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2016 The Opening and Elite 11 Top Players by Multiple News Outlets
Posted on 7/11/16 at 9:22 am
Posted on 7/11/16 at 9:22 am
I thought I would share this stuff with the SECRb since it's all free content. Enjoy. 
ETA: The first handful are from 247 Sports. I added the All-Opening Team from SB Nation and will add what I can find from Bleacher Report, SEC Country, etc.
ETA: The first handful are from 247 Sports. I added the All-Opening Team from SB Nation and will add what I can find from Bleacher Report, SEC Country, etc.
This post was edited on 7/11/16 at 9:58 am
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Posted on 7/11/16 at 9:22 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEAVERTON, Ore. – The Opening Finals are a wrap. After three days of position drills, 1on1 competition and a 7on7 tournament that culminated in a championship for Team VaporSpeed at the Nike World Headquarters, it’s time to close the book on the premier all-star event of the summer. This year’s we’re breaking down our prospect reports by region instead of 7on7 team. Here’s the players from Texas that caught our eye this week from the West Coast.
ALPHA DOG
OT Walker Little, Houston Episcopal: This was an easy call as the 6-foot-7, 303-pound lineman improved his stock more than anybody else in the state over the course of the week. Already built like an NFL left tackle, Little has trimmed up and gotten more athletic recently. He showed his nasty side on Sunday when he threw four-star defensive end Drew Smith to the ground in one-on-ones.
NEXT FIVE
S BJ Foster, Angleton (2018): The top-ranked player in the state for the class of 2018, Foster was relatively quiet but steady the first two days. He did have an interception on Saturday but saved his best for Sunday. In overtime of the first tournament game, he had a pick to seal the win. He had another in the championship game en route to helping his team to the title. He also had several big pass breakups and proved to be one of the top defensive backs in attendance, regardless of class.
RB J.K. Dobbins, La Grange: The nation’s No. 3 all-purpose back and No. 50 prospect overall, the Ohio State commit is one of the best pound-for-pound players in the country. He showed speed getting open deep several times but was also able to use his change of directions to make defenders miss.
S Robert Barnes, Southlake Carroll: The 6-foot-3, 194-pound Oklahoma commit does not always get as much publicity as some of the other top defensive backs in the state but he had an outstanding weekend in Oregon. For the second day in a row on Sunday, the four-star logged an interception, picking off Michigan commit Dylan McCaffrey.
LB Anthony Hines, Plano East: It’s not easy for linebackers to get noticed in the seven-on-seven format but the nation’s top inside linebacker prospect had several nice pass breakups throughout the weekend. He was able to run stride for stride with running backs on wheel routes and in the flats.
S Jeffrey Okudah, South Grand Prairie: The five-star safety prospect did not do anything flashy but, then again, the quarterbacks stayed away from him most of the time. Most impressive was the fact that the 6-foot-1, 188-pound defender played corner much of the time, playing man against some of the best outside receivers in attendance.
TOP PLAY
Foster gets the nod as his game-winning interception paced the way for his team to make it to the title game.
EMPTYING THE NOTEBOOK
-Lancaster four-star wide receiver Omar Manning had a real chance to be one of the stars of the event but a lingering hamstring injury caused him to miss all but a couple of reps in the Elite 11 portion of the event.
-Though his first day was not what he was hoping for, Frisco offensive guard Jack Anderson rebounded the next two days to have some solid one-on-one reps. The Texas Tech commit and two-time Opening finalist is very strong on the interior of the line. He barely missed the cut of top performers from the Lone Star State.
-A couple receivers from Texas – Alabama commit Tyrel Shavers and Oklahoma commit Jalen Reagor and Oklahoma State commit Tylan Wallace – both were relatively quiet throughout the week. However, both had touchdowns in the championship game.
-Five-star Kennedale linebacker Baron Browning is built like a senior in college already. He looked solid in coverage but, as previously stated, it is hard for linebackers to truly stand out.
-Five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson had his moments but was not quite as consistent as one would expect from a Top 10 national talent. He’s definitely very, very good though.
LINK
Posted on 7/11/16 at 9:23 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEAVERTON, Ore. – The Opening Finals are a wrap. After three days of position drills, 1on1 competition and a 7on7 tournament that culminated in a championship for Team VaporSpeed at the Nike World Headquarters, it’s time to close the book on the premier all-star event of the summer. This year’s we’re breaking down our prospect reports by region instead of 7on7 team. Here’s who caught our eye this week from the West Coast.
Note: We’re not including quarterbacks in this list, so if you’re looking to see how Tua Tagovailoa fared, click here.
