson, rated No. 37 at cornerback and No. 66 in the California state rankings by Rivals.com.

"Notre Dame is definitely high on my list and I'm definitely interested in their program," Atkinson said. "They've stepped it up big time.

"There's been more communication and just what they have in their program and how they're on the verge of turning it around. The things I've heard and definitely the coaches are stepping it up communication-wise.

"(Oregon) is up there, too. They've kept it up. I'm definitely considering Oregon also. I have a great relationship with the coaches and I really like what the coaches have going over there."

Recent Washington commit Austin Seferian-Jenkins, a four-star tight end from Gig Harbor, Wash., has been talking to Atkinson about the Huskies and he's heard some intriguing things. Washington is definitely in the running and Atkinson said he's working on setting a visit date. He'd like to have all five trips done during the season.

"I haven't been up there so I want to go up there and see what their program is about," Atkinson said. "They're definitely high on my interest list.

"The coaching staff stands out and Austin committed and he's telling me a lot about the program and definitely has me interested in what Washington has to offer. The cornerback situation would be a good fit if I go up there and step it up."

Arizona State has been involved for a while with Atkinson, who also has offers from Arizona, San Jose State, Syracuse, Utah, Washington State and others, and a trip to see the Sun Devils can certainly happen.

Atkinson said nothing has been set with Washington or Arizona State so things could change but his focus is on finalizing trips soon with both programs.

"(Arizona State) has been recruiting me really hard and stepping it up," Atkinson said. "The same thing with Oregon State, that could be a possible visit right there, too. Arizona State has been recruiting me really hard and I have to show them love and go up there for a visit."