Wednesday, December 19, 2012
LB Hutchings prepares for busy month
By Mason Kelley
CONCORD, Calif. -- Michael Hutchings (Concord, Calif./De La Salle) knows January is going to be hectic.
Michael Hutchings will visit Washington but is still committed to USC.
The 6-foot-1, 213-pound outside linebacker has prepared himself for a barrage of late recruiting attention. He committed to USC in July but, when a prospect is rated No. 4 in the nation at his position, coaches hold out hope they might be able to sway his decision in the final weeks before signing day.
“It’s going to be crazy, but I can deal with it,” he said.
Hutchings will take his official visit to USC on Jan. 18. He plans to take one more trip -- either the week before or the week after -- to Washington.
“Their coaching staff is interactive with all the kids,” he said. “They’re going to be there for a while. They’re young. They’re all close. They all kind of learned a little bit from each other. I think that’s what’s there. They’re up and coming.”
The senior has seen the recruiting classes the Huskies have put together over the past few years. When he looks at the talent the program has added, coupled with the coaching staff, he sees the potential.
“They’ve got some good young quarterbacks that are all lined up there for that offense and the defense is doing well under coach [Justin] Wilcox, who is a defensive mastermind,” Hutchings said. “I think it’s the combination of what they have and the potential they have.”
However, while he likes where Washington is headed, he remains firmly committed to USC.
“It would take a lot,” he said. “I have my USC visit the 18th, so I’m just taking that visit to see what’s out there, but that’s it. I know other guys are taking visits, too, so I just wanted to see what it was like to take another visit. That’s pretty much it.”
