Washington Football: Shaq Thompson, 5-Star Safety Smart to Play Two Sports

The worlds of Major League Baseball and college football have long been intertwined. Whether it was guys like Chris Weinke and, more recently Brandon Weeden, returning to college after making their run at pro baseball, or players like Dennis Dixon playing pro baseball during their college football offseasons. Players like Kyle Parker and Russell Wilson come to mind as other recent players who had opportunities in both sports.

The most recent player to have to make a tough choice with respect to the world of pro baseball and amateur football is Washington's Shaq Thompson. The Sacramento Bee reports that Thompson, an 18th-round pick by the Boston Red Sox, will be playing rookie league ball for the Sox before reporting to Seattle in August to participate in the Huskies' fall camp. 

Smart move by the kid on a number of levels. He will be immersed in a professional world. Traveling, working within a team dynamic and being forced to work within the ups and downs of a baseball short season. While he won't be in Seattle all summer with his teammates, he will be gaining valuable lessons in taking his work seriously and being prepared on a daily basis.

Make no mistake about it, Thompson's time playing rookie ball can be something to build on for his future with the Huskies. As ESPN the Magazine reported in a story on Dennis Dickson, baseball helps teach guys how to get off the mat:

"

He was also learning that success is most difficult, and most rewarding, when it follows failure. "Baseball is all about repetition," says Dixon, who batted .176 in 28 games and struck out 22 times in his first season swinging a wooden bat. "I might go 0-for-3 one game, but if I have a doubleheader, my head can't be down. I have to get back out there and perform."

"

So while Shaq Thompson won't be participating in seven-on-sevens this summer, he will be helping himself become a better football player. The sense of independence it takes to move away from home, spend the summer traveling and becoming a better baseball player, possibly sitting the bench for the first time in his life, will help in the maturation process. He'll have tape from Justin Wilcox and plenty of DVDs to study in his off-time as the Huskies all transition to a new defensive scheme.

Baseball will likely be a good thing for Thompson and the Huskies. Plus, on the bright side for the Washington faithful, unlike Donavan Tate or Ty Linton, two North Carolina signees, at least Thompson is going to play football at all.