Thomas Ready for Shrine Game

After landing one of the nation’s top football recruiting classes, UCLA will be the best-represented university at tonight’s Shrine All-Star Classic at Cerritos College. Kickoff is at 5.

The game, which for the fourth consecutive year features the best high school seniors from California against those from Texas, will include 10 players who will be in Bruin uniforms next year.

And although the most glaring holes the Bruins have to fill are at running back to replace Skip Hicks and safety to replace Shaun Williams, their key signing may have come at linebacker.

Robert Thomas, who played at Imperial High near San Diego, was widely considered the top high school linebacker in the country. And after recruiting trips across the country, he almost ended up at Florida State.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to leave the state or stay in state,” said Thomas, who was one of UCLA’s final signees. “If I left the state, I would have gone to Florida State. I was real close [to signing with the Seminoles].”

The Bruin coaching staff made the difference.

“UCLA was the first team to recruit me, and they stuck with me the whole time,” said Thomas, who is 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds. “I like that and I can’t wait to get there.”

That feeling is mutual.

“He has an extremely bright future with us,” said Terry Tumey, Bruin defensive line coach. “He’s quick, aggressive and a great blitzer. In our defense, we bring pressure. He’ll be able to do that.”

Bringing pressure is something Thomas did throughout his years at Imperial, where he had 29 sacks.

Other Shrine players committed to UCLA are running back DeShaun Foster of Tustin, offensive lineman Blake Worley of Capistrano Valley, defensive backs Audie Attar of Claremont and Joe Hunter of Vacaville, linebacker Adam Geitner of Torrey Pines and defensive linemen Anthony Fletcher of San Dimas, Ken Kocher of San Diego Patrick Henry, Rusty Williams of Vista and Steve Morgan of Skyline in Texas.

USC will have seven players in the game: quarterbacks Jason Thomas of Compton Dominguez and Carson Palmer of Santa Margarita, running backs Sultan McCullough of Pasadena Muir and Frank Strong of Stockton Franklin, linebacker Anthony Daye of Laguna Hills and linemen Zach Wilson of Lakewood Mayfair and Scott Huber of Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Robert Thomas says he is ready to play in college.

“My confidence is high right now and I feel I can compete with anybody,” Thomas said. “One thing I’ve learned [while practicing for the Shrine Game] is you have to do more.

“All these guys are Division I players. Everybody’s got speed. It’s something you have to adjust to.”

Ed Burke, coach of the California team for tonight’s game, said Thomas has adjusted well.

“His motor is always running,” said Burke, who coaches at Torrey Pines High. “He closes on ballcarriers exceptionally well and finishes with a great tackle.

“He has a great combination of size, speed and intensity.”

Said Tumey:

“In high school, he showed good leadership. He really gets down to business.”

Now, Thomas has just one last piece of business left in his high school career. And he can’t wait to finish the job.

“I’m excited. I’ve been practicing with the best of the best,” he said. “I can’t wait until game time.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Tonight’s Game

* What: Shrine All-Star Football Classic.

* Teams: California vs. Texas.

* When: 5.

* Where: Cerritos College.

* TV: Fox Sports West.