Kessler to announce his decision

Centennial (Bakersfield, Calif.) quarterback Cody Kessler will end the recruiting process and announce his college decision in a press conference on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The newly anointed four-star Rivals100 member and Army All-American QB is down to four choices, USC, Washington, Pittsburgh and Alabama.

Kessler was close to making a decision a couple of weeks ago before receiving a surprise offer from the Trojans. He came down to the USC campus for an unofficial visit on Friday, a gesture that could be a good sign for Trojan fans.

"It went really good," Kessler said. "I got to talk to (USC quarterback) coach (Clay) Helton, (head coach Lane) Kiffin and coach Monte Kiffin, and that was awesome."

Besides his trip to USC, Kessler has also recently visited UCLA and Washington.

Steve Sarkisian's Huskies were the clear favorite to land Kessler, but the offer from USC reopened his thought process.

Kessler developed a good relationship with the Washington coaching staff early on. He also likes the direction the program is headed, making Sarkisian and the Huskies a major contender in the Kessler sweepstakes.

Pittsburgh is another serious player that was on to Kessler from the beginning.

"Coach (Frank) Cignetti is probably the coach I'm to closest out of all the coaches I've talked to. I'm close to others, but I got along best with him when I was there on the visit," Kessler said. "Now I talk to him all the time, and Coach (Dave) Wannstedt is the same way. And I talked to all the players on the visit and we got along really well, too."

Reportedly Alabama is still on Kessler's list of choices, but from what he told Rivals.com's Shane Youngblood on May 3rd, the Tide wouldn't be taking a quarterback until after they completed their summer camp evaluations.

"Coach Mac (Jim McElwain) said Alabama has offered me and three other guys at quarterback, but they aren't going to take anyone until after summer camps," Kessler said. "He said once they find the ones they like this summer, it is really going to be whoever commits first out of the ones they like."

Stay tuned to USCFootball.com for live updates from the Kessler press conference and reaction from Kessler after he announces his decision.