Scarlett returns from USC visit
Brennan Scarlett took his visit to USC this past weekend and liked the Trojans very much but like usual the four-star defensive end from Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic is keeping things close to the vest and not revealing much about his recruitment.
"He liked USC," Central Catholic coach Steve Pyne said. "He thought it was good. I asked him, 'Did you commit?' He said, 'No,' and I said, 'OK.' That's all I can give."
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Scarlett, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound prospect who's been sidelined with a shoulder injury, plans to visit Notre Dame next weekend and then will take an official trip to Cal in two weeks.
During a summer tour of USC, UCLA, Cal and Stanford, Pyne said, the Golden Bears stuck out most to Scarlett, who's seriously looking at the Trojans but might have another Pac-10 team slightly ahead at this point.
Since he doesn't talk too much about favorites, it's even difficult for those closest to Scarlett to judge which programs lead in his recruitment.
"It's tough to say," Pyne said. "He's been pretty low key about most things. After this summer, he saw all four schools down in California, and when he came back and talking to him it seemed like Cal was his favorite place. That doesn't mean that's where he's leaning either.
"He wanted to take a closer look at USC because of what it is and the tradition and history there and check it out for himself. That's what he did."
On his visit to Berkeley, Scarlett apparently hit it off with coach Jeff Tedford and defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, the Rivals.com recruiter of the year. Another trip to campus in a few weeks could be a major boost for the Golden Bears when Scarlett is ready to make his decision.
"He clicked with coach Tedford," Pyne said. "I don't know what the click was but he really liked him and liked the d-line coach. Beyond that, he didn't really reveal much about that trip."
Rivals.com rates Scarlett, who'll play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, No. 6 at strong-side defensive end, No. 93 nationally and second in the Oregon state rankings behind only Hillsboro athlete Colt Lyerla.
LSU, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA and Washington are the other schools being considered by Scarlett, who has not finalized his two other official visits.