Scarlett ready for decision

Cameron Scarlett is down to four programs and the four-star is about ready to make his decision.

The Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic all-purpose back has narrowed his choices to Stanford, UCLA, Notre Dame and Washington and he will announce his commitment Monday at his school.

Stanford has become a considerable favorite in his recruitment especially since he's had two in-home visits with that coaching staff including one with coach David Shaw. No other schools have met with Scarlett for an in-home but that could ramp up this week.

"My decision to announce on December 15 has been in place for a while now with my family but I don't think the coaches really knew about it so once they found out they're hopefully going to try to come this week and do in-homes," Scarlett said.

Rated as the fifth-best all-purpose back and the No. 100 prospect in the 2015 class by Rivals.com, Scarlett admits he's been impressed by the way Stanford has recruited him. Having Shaw make him a main focus was something special.

"Stanford really recruits me hard," Scarlett said. "They tell me a lot of stuff I want to hear with them looking for a big running back, someone that they didn't have this year. The academics are what Stanford is known for. It speaks for itself with a Stanford education. They're really pushing hard.

"(Shaw visiting) was definitely special for me. He came to the school by himself and I was the first person he came to see and then the other coaches coming (Monday) night really showed that they really do want me."

UCLA cannot be counted out, though, because Scarlett loves the coaching staff and really is pulled to playing in Los Angeles.

"UCLA is a program on the rise," Scarlett said.

"That's something I definitely want to go into. The L.A. area is so great and it draws me there. My visit was super great. The team was really cool and I got along really well with all of them. The coaching staff has improved that team and they have a lot of years on that coaching staff. It seems like they've been a lot of places."

Scarlett, the top-rated player in the Oregon state rankings, also loved his visits to Notre Dame and Washington this season.

"Notre Dame is such a winning school throughout my life," Scarlett said. "I've always seen them since I was born win games and I've always seen them on TV and their players were also really, really cool. I like their players a lot.

"Washington with the new coaching staff, coach (Chris Petersen), has been a winning coach throughout his career and that's something that draws me toward them. I have a really good relationship with their running backs coach, too."

In eight games in his senior season, Scarlett had 832 rushing yards and 14 scores. He also caught three touchdown passes.