Thompson could keep things open

Many injuries and changes have occurred so far this season at Sacramento (Calif.) Grant and Shaq Thompson has been so busy dealing with everything that coach Mike Alberghini said he's pretty sure the five-star safety is still not near making another commitment.

Thompson, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder who's rated as the top safety in the 2012 class, No. 12 overall and second in the California state rankings by Rivals.com, had been committed to Cal and could end up back with the Golden Bears but the rest of the Pac-12 along with SEC programs and schools from across the country are recruiting him.

That's nice, Alberghini said, but Thompson is so busy with piecing this Grant team together - he might move to quarterback because of injury - that there isn't too much new recruiting information.

"It's been a tough season so far with all the kids we lost to injury so it seems like we're all just worried about who is going to replace who at those positions," Alberghini said.

"He played his best game last week. He's played well but he played his best game. He was healthy and now with the idea he may end up being our quarterback because we lost our quarterback, we've shifted him all around. In some games he's been like a linebacker and he has so many responsibilities it's really tough on him. He has a lot on his plate.

"I don't know when he makes his decision. Frankly, losing six starters in the first three games that's been enough and then all the tough teams we play every week, I'm just trying to get enough people in the games and in the right positions. I haven't had much time to talk with him about it."

UCLA, USC, Washington, Cal, Notre Dame, Florida, Oregon and others still seem to be under consideration by Thompson, who rushed for 1,892 yards and 25 touchdowns in his junior season. He has said that he'd like to take some visits this fall and that could help with his decision.

Grant's bye is the weekend of Sept. 23 and Alberghini said there is a good chance Thompson could visit someplace but that the five-star hasn't set up anything official yet.

It's been so hectic for Grant, which has beaten Folsom and Sacramento Burbank but lost to Long Beach Poly so far, that Alberghini is sure college coaches have been on the sidelines but he cannot pinpoint which schools were represented.

Alberghini isn't too concerned about it though because he doesn't seem to think Thompson is close yet to making his college choice.

"We've had people on our sidelines but I don't really go around and talk to them because I'm more committed to what we're doing," Alberghini said. "There are schools that are constantly in contact with him like most of the Pac-12 is definitely interested in him. He can pick and choose where he wants to go.

"I just don't think, unless he's holding it inside him and that's generally not like him, I don't think he's fully committed to going anywhere right yet. I just think with school, with what's happening on this football team and being the person he is I don't think he's made a full-time commitment to anybody yet."