McGee fixated on playing quarterback

Khari McGee self identifies as a quarterback. He lines up under center at Fresno (Calif.) Edison High School and throws passes to wide receivers, but his claim to the position goes beyond that. He's fixated on it and not interested in moving. To hear him talk about it is to know that any school planning a sign-and-swap is wasting its time recruiting him.

There's no wiggle room on this one.

"The first things I'm looking at is the quarterback situation at the schools, of course," McGee said. "And also if they are willing to play me a quarterback and promise not to try to move me."

Oregon State scored points in that department during McGee's weekend visit to Corvallis. According to him, there was plenty to like about the Beavers' program. He spoke of the most important aspect first, though.

"They told me that they wouldn't give me a scholarship if they were trying to play me at anything else but quarterback," McGee said. "I liked that. That's a big plus."

Current Oregon State running back Chris Brown served as McGee's host on the trip. The two are familiar from time spent playing against each other on the high school level in Northern California. That sense of familiarity was also marked down in the "pros" category.

"The whole trip there was great," McGee said. "I loved it. I had a lot of time to hang out with Chris for the majority of the trip and see the campus. I had a lot of time with the coaches."

Next up on McGee's inspection docket is Arizona. McGee will make the trip to Tucson during the second week of January. He'll take in the campus, see how he meshes with the coaches, check out the school's football facilities and, most importantly of all, ask for confirmation on his future position.

If it sounds like McGee has a one-track mind when it comes to his recruitment, it's only because he does.

"Arizona says they are ok with me playing quarterback," he said. "I've asked them on the phone a couple times, but I'm going to ask them again when I get down there for my visit."

Regardless of what he's already seen at Oregon State and will see at Arizona, though. McGee's commitment will wait until signing day.

McGee, who is set to participate in this week's Cal State All-Star Game, currently lists four scholarship offers, but the Beavers and Wildcats represent his only BCS-level opportunities. Utah is also involved in his recruitment but is yet to extend a formal offer.