Hold your breath, Utah State fans. The football recruiting class is not yet safe.
Only one week before National Signing Day, one of the Aggies' top commits, quarterback Damion Hobbs, is considering a new offer from Oregon. Hobbs, a three-star from Cedar Hill, Texas, would be considered arguably the best of the haul as one of the top-50 rated passers in the country.
Hobbs committed to Utah State last week, praising the school's family atmosphere and coaching staff. But he left Eugene, Ore., feeling conflicted.
"It's not about the jerseys or anything like that," Hobbs said in an interview with the Tribune. "It's about what they have going on there, the coaches and the community that obviously cares a lot about football. I also liked the academics. They have one of the best business schools in the country, and that really stood out to me."
Hobbs said he'd decide in the next few days talking it over with his mom. He added that USU assistant coach Luke Wells was coming to visit on Monday evening.
The Aggies are unlikely to back down as the Ducks make a push for one of their recruits. Hobbs, who led Cedar Hill to the Texas 5A title game last season, is presumably an heir to Chuckie Keeton, a potential face of the program as it transitions to the Mountain West.
Still, it's tough to compete with Oregon, which is likely to stay among the top programs in the country even after coach Chip Kelly's departure. Utah State has a contract with Nike; Oregon boasts Phil Knight as an alum. The Aggies are coming off a WAC championship; the Ducks have played for a national championship in the last few years.
Hobbs will chew over both his visits this week. He said the biggest difference USU had compared to Oregon was its surrounding community.
"I liked the town there a lot," Hobbs said of Logan. "The people are great. The fans are supportive."
Kyle Goon
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon