Hunt happy with early pledge
Dashon Hunt was offered by UCLA late in his sophomore year and decided to commit this past summer since he likes the coaching staff, the education and a bunch of other things the Bruins can offer.
Hunt, one of the better 2013 defensive backs in the West, has picked up an offer from Washington and is hearing from numerous Pac-12 schools but said UCLA remains his favorite and is sticking to his pledge.
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"I was sitting on their offer for a while because I got it toward the end of my sophomore year and I was thinking about it and looking into it and everything," Hunt said.
"My coach, my dad and I thought it was the right time to do a verbal commitment since it's a great school academically and they have an uprising football program.
"The corners that are there now are going to be graduating when I go to college so I'd have a chance to start as a freshman. I'm used to the weather and I love it out here in California. It's close to home, my family could come to all the home games and that got me to commit so early."
Hunt, from Westlake Village (Calif.) Westlake, said he hopes UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel keeps his job after this season and since the Bruins have been playing better recently it looks more likely that could happen.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound cornerback is still planning to look at all his other options - and there going to be many of them - but UCLA still sticks out to the junior prospect.
"That might play a big part in it because I've always liked coach Neuheisel," Hunt said.
"Once I get more offers, I think I will toward the end of my junior season and the beginning of my senior year, that's when I'll start to make my final decision and see which college I really want to go to."
Hunt said Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Arizona State, USC and other Pac-12 schools have all shown interest. Washington is his only other offer so far.
Staying on the West Coast is preferable but Hunt said he'll research all his options before signing with a school - which is still a long way off.
"I would like to stay on the West Coast but if the best opportunity for me is somewhere else I have to do what I have to do," Hunt said. "It's all about which school fits me best."