Alpha Dog
Foster Sarell, OT, Graham, Wash. — He just finished his junior year of high school, but Sarell already looks like a future first-round draft pick. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder dominated defensive linemen all weekend, showing great athletic ability for a kid his size. Sarell is currently the No. 9 player in the class of 2017 according to the 247Sports Composite, but you might expect that to change in the near future.
Next 5
Colby Parkinson, TE, Thousand Oaks, Calif. — The No. 1 tight end in the nation lived up to that billing. He had two touchdowns on Sunday after scoring once Saturday, and over the course of the weekend did the following: Caught a long pass with five-star ‘backer Dylan Moses draped all over him, drew multiple interference penalties, bailed out his quarterbacks on third downs and elicited “Rob Gronkowski!!” cheers from the audience. Stanford’s got a good one headed to Palo Alto.
Tyjon Lindsey, WR, Corona, Calif. — Nobody could cover the five-star receiver all weekend. On an Alpha Pro team with lots of good options, he was target 1A, 1B and 1C for his quarterbacks, an impossible-to-track target on crossing routes and quick as a hiccup once he got the ball in his hands.
Stephen Carr, RB, Fontana, Calif. — You don’t see running backs do too much in 7on7, but Carr scored two touchdowns on Saturday and he found the end zone once more Sunday. The five-star USC Trojans commit was elusive in the open field.
Isaiah Pola-Mao, S, Phoenix, Ariz. — He was super quiet on Sunday, but we won’t let that erase what was a brilliant Saturday of 7on7 action when he picked off three passes and took one of them back to the house.
Bubba Bolden, DB, Last Vegas, Nevada — Two interceptions on Sunday and two more PBUs for the nation’s No. 173 safety in the 247Sports Composite. Bolden good in coverage and adjusted well downfield on the ball when he was beat.
Emptying the Notebook
Wyatt Davis had some of the best reps of the weekend, play with great power. Probably a guard but a really good one; Grant Calcaterra, a WR/TE and Sooners commit, showed up time and time again for a squad in Team VaporSpeed that had plenty of options; Jaelen Phillips is the best pass rusher there when he’s at his best. He just doesn’t have the power that some others have.
LINK
Posted on 7/11/16 at 9:25 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEAVERTON, Ore. – The Opening Finals are a wrap. After three days of position drills, 1on1 competition and a 7on7 tournament that culminated in a championship for Team Vaporspeed at the Nike World Headquarters, it’s time to close the book on the premier all-star event of the summer. This year, we’re breaking down our prospect reports by region instead of 7on7 team. Here’s who caught our eye this week from the Southeast region (not including Florida, which has its own article).
Note: We didn't include quarterbacks in this piece.
Alpha Dog
Richard LeCounte III — The 4-star safety from Hinesville (Ga.) Liberty County made play … after play … after play all week. Lecounte covered a ton of ground — and always seemed to be in the right spot. He’s freakishly athletic, breaks on the ball extremely well and has uncanny instincts. He had numerous pass break-ups and multiple interceptions over the course of the event. Basically, he’s a playmaker.
Next 5
Devonta Smith, Amite (La.) — The top-100 receiver doesn’t seem to have many, if any flaws. His hands were terrific. He made every kind of catch, with some of his best coming in traffic. He might be the smoothest receiver in the country.
Jamyest Williams, Boganville (Ga.) Grayson — The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Williams arguably was the best player pound-for-pound at The Opening. Playing nickel, broke on the ball as well as anyone here, covered a ton of ground and had some of the slickest interceptions you’ll see. One of his picks came off a deflection and was returned for a touchdown.
AJ Terrell, Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake — Terrell was among the best corners in the event, applying blanket coverage throughout. His ability to shrink a receiver’s catch radius with his length was vital to his success. But he proved to be extremely quick and physical — and he smoothly turned his hips in coverage.
Drew Jordan, Suwannee (Ga.) North Gwinnett — Jordan is a slightly undersized weak-side defensive end, but he continues to shine against high-caliber competition. He’s quick and explosive off the ball, re-directs well and gets great leverage. Also, Jordan is tenacious. The Duke commit lived up to his 4-star ranking from 247Sports and reached the final five in one-on-ones.
Jamaree Salyer, Atlanta (Ga.) Pace Academy — The 4-star junior offensive guard was a beast on the interior, at times an immovable force. His best work came against 5-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson. Sawyer has some nastiness to him to say the least. The bottom line, he’s a mauler.
Emptying the Notebook
-Four-star receiver Jeremiah Holloman of Covington (Ga.) Newton hot and cold. But while he did have some drops, he also made some really good catches and showed a lot of promise. Body wise, he’s near the top of the heap. Same for his athleticism. This is an upside guy with a world of potential.
