'12 CA S/RB Shaq Thompson (Washington Verbal)

[koonja]

Did Shaq report a top 2 that didn't include Cal or is it that the last article written reported his top 2 without Cal?

I don't get the incentive to hide Cal from his top 2 if Cal is leading.

 

[Buster Bluth]

As would I. He's a special, special prospect who's a game changer from day 1.

IMO he's Manti's equivalent at S. It would be that big of a get IMO.

Watch him play and it's hard not to think that he's not going to be elite NFL S let alone a good college player, that's how special this kid is at least IMO that is.

When is the last time Notre Dame had a Manti-level player at safety? Don't tell me Zbikowski, he was too one-dimensional. I mean a guy other teams avoided when drawing up a gameplan and stood head and shoulders above others at his position.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Drawing up a game plan designed to avoid a safety is, I think, asking too much as a criterion. That's the definition of free safety --- to be unpredictable play-to-play. Imagine trying to "avoid" Palomalo. Maybe if our criteria for what is meant by an elite safety were a little more applicable to what an OC wishes he didn't have to deal with, a discussion of whether Zbikowski or Bruton [senior year] or even today's Harrison Smith met any of that would prove fruitful. In my opinion, all three of those guys were/are great safeties on several characteristics.

As another approach, does this young fellow have Palomalo quality, and what exactly are the strengths already seeable? That would give me interesting concrete insight on this young superman, whom I'm positive Diaco really wants.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Perhaps, but people have avoided throwing near a lot of defensive backs. I'm looking for a guy above the Smith, Zbikowski, McCarthy level--all of whom are fine safeties, but someone really, really special and I think Shaq Thompson can be that guy. A Sean Taylor/Eric Berry level fellow.

I want a guy who can go out there and win the Jim Thorpe Award. Shaq Thompson looks like that type of player.

 

[BeauBenken]

A good passing offense attacks the safeties. It takes whatever coverage is thrown at it and makes a play out of it.

Hell even my the run oriented offense I run with my youth league team uses plays described to get the safety out of the play without a block. I avoid the safeties at all costs.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

If we get Shaq and Baratti to go with Darby and Shephard.... wow. I think Baratti's raw athletic ability is vastly underrated right now by most services.

And to think of the other DB prospects in the class (at this point looking like all safeties):
Badger
Turner
Prosise

Giving us for 2012: Slaughter, Motta, Hardy, Collingsworth, Thompson, Baratti, Badger, Turner, and Prosise...4 deep + 1

Conventional wisdom would put one of these guys at another position, 5 safeties in one class?? I am not sure corner would be the spot either with Wood, Jackson, Brown, Atkinson, Darby, and Shepard filling the depth with a solid 3 deep (combined with safeties for 14 scholarship DBs in total).

WR looks likely if we swing and miss on a 4th prospect there, but land one of Agholor, Treggs, Jones, Payton, Darboh, or Thomas and it will be interesting but I still think one moves here, depth is still a concern in 2012:

Riddick (Sr) Toma (Sr) Jones (Jr) Smith (Jr) Daniels (So) Farley (So) Atkinson(So)..hopefully..Greenberry (Fr) Ferguson (Fr) Brown (Fr)

Add another prospect above and throw in a Turner/Prosise would give 4 deep across a position Kelly has stated a desire to play 7/8 guys.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Conventional wisdom would put one of these guys at another position, 5 safeties in one class??

Hopefully 1 or 2 will EE, which will technically make them part of the class of 2011.

WR looks likely if we swing and miss on a 4th prospect there, but land one of Agholor, Treggs, Jones, Payton, Darboh, or Thomas and it will be interesting but I still think one moves here, depth is still a concern in 2012:

I expect Prosise to flip to WR.

 

[Irish Fam]

I know I've said it before, but I love the versatility of the recruits that Kelly brings in. I don't remember any of our last few coaches prior to Kelly bringing in athletes like this. Last year it was Farley, Niklas, and GAIII and we are definitely off to a great start this year with Baratti, Darby, Perkins, and Prosise.

