Oregon St. has added their 17th. recruit for the 2012 football class, after receiving a commitment from Cade Cowdin.

Cowdin, from St. George Utah, played linebacker at California College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA.

Cowdin stands 6'2", and weighs 230 lbs. Rival.com rates him as a 3 star prospect, while Scout.com shows 2 stars.

Cowdin, who had already visited South Florida, committed after a home visit by Oregon St, head coach Mike Riley, and canceled a visit to Miami.

"It was a tough decision," Cowdin said in the Tampa Bay Times. "I liked South Florida and, coach Snyder (defensive coordinator Mark Snyder) a lot, but the whole aspect of being out here and where they (Oregon St.) are at, this was a better fit for my wife and I."

In addition to the 2 Florida schools, Oregon St. also beat out Iowa St., Nevada, New Mexico State, UCLA, Western Michigan, and Wyoming, all of whom had also made scholarship offers to Cowdin.

Linebacker was a thin position for the Beavers in 2011, and Cameron Collins will be graduating, so there's both a need for depth and opportunities for playing time.

Here's a highlight video:

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com