-Quietly, Auburn 4-star offensive guard commit Nick Brahms of Navarre (Fla.) was one of the best offensive linemen on hand. While rated at guard, he got work at center. Technically, he was among the best on hand.
-The youngest player on hand, sophomore Owen Pappoe of Grayson (Ga.), showed some serious flashes. He’s built like a tank — and recorded an interception Sunday that was called back because the other quarterback didn’t get the throw off in time.
-Alabama linebacker commit Markail Benton of Phenix City (Ala.) Central was solid. He nearly came away with an interception in the end zone and generally was intimidating in coverage.
LINK
Posted on 7/11/16 at 9:26 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEAVERTON, Ore. — The Opening Finals are a wrap. After three days of position drills, 1on1 competition and a 7on7 tournament that culminated in a championship for Team Vapor Speed at Nike World Headquarters, it’s time to close the book on the premier all-star event of the summer. This year we’re breaking down our prospect reports by region instead of 7on7 team. Here’s who caught our eye this week from the state of Florida.
Alpha Dog
Alabama commit Alex Leatherwood proved to he was of the nation’s top offensive tackles and certainly worthy of a five-star ranking. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound prospect played with great power and mobility while showing off a nasty disposition as well. From start to finish, the Pensacola (Fla.) Washington star was the top overall performer from the Sunshine State at The Opening Finals.
Next 5 Standouts
1. Deerfield Beach (Fla.) wide receiver Jerry Jeudy consistently made big plays throughout the 7on7 tournament. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect showed off a new element to his game that has been a bit underrated, the ability to make defenders miss in the open field.
2. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy’s Cesar Ruiz proved he is the nation’s top center after dominating defensive linemen throughout the week. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound Ruiz has sound technique and plays with great physicality. He took on all comers and won a vast majority of his reps.
3. Florida State wide receiver commit D.J. Matthews put on a dazzling show Saturday with several tough catches while also proving to be explosive out of his breaks and electric in the open field. The 5-foot-10, 160-pounder had a quiet Sunday due to his quarterbacks struggling causing a quick elimination from the tournament. Regardless, the Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian product showed enough the first two days of camp to still earn high honors.
4. Auburn offensive guard commit Nick Brahms was consistent throughout the week, but saved his best overall performance for Sunday. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound prospect is very competitive and tough. The Navarre (Fla.) product is another with polished technique that helps him win more than his fair share of battles.
5. Florida State cornerback commit Stanford Samuels consistently got his hands on passes to his side of the field. At 6-foot-2, Samuels’ length proves to be a great asset in getting many of those deflections. Samuels looks to be one of the better true cover corners in the nation.
Signature Play
There were plenty of great plays on the day, but we are giving an impressive Jerry Jeudy leaping catch along the sideline the top billing. Jeudy ran a corner route, went high between two defenders to catch the ball while still coming down with his feet in bounds for a great catch.
Emptying the Notebook
— Ft. Lauderale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Trevon Grimes, a heavy Ohio State lean, had a strong performance on Friday and Saturday. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder is a big target that is a certain vertical threat. He hauled in three touchdowns during the first day of 7on7 play.
— Maryland defensive end commit Joshua Kaindoh looks great on the hoof, but the 6-foot-6, 255-pounder also flashed some pass rushing ability as well. The Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy product is still very raw and a work in progress. He does seem to have a high ceiling if he can develop his play to match his physical traits.
— Lakeland (Fla.) wide receiver James Robinson was another that flashed, but lacked the overall consistency to put him on the standouts list. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder’s highlight play was a crossing route thrown behind him that he snagged with one-hand and turned up field for a big gain. Robinson is a big, strong receiver that can make catches in traffic.
— Oklahoma cornerback commit Trajan Bandy and Miami cornerback commit Christopher Henderson both played safety during 7on7 play. Both held their own and showed good closing speed. It would have been nice to see them tested in man coverage against some of the nation’s best receivers.
— Alabama linebacker commit VanDarius Cowan was one of the best looking prospects on the hoof in the entire camp. The rocked up 6-foot-4, 235-pound Cowan looks as if he’s already spent years in a college strength and conditioning program. He’s built to handle the rigors of the SEC now.
LINK
Posted on 7/11/16 at 9:29 am to TideSaint
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BEAVERTON, Ore. – The class of 2017 has graduated from The Opening and the quarterbacks have gone through the trials of the Elite 11. It's time to evaluate their performance.
