Scarlett takes more summer visits
Brennan Scarlett has taken a handful of trips this summer but Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic coach Steve Pyne doesn't believe the four-star strong-side defensive end is anywhere closer to a decision.
Scarlett, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound prospect, visited USC, UCLA, Cal and Stanford and although all four Pac-10 programs have something to offer Pyne said Scarlett was especially impressed with the Golden Bears, their coaching staff and facilities.
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"He took a swing through USC, UCLA, Cal and Stanford and had a lot of positive things to say about each of them," Pyne said.
"My guess from talking to him is that Cal might have been the place that surprised him the most. He really liked coach (Jeff) Tedford, really liked their d-line coach (Tosh Lupoi) and was pleasantly surprised with the facilities there.
"I asked him a week or so ago if he had five who they would be and he listed seven. I don't think he's any closer. I know he'd like to trip to LSU and trip to Oklahoma and see those schools and see if they have anything that piques his interest but he hasn't been in contact with those schools much."
The process could drag on for a while with Scarlett, rated as the fifth-best strong-side defensive end, No. 86 nationally and second in the Oregon state rankings by Rivals.com behind only four-star athlete Colt Lyerla.
On top of visiting the aforementioned California schools, Scarlett has also seen Boise State, BYU, Washington, Oregon and Oregon State in recent months.
The thinking is that Scarlett could wait until at least the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in early January to announce his decision or it could take until National Signing Day in February.
Pyne said his sense is that Cal has a slight edge especially after Scarlett visited Berkeley this summer but that prediction could change at any time. Scarlett has not stated he has a particular favorite at this point.
"Not to speak for him but I think he's enjoying the process a little bit," Pyne said. "He's taking it with a broad stroke and washing over everything and maybe something will be his 'aha' moment and he'll say that's where I'm supposed to be. I don't think that's happened yet.
"We were talking the other day and I asked him if he was going to announce at the Army game and he was like, 'I don't know if I want to do that,'" Pyne said. "'I want to have everybody around me, all my friends and stuff, maybe on signing day.'
"So I said, 'You're going to take it to signing day? You told me you weren't going to,' so he goes, 'I didn't even think about that. Maybe I'll announce at the Army game.' He's being 17."