UCF commit hearing from power conference programs

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Thomas Lopez’s commitment to UCF came as the result of an official visit. He toured the Knights’ campus in June, liked what he saw and pulled the trigger on a commitment shorty thereafter. The three-star junior college tackle’s commitment story is standard.

“I loved it there and just thought it was the place for me to be,” Lopez said of UCF. “I liked it academically and liked the business school. I just thought it was a great place.”

Lopez’s story is also standard in another way, however, as he’s engaged in post-commitment contact with other programs, an activity that has long since become the norm.

UFC needs not worry about the other offers Lopez lists. Instead, it’s the schools that are yet to pull the trigger on that front that pose the most realistic threat.

“I’m still talking to some coaches. Right now, it’s Minnesota, Oklahoma State, South Carolina and West Virginia that are still talking to me.”

And so Lopez and UCF are in a holding pattern of sorts. There may be a recruiting battle waged down the Singing Day stretch. For now, however, things remain calm.

“I don’t know on visits because I’m just waiting for the (to offer),” Lopez said. “I’m just going to focus on the team and my academics right now and see what happens.”

Lopez, who is originally from New Jersey, attends Brooklyn’s ASA College and plans to major in business at UCF or the school of his choosing.

RIVALS REACTION: Lopez seems pretty set on UCF, but SEC and Big 12 offers would give him plenty to consider. Should Power Five schools get involved, Lopez seems likely to take visits but UCF has absolutely no reason to sweat at this juncture.