This is how 247Sports ranks the 12 quarterbacks at the Elite 11 based strictly on their performances this week and what we were able to see with our own eyes. Significantly more weight was given to 7on7 play than anything that happened on air over the first few days of work.
1. Alabama commit Tua Tagovailoa - I want this guy on my team. He had the steadiest hand of any quarterback I've ever seen at The Opening. And watching him throw the football was like watching an artist go to work. He led a last second comeback for a win early in the day on Sunday with the calm of a guy flipping a coin. He had the same demeanor in his team's blowout championship win. The kid is a winner.
2. Stanford commit Davis Mills - By Sunday afternoon, Mills looked like the top quarterback in the country. He's got all the tools to be ranked that way - size, arm, smarts. After a slow start, Mills hit his stride and looked like a thoroughbred by Sunday afternoon.
3. Georgia commit Jake Fromm - He was by far the best quarterback on Saturday. Sunday he couldn't ever find the end zone but he still showed the touch, accuracy on the short and intermediate stuff and command of the offense to keep a lofty spot on this list. When he was clicking on Saturday, his team was the best team at the event.
4. Syracuse commit Tommy DeVito - This is Dino Babers' next star pupil at quarterback.The kid has a hose and he's poised to break some records at Syracuse. He scored touchdowns on half of his drives under center and that was the best percentage of any quarterback at the event.
5. Michigan commit Dylan McCaffrey - He looks like a pro on the field. Not in terms of his size or physical traits, not even his technique. The way he processes what's in front of him is elite though. He has a glaring technical flaw that he needs to clean up but when that happens, he's going to be special for Jim Harbaugh.
6. LSU commit Myles Brennan - Brennan was on the same team as McCaffrey and the two had almost identical weekends. There were some moments on Sunday when Brennan looked like he was the best quarterback at the event. Other times his play dipped. When he eliminates those dips, LSU is going to have their answer at quarterback.
7. Oklahoma commit Chris Robison - Robison took the back seat to Tua Tagovailoa through much of the weekend, but when he got his opportunities, he was very solid. A dropped touchdown on Sunday's first game would have helped his stat line but by the weekend's end, he was the only quarterback that didn't throw a single interception.
8. Uncommitted Jack Sears - He's as good at the big throw as anybody in the Elite 11. Big, strong and athletic, Sears can really rip it and he was very productive too. By our count he scored on seven of his 15 drives under center. Had he been able to find a little bit more consistency, he has the physical tools to have been ranked even higher. Duke, USC, UCLA and Utah are his top schools.
9. Texas commit Sam Ehlinger - It was a quiet weekend for Ehlinger but when he was under center, I always felt like the offense was in good hands. Ehlinger doesn't make any throws that drop your jaw but he always makes the right throws. We tallied him with seven touchdowns on 22 drives with only two interceptions.
10. Ohio State commit Tate Martell - There were times early on Saturday that Martell looked like he was really clicking but he trailed off some late Saturday. Sunday things went downhill and he wasn't able to find the end zone. We counted three touchdowns on 11 drives for Martell with two interceptions. He just never got enough snaps to find his rhythm on Sunday.
11. Penn State commit Sean Clifford - He ended Saturday night as one of the hottest quarterbacks at the event. There were moments that he flashed that same hot hand on Sunday. Unfortunately, his mistakes were big. Despite two touchdowns on Sunday, he also threw two pick-sixes that ultimately put a nail in his team's coffin.
12. Clemson commit Hunter Johnson - It just wasn't Johnson's weekend. More specifically it just wasn't Johnson's day on Saturday. On Sunday, he scored a touchdown on the only drive under center before his team was eliminated from play. Had he been able to steal another game under center, he may have heated up and had a run similar to what Shea Patterson made last year. Instead, Johnson was forced to stand on a rough Saturday outing.
LINK
Posted on 7/11/16 at 9:58 am to TideSaint
quote:
Portland, Ore. – The Opening, college football’s top recruiting showcase, wrapped a five-day run on Sunday. We spent the week at Nike’s campus covering the event, and we’ve put together an All-Opening team of its top performers.
We decided not to be bound by strict limits on roster size, in the interest of painting the fullest picture possible of how things went. Here’s what we’ve got:
Quarterback
Tommy DeVito
Tua Tagovailoa
Quarterback performances varied wildly during the two 7-on-7 competition days, but DeVito, a Syracuse commit, and Alabama’s Tagovailoa were the most consistent. Stanford commitment Davis Mills may have made the most next-level tosses, but he also had some down moments in a strong tournament overall.
Georgia commit Jake Fromm was the best on Saturday by far, but did not have a strong Sunday.
Give the Elite 11 some credit for taking 12 quarterbacks who all looked more or less like they belonged. This is a welcome change from taking 18 in previous years.
