Usher still has NW favorite

There's a saying that 'blood is thicker than water' and in the recruiting world, we've seen it first hand where siblings follow each other when it's time to pick a college. Will that be the case with Los Angeles (Calif.) Jefferson wide out Austin Usher?

Usher, 6-3, 195 pounds is one of the nation's elite receiver prospects and a top 100 player nationally. As a junior, Usher caught 21 balls for 696 yards and 12 touchdowns to earn all city and second team all-state honors. He clocked a 4.57 in the 40 at the NorCal Nike camp with a hamstring so sore, he had to sit out part of the position drills and the one on ones. A year earlier, Usher blazed a 4.40 and was dominant in the one on ones at the end of the workout.

Oregon State has been Usher's leader for some time as not only does his older brother Whitfield play for the Beavers, the two are very close. At just about every event we've done in the past two years, Whitfield has been there to show his support and it's very difficult to imagine the younger Usher going anywhere else.

"I like Oregon State a lot, they're still my top school," Usher said. "Cal has been on me hard too and I'm also looking at Washington, Washington State, Arizona, Arizna State and a few others. My list changes a lot but Oregon State is always up there. It's not just having my brother there, I like the coaches too and they have a big need for receivers."

Usher said he has no plans to make an early decision and would like to take at least two to three of his official visits before deciding anything.