by Kristopher Hutson

My recruiting process has been going great. Being recruited and having a chance to go to college for free is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I got my first offer during my time as a freshman. Receiving that offer is the most exciting thing about this whole process, because that is the main goal for every athlete.

If you only receive a Division-2 or Division-3 scholarship, don’t start doubting yourself, because many pro athletes have come from even community colleges. You can go anywhere and ball-out, then transfer to a big-time university to improve your exposure. Never lose hope.

I committed to the University of Southern California early in my junior year. However, after thinking about it hard and talking with friends and family, I realized USC was not a place for me. If you’re getting recruited and you commit to a school, make sure you fit the school and the environment. I rushed the commitment with USC and didn’t look into the school and the current culture. I committed because of the legacy of what USC was instead of what it is right now. 

So, I decommitted from USC and I will now be attending Oregon. Decommitting from USC was a big risk, because other colleges would be able to see that I went back from my word. However, it is not all bad because I was once again able to have an open mind about where I want to spend the next years of my life.

There is no better place for me than Oregon. It’s the school I feel will be best for me, as it’s the best overall fit and where I feel the most comfortable. I had a great visit last week, and the moment I got there I felt like I was at home. I got that family feel right off the bat, which is what I have been searching for.

I have a chance to step in and play right away. They need receivers, and I think I can make an immediate impact there. I like the offense a lot, it’s similar to what we run at St. John Bosco and their style of play is a real good fit for me. They can move me around to take advantage of mismatches and I’m excited to show what I am capable of.

The coaching staff has been consistently recruiting me for some time now. It’s not just one coach, it’s the whole staff, including head coach Mario Cristobal, which is why I felt an instant connection there. I was planning to wait to make my decision, but the more I thought about it, the more I was ready to get this done and make my decision public and it feels great to be a Duck.

Also, I am being recruited strictly at receiver, but I have actually looked very good playing some corner as well. In terms of my playing style, I’m similar to Oregon signee Josh Delgado in terms of size, smooth route running, and hands.

Being recruited like this and having all these offers is a big thing. Meeting coaches is also  very important because you only get one first impression. When I meet Coach Cristobal, it was a pleasure. Meeting college coaches is better than any team meeting. Special thanks to head coach Jim Harbaugh as well. 

Overall, getting recruited by colleges is a good thing, but the main thing is to not get cocky. Always be humble and stay positive. You can talk but don’t talk too much. Overall, my recruiting process has been going great.

The best advice I would give to someone is to take their time with this whole process, because you do not want to rush anything and be forced to go somewhere you do not want to go.