Thomas re-opens his recruitment

Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's three-star safety Earnest Thomas has been committed to UCLA since July, but lately the 6-2, 195-pound prospect has had second thoughts about that commitment. Wednesday evening Thomas detailed where things were with his recruitment and his plans for the next month.

"I am re-opening my recruitment," Thomas reported. "UCLA, I'm not going to say they are 100 percent out of the picture, but they are pretty much out of the picture. I felt the love, but I was committed for so long that I started to wonder what else is out there. I started having a change of heart and maybe wanted to be closer to home. A lot of things came into play and you don't want to sign with a school if you're not sure."

Thomas was scheduled to take his official visit to UCLA the weekend of Jan. 15, but it is likely that trip will not take place now.

"UCLA still wants me to come out there on my visit, but I'm not sure if I am going to do that or not," Thomas said. "It sort of depends on some of the other schools that I have been in contact with."

The question for Thomas now becomes what schools he will consider, but he is keeping that information close to the vest for now while he feels out the interest from other schools.

"There are five or six schools right now that I am in steady contact with and there are a couple new schools that might be added to the list, but right now I don't want to throw any names out," Thomas said. "I don't have a top group at this moment, but that probably will come in about a week. I've got about two or three schools out of the Big Ten that I have been in contact with. Most likely my decision is going to be closer to home for a school in the Big Ten region, but nothing is for sure right now.