Mickens keeping options open
BEAVERTON, Ore. - Jaydon Mickens chooses to walk that fine line between being committed to USC but also keeping things open enough to look at other schools and consider other options.
It can be a difficult thing to figure but Mickens, a four-star athlete from Los Angeles Dorsey, said Thursday at The Opening it's perfectly fine because he doesn't want to limit his recruitment.
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"I'm solidly committed but open and still looking around, seeing what the best schools out there are for me," Mickens said.
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound recruit who probably projects as a wide receiver committed to USC in October of his junior season but that didn't stop other programs from going after him.
Arizona State, Cal, SMU and Washington have also offered and he said the Huskies are pretty much in second place.
"They're showing me a lot of attention," Mickens said of Washington.
"They're telling me good things about the program, good things I can adapt to and they're right now from what I see very truthful so that's why they have the No. 2 spot."
Recently, four-star wide receiver Jordan Payton de-committed from USC and four-star defensive end Arik Armstead said he's going to take all five of his official visits. It's no secret that some of the USC commits are looking around and that includes Mickens who has kept his recruitment open from the beginning.
Still, that doesn't seem to have any influence on Mickens' decision and he plans to take his visits just to keep his options open but still remains firmly committed to the Trojans.
"That is their decision," Mickens said. "They're doing the best thing for them as a player and for their family. I bid them good luck.
"I've been keeping options open because it's like if I have one ice cream and that one ice cream is vanilla I wouldn't know what chocolate tasted like and I might like chocolate so that's how I'm looking at it."