Running back
Stephen Carr
JK Dobbins
USC commit Carr kept showing up on film, because he’s good at making himself available and then doing more than just stepping out of bounds.
Ohio State commit Dobbins is a physical marvel.
The Opening’s primary competition mode is seven-on-seven with no pads. This is a setting which doesn’t favor all backs.
Wide receiver
Joseph Lewis
Devonta Smith
Jerry Jeudy
DJ Matthews
Tee Higgins
Oliver Martin
Jhamon Ausbon
So, a lot of guys here. But hear us out.
Only Clemson’s Higgins, LSU’s Ausbon and Florida State’s Matthews are committed out of this group.
Lewis has a legitimate argument for the top receiver spot in the class, Smith is an excellent athlete with hands, and there might not be a more all-around talent in the class than Jeudy. He showed a lot of chemistry with Tagovailoa, the Alabama commit, and it was hard not to wonder if there might be a future between those two.
Higgins made one of our favorite catches of the week. He’s not the best receiver just yet, but he’s every bit of 6’5 and will be a terrific player for Clemson.
The most surprising player here is Martin, a three-star from Iowa whose recruiting hype doesn’t match the rest. But Martin is always around the ball, and he’s got top-level hands. He made precious few mistakes.
Tight end
Matt Dotson
Joshua Falo
Newly minted Michigan State commit Dotson stuck out, even in a non-contact environment that doesn’t favor brutish blockers. Falo showed an aptitude for making himself open in the middle of the field, which’ll serve him well once the pads go on. He is a huge target.
Tight end was a spot where almost everyone performed well. We also have plenty of highlights coming from Oklahoma commit Grant Calcaterra and Stanford commit Colby Parkinson.
Linemen
We did not get to see enough reps to fill out an All-Opening squad on the offensive or defensive lines, due to the ridiculous setup that prevented media from getting a clear view or any hope of filming.
What’s happening with the offensive and defensive linemen? We couldn’t tell, either.
However, the offensive line group did completely dominate the defensive linemen. Offensive linemen Foster Sarell (uncommitted), Jamaree Salyer (uncommitted underclassman), Walker Little (uncommitted), Alex Leatherwood (Alabama commitment) and Wyatt Davis (Ohio State commitment) all won multiple reps during the time we were able to observe.
Sarrell is focused on Washington, Stanford and Notre Dame, while Little likes Stanford, Ole Miss and Texas. If he can deal with the distance from his Houston-area home, Stanford might be the pick. He has already visited three times. This is an excellent offensive line year and a weak defensive line crop.
Hopefully, next year, Nike will figure out a way to not erect a wall of humanity in front of the linemen as they compete. They deserve better coverage, and their parents who flew out on their own dime to watch their sons do, too. (Several were furious.)
Linebackers
Baron Browning
VanDarius Cowan
Dylan Moses
Moses is rated as the No. 2 player in the country, in large part because he was out-of-this-world good when he was very young. We’re not sure he should still be ranked quite that high, but he is still an excellent player. He regularly stymied top overall prospect Harris in one cat-and-mouse drill, though seven-on-seven is not the best part of his game. Word from The Opening is that Texas and LSU will be battling until the end for Moses.
Cowan is a lot like Moses in that they both look like they have spent several years in a college strength program. He’s the Next Terrifying Alabama Linebacker, and while many assume he’ll end up as an outside linebacker or defensive end type, this is the second time this year we’ve seen him have strong coverage performances relative to his size.
Browning is better in coverage than either one of them, and he might just turn out to be the best linebacker in the 2017 class. His game has no real holes, though he is learning to blitz having recently converted from safety to linebacker. He is a target of all major Texas schools and the likes of Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, etc.
Georgia commitment Jaden Hunter also came away with numerous pass breakups and interceptions.
Defensive backs
A.J. Terrell
Robert Barnes
Stanford Samuels III
Darnay Holmes
Benjamin St-Juste
Bubba Bolden
Jamyest Williams
Richard LeCounte
Terrell was consistently around the ball, and he kept showing up as we cut highlight footage throughout the week. (You’ll see some of that in the days and weeks to come.) Oklahoma safety commit Barnes was really dominant at times, making two interceptions and generally imposing his will with a big frame and closing speed.
St-Juste might still fly a little bit under the radar, even though he’s a Michigan commit. He’s about 6’4 and very athletic, and we wonder if he hasn’t been a bit slept on because he comes from Quebec, not a typical Power 5 talent pipeline.
