Central Catholic's Brennan Scarlett and Hillsboro's Colt Lyerla, the state's most highly recruited senior football players, are inching closer toward deciding on colleges as they prepare for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 8 in San Antonio.
Scarlett, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end/outside linebacker, said he could make a decision as soon as the week after the U.S. Army game. He won't play in the all-star game, but will attend the events, as his surgically repaired collarbone continues to mend.
“Hopefully, I'm getting close to making a decision pretty soon so I can focus on some other things, my schoolwork and basketball, and stuff like that,” Scarlett said. “Maybe that week following the game, I'm thinking maybe I'll be able to make a decision and make it public.”
The 6-5, 225-pound Lyerla, who played linebacker and running back at Hillsboro, could make an announcement during the game but is more likely to wait until the following week, according to Hillsboro athletic director Steve Drake.
“I assure you, he'll only do it during the game if he knows it's right,” said Drake, who has been acting as a recruiting liaison for Lyerla. “He won't just do it for the media attention. But he has thought of that as something he would consider doing if his decision comes final during that week.”
Scarlett and Lyerla moved forward in the process when coaches visited them during the week before the holiday break.
Scarlett entertained USC's Lane Kiffin, California's Jeff Tedford and UCLA's Rick Neuheisel at his home. He expects Stanford's Jim Harbaugh and Notre Dame's Brian Kelly to visit in the coming week before he leaves for San Antonio.
“I've got it down to five – Notre Dame, Stanford, Cal-Berkeley, USC and UCLA,” Scarlett said.
Oregon was on his list, Scarlett said, “but I got a call and they told me that they had guys coming their way, so I'm guessing they have a lot of guys to commit to their scholarships.”
His father, Paul Scarlett, said Brennan is keeping an open mind about the Ducks.
“Oregon is still of interest to Brennan,” he said. “It's still an awesome place, and certainly that would be of consideration, at least on our end.”
Lyerla played host to Kiffin and Oregon's Chip Kelly at the high school in mid-December. He has narrowed his list to USC, Oregon and California, according to Drake.
“California kind of came in late,” Drake said. “He was impressed by some of the things they said, not just athletically but the academics they bring to the table. He understands the importance of a diploma from Cal-Berkeley.”
Drake said Lyerla has tentatively scheduled to visit California the weekend of Jan. 15. It depends on if he decides on Oregon or USC in the meantime, something he probably would make public at the U.S. Army game.
“If Oregon or USC greenlight him, and that's what he wants to do, he very well could feel confident enough to make that decision at the Army Bowl,” Drake said. “That's something he's talked about doing. But obviously, it's a very, very tough decision.”
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