Willis has new outlook

Nate Willis' recruitment is evolving and so too is it list of favorites. A day after he decommitted from South Florida last month, the Arizona Western Community College cornerback mentioned Arizona State, Kansas State and Mississippi State as schools he planned to look into. That list has now been revised.

On Sunday, Willis rattled off a different, more ambitious group of favorites, two thirds of which is comprised of schools that are yet to offer him a scholarship. The only holdover from the first bunch? Mississippi State.

"UCLA, Mississippi State and, if Alabama offers, it would be Alabama," Willis said. "That's the top three right now."

The catch in this situation is, of course, large. Alabama has only made preliminary contact with Willis' junior college coaches. A UCLA offer hasn't arrived yet, either. According to Willis, the Bruins' coaching staff has requested his transcripts and will review his academic standing before making a decision.

Playing for the Tide may very well be a pipe dream. The chances are better, however, of the defensive back getting an invitation to wear a light blue jersey at UCLA. If you listen to Willis, it's really just a matter of time.

"UCLA really wants me," Willis said. "They are just waiting on admissions to get back to them before they make the offer."

Mississippi State has been the constant all along, and the Bulldogs top the list of 15 schools that have already offered. Willis will visit Starkville on Nov. 17. That trip has already been planned. The rest of his travel itinerary, on the other hand, is not nearly as certain.

"I'm definitely going to visit UCLA," Willis said. 'We need to get in touch to find out when, but I'm definitely going there. I'll probably take some more visits. Probably to Kansas State or a another school, a new offer or something like that."

With new programs sniffing around and what seems like an evener-changing list of favorites, Willis remains uncertain on a timetable for a commitment. A player who has already been committed once and totally overhauled his list options since, he's acutely aware of how quickly things can change.

"I may wait until December, but things could be totally different between now and then," he said. "I'm going to target signing day and see how that plays out."

Willis says he remains on pace to graduate from Arizona Western in December. He'll have three years to play two seasons at the FBS level.