Scarlett inches closer to decision

Brennan Scarlett has already had three in-home visits, will have two more early in January and then the four-star defensive end from Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic could be ready to make his decision.

California, UCLA and USC have already done visits with Scarlett and Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh and Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly will stop in after their bowl games to try and woo the No. 101 prospect in the 2011 class by Rivals.com. He's also rated ninth at strong-side defensive end and second in the Oregon state rankings.

"After they're done I think Brennan will narrow it down to at least two if not make his decision," Central Catholic coach Steve Pyne said.

Scarlett, who has been marred by injuries last off-season and this season, has probably narrowed his list down a little bit already but before officially doing anything he wants to listen to Harbaugh and Kelly during the in-home visits.

After a summer trip to the four main California schools - USC, UCLA, Cal and Stanford - there was a sense that the Golden Bears held a slight edge. Notre Dame has also been highly considered throughout the recruiting process.

At first, the idea was to maybe make a decision before Scarlett's holiday break but he decided to postpone anything until after every coach recruiting him had a chance to visit with him.

Those meetings are happening soon and then Scarlett could be prepared to make his commitment.

"He's probably kind of narrowed it in his mind a little bit," Pyne said. "In his mind he kind of has it narrowed down but he won't tell anybody.

"I get the sense there are a couple schools ahead of other schools. I think he wants to be done. I think he would have liked to have been done before Christmas break but without talking to coach Harbaugh and coach Kelly he's decided he'll wait to hear what they have to say."