B2G: Houston talks top five

LOS ANGELES - John Houston is playing in the B2G West Coast Bowl this weekend but the five-star linebacker also has a lot on his mind as National Signing Day gets closer.

The Gardena (Calif.) Serra standout had three in-home visits late in the week with Arizona State, Oklahoma and Miami stopping by on Thursday evening.

The Sun Devils sent four coaches including Todd Graham and Houston was impressed.

"They were talking about the close-knit team, the values of the team and the close connection of the coaches," Houston said. Coach Graham tried to explain everything and what he put into the program and how much it changed over the couple years he's been there. He talked about the academics and everything else he wanted to touch on with my parents.

"I like the school and I like coach Graham a lot. He's a real Christian man. He reminds me of my grandpa and he's building on what he's already done. Going on to signing day they're going to stay in there."

Oklahoma sent coach Bob Stoops and some assistants. The five-star linebacker said it was a special moment and that he has developed a great relationship and respect for linebackers coach Tim Kish, who was also on the in-home visit.

"It was a real surreal moment," Houston said. "He won many titles and national championships. It was surreal to have all these coaches come by. He's a big-time head coach and coming into my household it made me humble myself even more knowing everybody doesn't get this opportunity.

"I like coach Kish a lot. He's one of the coolest linebacker coaches I've seen. His players love him and he teaches them a lot. He knows everything he's talking about. I like that about him."

The visit from Miami assistant coach Jethro Franklin was short but sweet. Houston has the Hurricanes in his top five as well.

"He came by just to show his face and talk about the program and the stats," Houston said. "That was basically it. I had to leave a little bit early."

It has been a busy time for Houston but it's not over yet. The Serra prospect expects to have an in-home visit with Oregon on Monday and then USC will be last - either Monday or Tuesday before Houston shuts it down and considers all his options before committing on signing day.

"I'm trying to go into signing day with a clear mind to find that school that I love," Houston said.

"I'm just trying to decipher between five schools that have wonderful traits. Some have academics, some have athletics, some have connections. There are a lot of things. I'm just trying to find which one is best for me to fit into that program."

Rivals.com rates Houston as the second-best outside linebacker and the No. 30 prospect in the 2015 class. He finished with 147 tackles and three sacks in his senior season.

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