Full ride in the cards for COS' Thompson

By Rob McCallum
Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 4:08 PM CST
Mt. Shasta News

College of the Siskiyous coach Eric Young watches Chaz Thompson, right, sign a letter of intent on Feb. 14 to play for Louisville next fall. Miguel Gonzalez, left, signed to play for Western Oregon. Photo courtesy Rob McCallum

As a touted football recruit in the hotbed of Texas, Chaz Thompson was hotly pursued by then University of Tulsa head coach Steve Kragthorpe. But the Texas City native's SAT scores didn't arrive in time to meet NCAA qualifying standards, and Thompson settled on playing junior college football.

That didn't bother Kragthorpe, who stayed in contact with Thompson during his stellar two-year career at College of the Siskiyous. Now both are going to be Louisville Cardinals next fall, as Thompson is part of Kragthorpe's first recruiting class.

“That was the reason why I signed,” Thompson said on Wednesday after signing his letter of intent with U of L. “Coach K and [defensive backs coach] Keith Patterson stayed with me after high school, didn't give up.”

Thompson's signing is one of the most prominent in school history, and the biggest in coach Eric Young's tenure.

On the other side of the Eagle secondary the past two seasons has been cornerback Miguel Gonzalez, who signed to play for Division II Western Oregon.

With Gonzalez and Thompson patrolling the field and boundary corners, COS had one of the top defenses in the state last fall.

Gonzalez, a Salem native who will be playing in nearby Monmouth, Ore., registered 23 solo tackles and had two pass break-ups as a sophomore.

“This is a big opportunity for Chaz, much like it is for coach Kragthorpe at Louisville,” Young said. “I think he could have done some big things at Tulsa, but this will be a bigger stage with more publicity.”

Thompson played on offense, defense and special teams at COS, earning all-state and first-team Mid-Empire Conference recognition this past fall. He began his career as a receiver, catching 38 passes and 12 touchdowns in 2005, but Young utilized his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame in all aspects of the game in 2006.

Last season, Thompson intercepted four passes and averaged over 22 yards per attempt on punt returns among the more gaudy statistics, and rarely left the field.

“It was fun doing all of that,” Thompson said. “Coach put me wherever they needed me. As long as we were getting wins I wasn't tripping.”

The defensive backfield is where Thompson will likely play for the Cardinals, who graduated both starting cornerbacks from their 12-1, Orange Bowl championship team. Thompson said he may continue to return kicks and punts.

Louisville has been on an upward trend, posting four consecutive seasons with at least nine wins and two bowl victories. Since moving to the Big East Conference in 2005, the Cardinals are eligible for the BCS National Title.

“Coach K said he's bringing in pieces that were missing to get the national championship game,” Thompson said. “They've had a prolific offense but he said they needed cornerbacks.”

Thompson will complete his Associate Degree this spring at the Weed campus before reporting to Louisville's summer camp. The Cardinals' 2007 kickoff is Aug. 30 against Murray State.

 

COS football players get full-rides

By Rick Martin
Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 4:08 PM CST
Mt. Shasta News

Thompson to Louisville, Gonzalez to Western Oregon

Every football player who competes beyond high school has dreams of something bigger. Most find their dream off the gridiron, but a few get a chance to pursue it.

Chaz Thompson and Miguel Gonzalez belong to the second group, as each signed full-ride scholarships earlier this month to ply their trades at four-year schools.

Thompson - who came to COS to play wide receiver - signed a Division 1 scholarship with the University of Louisville, where he's projected as a corner. The Cardinals finished last season 12-1, and ranked sixth in the nation. They're expected to be a National Championship contender next season, and Thompson will have a chance to win a starting job.

"Their top two defensive backs are expected to go in the (NFL) draft, and I'll be given a chance to start right away," said Thompson on signing day. "It's exciting and overwhelming, all at the same time."

Thompson switched to defense early last season, when injuries depleted the Eagles' starting secondary. He was one of the top defenders in the state.

"Chaz is a great athlete, and he played both ways in high school," said Coach Eric Young. "He's a tremendous young man, with a very bright future in front of him. I'm so happy for him to get an opportunity like this."

Thompson says he wants to be a coach when he's done playing, but he's hoping that won't be for awhile. He's also looking forward to being a little closer to home in Texas City, Texas.

"This will actually be the first time my Mom gets to see me play in college," he said. "I was talking to Tulsa, but when (former Tulsa coach) Steve Kragthorpe took the job in Louisville, I decided to follow him there."

Thompson also visited Cal, and had interest from Michigan, Michigan State and Oklahoma State.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, is also returning home, electing to sign as a defensive back with Western Oregon University in Monmouth, a Division 2 school.

"I'm 20 minutes from home (in Salem), where I can be with my family and continue my education," he said. "It's not D-1, but it's a dream come true. This is where I want to be."

Gonzalez was part of the Wolves' largest ever recruiting class, and is expected to compete for a starting job. He plans to study psychology.

"I want to work with kids," he said. "That's very important to me. I remember the people who took time with me and had an impact on my life, making me the person I am now."

Young said both young men are exceptionally well equipped to succeed, no matter where they go or what they do.

"They're both very humble kids," he said. "I was so fortunate to have them as leaders of this program, and I'm thrilled that they get to go on."

Young said several other Eagle players are enrolling at four year schools to play football, some with partial scholarships. Defensive lineman Jeff Lowe - who was an all-conference selection both years with COS - turned down scholarship offers at Division 2, and is walking on at Boise State, the darlings of college football last year and the only undefeated Division 1 team in the nation.

"He's in the spring program, and is trying to make the team as a walk-on. That's his dream, to play D1, and I'm thrilled for him that he's chasing that dream."