It’s totally possible that Holmes is the best player in the country. He was born with athletic gifts that even most other five-stars simply don’t have. He’s going to be a great DB in college, but he’s absolutely a blue-chip receiver, too.
Bolden was all around the ball and has a knack for making the big play. The USC commitment outjumped five-star receiver Trevon Grimes for a crucial pass breakup that turned a game.
Jamyest Williams similarly made play after play, and though he is short, proved he belonged. Word from The Opening is that he may be buying in to being a feature player at South Carolina. Stay tuned to see if the Gamecocks can land Williams.
Georgia’s LeCounte does not test off the charts, but when he’s actually playing football, he’s as competitive as any safety in the country.
LINK
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:00 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEAVERTON, Ore. — With The Opening now in the rearview mirror, there are bound to be movements when the rankings are updated for the 2017 cycle.
Some players validated their lofty ratings, while others were out to prove they were deserving of another star or two.
After winning the Elite 11 MVP, 4-star quarterback and current Alabama pledge Tua Tagovailoa made a case to jump into 5-star territory.
However, he was far from the only player who capitalized on the opportunity to make a statement competing against the nation’s top prospects at the premier summer-camp showcase.
Which prospects in the 2017 class could join the exclusive fraternity of 5-star talents when the rankings are updated?
2017 Recruits Who Could Become 5-Stars After Their Performance at The Opening
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:01 am to TideSaint
quote:
4-Star S Richard LeCounte III
Current Ranking: No. 2 safety, No. 37 overall
Recruitment Status: Committed to Georgia
In a seven-on-seven setting, safeties are put in a bind having to cover ground from sideline to sideline.
One player who seemed to relish that role was 4-star safety and current Georgia commit Richard LeCounte III.
According to Keith Niebuhr of 247Sports, LeCounte had three interceptions on the first day of the seven-on-seven tournament.
Afterward, the Peach State standout was still critical of his play.
"I felt like I did pretty well overall, but there’s always room to improve. I’m always looking for ways to get better," LeCounte told Bleacher Report.
Nevertheless, he displayed great range, ball instincts and speed. Furthermore, he carried himself with the type of confidence and swagger necessary to be an elite defender at the next level.
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:02 am to TideSaint
quote:
4-Star WR Jerry Jeudy
Current Ranking: No. 7 WR, No. 44 overall
Recruitment Status: Considering Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Tennessee
One of the main targets that helped spur Tagovailoa to the Elite 11 MVP award was 4-star receiver Jerry Jeudy.
After the title game, Tagovailoa spoke on the connection that played a major role in helping team Vapor Speed win the seven-on-seven tournament championship.
"[Jeudy is] awesome. That relationship couldn’t have started if I didn’t feed him the ball or if the coaches didn’t call plays for him," Tagovailoa said.
Perhaps the only blemish on the 6’1”, 180-pounder’s week was a dropped touchdown pass from Tagovailoa on Saturday.
However, he more than made up for that miscue with big plays on deep routes and short catches he turned into big gainers because of his elusiveness, as noted by Simmons.
With 5-star receivers such as Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tee Higgins limited or inactive due to injury, Jeudy excelled throughout the week and proved himself to be an elite prospect.
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:02 am to TideSaint
quote:
Word from The Opening is that Texas and LSU will be battling until the end for Moses.
I feel bad for Moses getting the hopes of any Texas fans.
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:03 am to TideSaint
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4-Star WR James Robinson
Current Ranking: No. 7 WR, No. 44 overall
Recruitment Status: Considering Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Miami and Ohio State
Aside from Jeudy, another stud pass-catcher from the Sunshine State had a great showing in tournament play.
While Jeudy was steady and consistent, 4-star receiver James Robinson had a flare for the dramatic with a handful of acrobatic catches fit for his highlight tape.
He snared a pair of one-handed catches from 5-star quarterback and current Clemson pledge Hunter Johnson on Saturday that showed his athleticism and versatility.
On the first one, he ran across the field and caught a pass that was behind him with one hand and managed to keep sprinting toward the sideline for a big play with yards after the catch.
After catching a fade route from Johnson for a touchdown, he made arguably the catch of the entire tournament by snagging a ball with one hand in the corner of the end zone while managing to get his foot down for the two-point conversion.
Overall, Robinson was one of the toughest matchups for defensive backs because of his size and physicality.
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:03 am to TideSaint
quote:
4-Star OL Trey Smith
Current Ranking: No. 9 offensive tackle, No. 48 overall
Recruitment Status: Considering Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Notre Dame and Ohio State
As Bleacher Report’s Damon Sayles detailed, 4-star offensive lineman Trey Smith was dubbed the nation’s top overall prospect in the 2017 cycle by ESPN.
