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College football fans can sometimes believe a high school football player is set on their school while that player has a different strategy in mind.

Remembering previous classes, countless recruits were considered to be certain USC signees. Some ended up being just that and others didn't sign.

Between the start of the rumors and an actual decision is a very detailed process. These high school players visit numerous college campuses and eventually decide what best fits them. Maybe it is the local school with the name football program. But sometimes, it's something else.

Mater Dei HS linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu is a player who hears all the rumors. Everyone assumes that he's going to USC. He knows it. But he also insists that he's far from a decision. He says he'll be going through that detailed process to find out what's right.

"Definitely not," Tuliaupupu said when asked if he was close to making a commitment. "I'll keep talking to my family and pretty much just stay focused on this season. I want to have a good senior year, ball out with my brothers and build relationships and see where God takes me."

The 6-foot-3 and 215-pound linebacker says most everything said about him on recruiting sites and message boards is gossip.

"They're just rumors," Tuliaupupu said. "I've never said one thing about commitment or staying loyal to one school yet. I'm just grateful for everything that's happening."

Tuliaupupu points out that he isn't sure of when he'll name favorite schools. His response to rabid USC fans who want to pencil him into the class already? Be patient.

"My recruitment is completely open," Tuliaupupu said. "There's a lot of rumors going around. But I feel like that's for everybody. So I just have to stay focused on me, have a good senior year, continue to work hard, continue to pray and be a good family man."

So what's keeping him from potentially committing to USC? He just wants to review his options. It certainly isn't the budding competition at linebacker.

If Tuliaupupu became USC's next linebacker commit, he would be the third linebacker in the class ranked inside the Rivals100. He would also be the fourth inside the Rivals250.

Some linebackers would be scared off by all those players. But Tuliaupupu isn't. He views the number of linebackers USC could take in the class as a good thing. He makes that clear when asked if he thinks about those numbers.

"Of course," Tuliaupupu said. "Competition is a good thing. I don't like to shy away from competition. That's kind of me and my dad's rule. You always have to work your hardest, no matter what."

The Trojans also run a linebacker friendly system which requires all different types to make an impact. Tuliaupupu feels that USC could have a role for him, regardless of how many prospects he's competing against. He just isn't sure which position USC wants him at.

"Me and Coach Johnny Nansen, we have a great relationship but we haven't talked about that since the camp," Tuliaupupu said when asked about his potential position at USC. "When it's hands on, it's hands on but not lately."

When Tuliaupupu camped with USC, he says he mostly played the SAM position, although he did slide inside for some reps as well. At Mater Dei HS, Tuliaupupu plays on the inside at a position the Monarch football team labels as the MAC linebacker.

SAM seems like a potential fit for him at USC. But the Trojans have watched him practice at the inside spot this offseason. Johnny Nansen stopped by Mater Dei HS on Monday.

"Coach Johnny was there, I said what's up to him," Tuliaupupu said. "We texted and talked on the phone later that night."

But others are pressing hard for Tuliaupupu as well. The Mater Dei practice TrojanSports.com featured coaches from Arizona State, Colorado, Michigan and Utah, along many more schools.

As Tuliaupupu stated previously, he plans to give everyone a fair chance. He hopes to visit a few different campuses in the near future as well.

"I'm not too sure about that," Tuliaupupu said when asked about upcoming visits. "Me and my dad, we definitely talk about visits. We want to make it out to Oklahoma, maybe Michigan. Michigan would be nice. And a few more schools on the East Coast. And Notre Dame, I might visit them, either before the season or after the season."