The Opening regional, Seattle

RENTON -- May 28, 2016 -- Jesuit offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland competed at The Opening regional camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Saturday in Renton. Billy Gates/Staff

(Billy Gates)

Failing to connect or recruit in-state athletes became a calling card of the previous Oregon Ducks coaching staff.

And that disregard for in-state talent was felt on a personal level by Jesuit offensive tackle Jaxson Kirkland.

"For awhile, you kind of dwell on it and it was tough," he said. "But from the outside of it, I felt like, 'Their loss.' I understand that maybe I didn't fit with the old staff, but I got over it. At first, it was tough."

The 6-foot-7, 300-pound offensive lineman committed to UCLA in August and didn't give his recruitment much thought after that.

Of course, that all changed recently, as Kirkland added offers from both Oregon and Washington - an in-state school and his father's alma mater.

For Kirkland, the chance to play for Oregon is one he'd like to look into further.

"I met with coach Cristobal and Taggart last Friday at the school," he said. "Just chatting with them, I was intrigued by Oregon. Them offering me was awesome too, because finally it happened. We'd been talking about that one for awhile. I'm really fired up about that. Their offensive line coach, Cristobal, I really like him a lot."

So much so that the mammoth offensive tackle has schedule a visit to Oregon for Tuesday, and may consider a change in his commitment if the trip goes well.

"We'll see after my visit (Tuesday)," Kirkland said. "It depends on what the experience is like down there and how much I enjoy it. We'll see."

Of course, there's also a new offer from Washington to consider.

Jaxson's father, Dean Kirkland, played for the Huskies and was co-captain of the 1990 co-Pac-10 championship squad, and left his son with a deep-rooted Huskies fandom early in life.

"It's a dream offer - growing up I was a die-hard fan," Jaxson said. "It's a dream offer, and I was really pumped about that one. It was awesome."

Kirkland will have an in-home visit with Washington coaches Wednesday before an official visit to UCLA over the weekend.

Regardless of where Kirkland ends up, he is relieved that the in-state schools both recognized and believed in his talent.

Soon he'll find out if his path will keep him in Oregon.