However, he’s still a 4-star in the 247Sports composite rankings—which is an average rating that takes into account rankings from all the major recruiting services.
With some outlets not sold on his potential to become a dominant left tackle at the college level, Smith used The Opening to make a case to be billed as a 5-star.
As noted by Brian Perroni of 247Sports, Smith’s athleticism sets him apart from a class loaded with powerful protectors in the trenches.
The Tennessee native was consistent enough to warrant consideration for a place among the group of 5-star prospects in the 2017 cycle.
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:04 am to TideSaint
quote:
4-Star QB Tua Tagovailoa
Current Ranking: No. 2 dual-threat QB, No. 60 overall
Recruitment Status: Committed to Alabama
If there is one player in the 2017 cycle who has consistently improved throughout the camp circuit, it’s Tagovailoa.
His ascent to the Elite 11 MVP is the byproduct of a concerted effort on his part to hone his craft and learn the details of playing the position from the pocket.
The future Alabama Crimson Tide passer started out slow in tournament play. But when he adjusted to the speed of the game, he looked head and shoulders above the field of talented quarterbacks in the 2017 cycle.
Matt James, who is the Nike Director of Grassroots Football and one of the coaches on the Elite 11 staff, noticed his growth in that area.
"Once he got used to that and started picking things up, he just started dealing," James said. "I would say for the last two games of pool play all the way through today, it was special to watch. No one else performed like that."
Tagovailoa is rated as the nation’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 60 player overall in the 2017 cycle.
After his stellar showing at the Elite 11 finals in Los Angeles last month and his subsequent dominance at The Opening, Tagovailoa is a prime candidate to rise in the rankings heading into the 2016 season.
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:06 am to TideSaint
quote:
2017 Recruits Who Could Become 5-Stars After Their Performance at The Opening
For us, LeCounte is almost assured of it... had a stellar opening. Based on how Fromm played on Saturday I thought it might be a possibility for him as well, but his Sunday regression makes it a no go. Tua had a hell of a Sunday! Not particularly excited to see the QB talent level increase at Bama...
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:07 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEAVERTON, Ore. — The Opening annually challenges high school football's premier players to rise up in the company of elite peers. Held July 5-10 at Nike world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, the event featured 166 athletes from across America and beyond.
Each competitor earned their spot in Oregon by delivering strong performances during past seasons and recent regional showcases. Combined, this collection carries thousands of scholarship offers and will ultimately feature several future college and NFL superstars.
Some athletes entered the action with higher expectations than the bulk of other attendees, courtesy of elevated ratings throughout the recruiting-analysis industry. We examined the top 10 prospects in 247Sports' composite rankings, grading each based strictly on how they performed in Oregon.
LINK
ETA: I'll post the ones relevant to the SEC.
This post was edited on 7/11/16 at 10:10 am
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:07 am to TideSaint
quote:
3. DT Marvin Wilson
School: Episcopal High School (Bellaire, Texas)
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 defensive tackle; No. 3 overall
College Status: Uncommitted; Contenders include Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas
Analysis
The young man who regularly calls himself a "real-life goon" brought intensity to the trenches throughout his stay in Beaverton. Marvin Wilson, who stands 6'4", 329 pounds, led trash-talking efforts by a mile among linemen, and walked the walk for the most part.
"He's a high-energy guy, 100 percent, all the time," fellow Texan and 4-star offensive lineman Walker Little said. "He's an absolute load to have to block. You've got to bring your A-game going against him. That's a big guy coming at you with a lot of aggression."
Wilson, who burst onto the national scene with 67 tackles—19 for loss—and 15 sacks as a sophomore, was clearly the best interior defensive lineman in attendance, though this group had a difficult time overall matching the immense talent of a loaded 2016 class at The Opening. Defensive line MVP honors awaited Wilson Sunday evening, though a few top offensive linemen enjoyed success against him during stretches of the competition.
Grade: B+
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:08 am to TideSaint
quote:
2. LB Dylan Moses
School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 outside linebacker; No. 2 overall
College Status: Uncommitted; Contenders include Alabama, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Texas and UCLA
Analysis
As we alluded to in our Baron Browning segment, the seven-on-seven environment in Beaverton isn't necessarily conducive for linebacker stardom. Still, Dylan Moses continues to serve up evidence that the immense hype surrounding his recruitment since middle school is legitimate.
He lost grips on a longstanding hold of No. 1 status in composite rankings this offseason, but pushed for consideration while holding his own during an epic cat-and-mouse series against top-rated running back Najee Harris. The former LSU pledge looked the part of an elite talent against an impressive crop of rushers.
