His name is Shaq. He profiles like Deion. And he is close to being a Red Sox.

According to a major league source, the Red Sox are close to finalizing an agreement with 18th-round draft pick Shaq Thompson, an outfielder out of Grant High School in California. Within days, he is expected to join the Red Sox to begin his pro baseball career.

However, Thompson is better known as one on the most celebrated football recruits in the country. Later this summer, he will start his football career as a defensive back at the University of Washington, a school that Thompson decided to attend after initially committing to Cal.

The reason for Thompson’s decision to attend Washington was of particular interest to the Red Sox: The UW Athletics Department said that it was fine having Thompson play football while also pursuing a professional baseball career. And so, the Red Sox were comfortable drafting him with the knowledge that, by signing him, they’ll get the chance to work with Thompson outside of the football season, with the hope that he can develop despite playing on a compressed baseball schedule.