 

[irishff1014]

I think he has very good talent i just don't think he cover guys real well.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think he has very good talent i just don't think he cover guys real well.

247: 5, 2nd ATH, 11th Nationally
Scout: 5, 1st S
Rivals: 5, 1st S, 12th Nationally
ESPN: 4, 4th S, 22nd Nationally

As his ratings reflect, you can coach coverage skills, but you can't coach freak athleticism.

 

[buirish]

247: 5, 2nd ATH, 11th Nationally
Scout: 5, 1st S
Rivals: 5, 1st S, 12th Nationally
ESPN: 4, 4th S, 22nd Nationally

As his ratings reflect, you can coach coverage skills, but you can't coach freak athleticism.

Agreed^^, besides a stud RB he is my pick for best get recruit!! Just one man's opinion.
Go Irish

 

[hrc08]

According to some poster at II, Thompson names his top two on Scout today.

Does anybody know who those two schools are?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

According to some poster at II, Thompson names his top two on Scout today.

Does anybody know who those two schools are?

If I had to guess I would say Cal and UW.

As of the other day he still didn't know if he was going to visit ND or not so I would be shocked if we were in his Top 2.

 

[crzychris]

According to some poster at II, Thompson names his top two on Scout today.

Does anybody know who those two schools are?

Scout does have a story today saying he has two in the lead, but it's a premium article. Anyone have access?

 

[Big23Head]

I cannot read it but here is the link:

Top Safety Names Leaders

 

[military_irish]

From what I read on twitter, Thompson has UW #1 and a visit this weekend.

 

[Big23Head]

Yes I just saw this, UW #1, Cal #2

 

[TerryTate]

Tee & Deontay will keep on working him.

 

[GBdomer]

I still like are chances.

 

[hrc08]

Not so fast my friends(sorry guys) he is quoted in the article as saying, "If there were a leader at this point, which there isn't, it would probably be Washington."

So the battle goes on.

 

[Irishnuke]

Not so fast my friends(sorry guys) he is quoted in the article as saying, "If there were a leader at this point, which there isn't, it would probably be Washington."

So the battle goes on.

He contradicts himself in the quote. UW is out front. I still think it comes down to Cal and us because UW is, well, in Washington. Unless he likes backpacking, rain, and fat chicks, he's not going to UW.

 

[Couv Domer]

Live blog right now with Bob Candotta of Seattle Times says Shaq Thompson is 52% Cal, 48% UW - of course this is a Husky blog site. Thompson is on UW campus right now. Hope this is just wishful thinking on their part.

As for the comment about NW fat chicks, I can tell you from having lived in both the Seattle and Chicago metro areas for years, that Seattle has less grain fed chicks than Chicago...although both also have many fine ladies!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

He contradicts himself in the quote. UW is out front. I still think it comes down to Cal and us because UW is, well, in Washington. Unless he likes backpacking, rain, and fat chicks, he's not going to UW.

You know UW and Cal fans can say something similar about ND:

Unless he likes flat land, lake effect snow, and fat chicks, he's not going to ND.

 

[Rack Em]

What if he likes winning football games?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

What if he likes winning football games?

Thats my whole point.

 

[homer11]

What if he likes winning football games?

then he goes to bama

 

[Big23Head]

I work one street off of the Husky campus (literally the stadium is a ten minute walk), maybe I should go visit Shaq. Haha

 

[NDinL.A.]

I still like are chances.

I don't. I've never got the vibe that he's coming here, although some ND mods (the real ones) disagree.

I don't declare these things often. Hope I'm wrong, but I'm batting 1.000 so far on these (and sadly, I feel the same way on Armstead)...

 

[GBdomer]

Per 247. Still debating weather or not he will take trips to UCLA, USC, ND, or Michigan. Still might. Doesn't look good anymore and seems like its two horse race. I liked are chances to get a visit but not to land him. Kid is all Cal. Ill update if anything new develops.

 

[koonja]

Well that's a real kick in the bean bag.