Moses is incredibly savvy in the midst of plays, competing with clarity and excellent anticipation even as things turn chaotic. His 6'2", 220-pound build, advanced football IQ and mature mentality add up to suggest he can handle a key role at the heart of a collegiate attack early and often.
Grade: A
This post was edited on 7/11/16 at 10:10 am
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:09 am to TideSaint
quote:
1. RB Najee Harris
School: Antioch High School (Antioch, California)
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 running back; No. 1 overall
College Status: Committed to Alabama
Analysis
Najee Harris arrived at The Opening with a target on his back as the No. 1 overall recruit in composite rankings. He did little to dispel that notion in Beaverton, though running backs are used almost strictly as pass targets rather than offensive catalysts in the seven-on-seven tournament.
Powerful, long legs, a formidable upper body and angry rushing style make him one of the most unique backs we've scouted in recent years, putting him in a conversation as the position's most impressive prospect since 2014 recruit and current LSU star Leonard Fournette.
Harris, who has rushed for 5,007 yards and 59 touchdowns during the past two seasons, is more sure-handed than several blue-chip receivers and presents major yards-after-catch potential in the open field. If his health remains on track, the 6'3", 226-pound playmaker is next in a line of superstar Crimson Tide running backs.
Grade: A
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:15 am to TideSaint
quote:
The final day of The Opening 2016 gave the best high school football players in the nation one more opportunity to show what they could bring to the next level.
On Sunday, the festivities wrapped up with the seven-on-seven championship game and the naming of the The Opening's most valuable player.
The Opening Championship
In the final game of The Opening, Team Vapor Speed, made up largely of University of Oklahoma and University of Alabama commits, defeated Team Fly Rush 38-20:
Team Vapor Speed Roster Player Position
Najee Harris RB
BJ Foster RB
Cam Akers RB
Stanford Samuels CB
Jerry Jeudy WR
Tua Tagovailoa QB
VanDarius Cowan WDE
Markail Benton OLB
Xavier McKinney S
Levi Draper ILB
Tyrell Shavers WR
Tre Brown CB
Chris Robison QB
Robert Barnes S
Justin Broiles CB
Jalen Reagor WR
Trajan Bandy CB
KJ Hamer WR
Grant Calcaterra TE
Tre' McKitty TE
Harrison Hand CB
Team Fly Rush Roster Player Position
Baron Browning OLB
Joseph Lewis WR
Stephen Carr RB
Deangelo Gibbs CB
Colby Parkinson TE
Jamyest Williams CB
Davis Mills QB
Todd Harris S
AJ Terrell CB
OrTre Smith ATH
Tylan Wallace WR
Sam Ehlinger QB
Addison Gumbs WDE
Bubba Bolden S
Jeremiah Holloman WR
Jaylen Kelly-Powell S
Chase Hayden RB
Sherrod Greene OLB
Kobe Boyce CB
Darrian Felix APB
Josh Thompson CB
Owen Pappoe OLB
Team Vapor Speed dominated the championship game, quickly jumping out to a 22-0 lead to put any sort of competitive questions away.
Alabama quarterback commit Tua Tagovailoa opened the scoring with a short touchdown pass to fellow Alabama commit Tyrell Shavers on Vapor Speed's first possession of the day.
It quickly became 16-0 when Tagovailoa picked apart the Fly Rush defense, exhibiting his ability to complete the intermediate throws with pinpoint accuracy.
Tagovailoa's third touchdown pass of the first half found another Alabama commit, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, who showed his ability to make a quick cut upfield and make a defender miss even while playing a one-hand touch game of football.
He spread the love to Oklahoma commits too, as his fourth and final touchdown of the game went to wide receiver Jalen Reagor. It wasn't an easy throw either, as he had to thread the needle in between a pair of defenders to find his receiver, via Donohue:
Jeudy recorded two touchdown receptions on the day, his second coming from Oklahoma commit Christopher Robison as Vapor Speed's final score of the game.
Most Valuable Player
Tagovailoa won the seven-on-seven and Elite MVP thanks to his dominant four-touchdown performance in the championship game.
The dual-threat quarterback hailing from Honolulu is the No. 1 recruit out of his state and the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, per 247Sports' composite ratings.
Given that quarterbacks during the seven-on-seven tournament had only 3.5 seconds to get rid of the ball before the officials would call them for a delay of game, Tagovailoa wasn't able to show off half of his game, which is his above-average athleticism with his legs.
For Alabama coaches and fans watching, it would be hard not to feel good about Tagovailoa's performance at The Opening, as the young recruit will only get better with time and could one day be the man starting under center in Tuscaloosa.
LINK
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