Chula Vista (Calif.) Mater Dei Catholic CJ Verdell was the first commitment to Oregon's 2017 recruiting class back in May. And though he remains pledged to the Ducks, with the coaching change in Eugene he is now officially looking around and seriously considering other colleges.
He has had recent in-home visits with two colleges he is planning to officially visit in January.
"I've done one with Nebraska, and then I did one with Utah yesterday. I'm definitely still committed, but I just want to see who they hire as their next coach. But I'm definitely going to explore my other options, so I will be taking visits and stuff like that.
"The dead period is coming up so I will have some set up for after the dead period starting on January 13. It's either going to be Utah or Nebraska on January 13, and after that I will visit the other one and probably UCLA too. I don't know who my fifth [visit] will be."
Verdell was asked to discuss his in-home visits with the Huskers and the Utes:
"For Nebraska, Reggie Davis the running backs coach came and he stayed for like two hours or so. My parents and my little sister were there too. We pretty much talked about how they saw me fitting into their offense, he pretty much told me about Nebraska, and then we talked about my official visit date.
"For Utah, it was Coach Freddie Whittingham, the tight ends coach. It was pretty much the same thing. We asked him how they see me fitting in there, what they're going to use me as, and pretty much what their school has to offer. Things along those lines."
Verdell does not know what it will take for a college program to flip him from Oregon. He's just going to go with his gut instinct.
"That's why I'm taking my visits, I guess. I want to see what else is out there. It's either going to reconfirm my decision about Oregon or make me know that I like something different."
(Mike)
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WR Joseph Lewis
Rivals100 five-star wideout Joseph Lewis out of Los Angeles (Calif.) Hawkins hosted a trio of Nebraska coaches for an in-home visit last night.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Lewis had Huskers head coach Mike Riley, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf and wideouts coach Keith Williams at his home with his family and high school coaches according to Hawkins offensive coordinator Malik James.
James said it was a very productive visit for everyone involved.
Yes, it was a very good visit," James said. "Good talks about football, the future, books and more."
Lewis is scheduled to take an official visit to Arizona State this weekend.
(Nate)
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2017 Chula Vista (Calif.) Mater Dei Catholic RB CJ Verdell just won the Silver Pigskin Award which goes out to the my outstanding San Diego area football player each year.
Nebraska running backs coach Reggie Davis has been out to see the current Oregon commit recently and NU is expected to be back by once again this week. Look for Verdell to be taking an official visit to Nebraska in January.
(Nate)
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CB Thomas Graham
I just got confirmation from one of Thomas Graham's coaches that Nebraska head coach Mike Riley and new cornerbacks coach Donte Williams are currently visiting the Rivals100 cornerback out of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. at this very moment.
Graham is the very first prospect that Williams has seen since being hired at Nebraska and this visit is an important one as the four-star player is an early enrollee and is planning to announce his decision at the Under Armour All-American game in early January.
Graham was being recruited by Williams at Arizona and some had recently felt like the Wildcats had become the team to beat for him. He has also taken official visits to Oregon, Nebraska, Arizona State and Notre Dame in addition to Arizona.
(Nate)
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OT Chuck Filiaga
Mike just got off the phone with Aledo, Texas offensive tackle Chuck Filiaga who said his in-home visit with Nebraska offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh went very well this evening.
The 6-foot-6, 335-pound Rivals250 tackle said he has really enjoyed hosting Cavanaugh, Mike Riley and Tavita Thompson from the Huskers' staff over the last two weeks and that he feels like he has a very good relationship with all three of them, especially Coach Cav.
Filiaga also confirmed with Mike that he will be taking his official visit to Nebraska this weekend. His team plays for the state championship game on Friday night and the next morning he and his parents will fly to Lincoln where they will arrive around noon. Filiaga said he's very excited to see NU up close with his own eyes and to be around the staff some more this weekend.
This will be Filiaga's fourth and final official visit as he is set to announce his decision at the Army All-American Bowl game in early January. He has taken previous official visits to Oregon, Oklahoma and Michigan. He told Mike he has only hosted coaches from Nebraska, Michigan and Oklahoma for in-home visits since the contact period has started. He does not have any other in-home visits scheduled for tonight.
(Nate)
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