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Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:17 am to TideSaint
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2016 @Final5Linemen | Defensive Line
MVP-Marvin Wilson
Drew Jordan
Jaelan Phillips
Marlon Tuipulotu
Jordan Williams
This post was edited on 7/11/16 at 10:19 am
Posted on 7/11/16 at 10:18 am to TideSaint
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The 2016 @Final5Linemen OL
MVP - Foster Sarell
Jamaree Salyer
Walker Little
Alex Leatherwood
Wyatt Davis
Cesar Ruiz
Posted on 7/11/16 at 1:57 pm to TideSaint
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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
Lol
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:05 pm to TideSaint
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Alabama commit, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy
Is this official?
Thanks for posting all this btw
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:07 pm to Riseupfromtherubble
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Is this official?
It may as well be. He and Devonta Smith to Alabama are the two worst secrets in this recruiting class.
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Thanks for posting all this btw
No problem. I was going to post it on the Alabama board anyway so I just opened up two windows and did it at the same time.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:10 pm to TideSaint
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In crafting the recruiting coverage plan for SB Nation and its 80-plus college sites, I remind everyone that recruiting is not a sport. The vast majority of folks who are interested in it are interested solely as an extension of their team-specific college football fandom. I’d go broke trying to make people read pieces that don’t concern their team, so most articles are team-focused.
But following a national showcase event like Nike’s The Opening, there is a need for a national article. If you’re a die-hard who actually enjoys following recruiting as a sport, this is for you. Be sure to also check out our All-Opening Team.
What I learned about the country's best recruits after 5 days at The Opening
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:10 pm to TideSaint
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Re-thinking rankings
One of the best things about The Opening is that it allows evaluators to compare elite players against other elite players. This is important because all 150-plus players at the event look awesome on film compared to their high school competition.
Don’t fall in love with short 7-on-7 stars
Before I say that I do not think Ohio State QB commit Tate Martell should be a five-star, I want to say that Martell was gracious and even professional with me after clearly being pissed off about losing in the 7-on-7 tournament Sunday. Some members of his team seemed not to be playing hard on a very cold morning, but Martell clearly did. I fully expected the interview to be lame with a high-schooler giving terse, annoyed answers. It was not. Martell went from being angry to giving thoughtful answers about his game like a more seasoned college or pro player.
But with all that said, I do not believe the 5’10-1/2 Martell should be a five-star. No QB listed under 6’0 has led his team to a national title in the last quarter century, and Martell did not stand out among his peers. Five-star status is reserved for the most elite of players, and I think he's just below that. Maybe he will be a complete superstar at Ohio State, but I’m not the only one who wasn’t wowed by Martell, either, as 247Sports put him 10th out of 12 quarterbacks at the event. If Martell had not been so good so young, I do not think he would be considered for five-star status.
There is also a lot of talk on social media about how some shorter receivers and defensive backs should be rated five-stars based on their performance at The Opening — specifically receiver Tyjon Lindsey (5.8’5) and corner Jamyest Williams (5’9). But I’m not joining that chorus. Seven-on-7 is exactly the format where the very real importance of size is minimized. It’s non-contact by rule. There is no blocking or tackling, no need to take a hit and hold on to the football. And at The Opening, QBs had only 3.5 seconds to throw the ball, roughly 20 percent less time than normal, which made small slot receivers stand out even more as QBs had even less time to push the ball deep than ever. I’m a bit more willing to consider a 5’9 defensive back than a receiver as a five-star player, but would like to see him in pads against other elite players first. The temptation to fall in love with small players who shine in the 7-on-7 format is something folks new to the recruiting scene fall victim to every year. But veterans know not to.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:11 pm to TideSaint
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Disappearing defensive linemen, dominant offensive linemen
I’ve been covering The Opening for a half decade now, and I cannot remember a year in which the defensive line was so thoroughly dominated. In the final-five group of the pass rush competition — a drill quite typically favoring the defense, the offensive linemen won at least 11 of the 15 reps. No defensive lineman won more than he lost. And the losses were brutally one-sided, while the wins were by a hair.
This was a major topic of conversation during and after the event, and the consensus seems to be that somewhere between three and five defensive tackles from the class of 2016 were better than the No. 1 of the 2017 crop, Marvin Wilson (considering Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, FSU and Ohio State). All positions are not created equally on a year-to-year basis. It is worth noting that Wilson and Tyler Shelvin, the top two rated defensive tackles at the event, both looked a bit heavy at 332 and 376 pounds, respectively. Both, but especially Shelvin, would benefit from slimming down a bit.
The picture at defensive end isn’t better. The class lacks the truly elite prospects who have both great size and pass-rushing explosiveness.
At the same time, this is a good year for the offensive line and much better than 2016. And that is already reflected in the recruiting rankings as seven offensive linemen are rated as five-stars compared to just two from 2016. And I think there should perhaps be even more. Current five-stars Foster Sarell (considering Washington, Stanford and Notre Dame) and Alex Leatherwood (Alabama commit) have that "just stay healthy and you’re a first-round pick" look to them. I also think Phoenix-area tackle Austin Jackson (considering mostly Pac-12 heavyweights) and Jackson, Tennessee tackle Trey Smith (considering a large number of schools) should be five-stars. The class of 2017 really might have 10 offensive linemen worthy of five-star status. I am also very intrigued by the ascension of four-star tackle Walker Little (considering Stanford, Texas, Ole Miss, Alabama and others), who checked in at 6'8, 303 pounds and is still growing into and learning how to use his huge body. Plus, he just turned 17 in April, making him one of the youngest elite players in the class. Little showed a mean streak that wasn't as present when I saw him in Houston a few months ago.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:12 pm to TideSaint
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Five receivers who should be rated higher
One thing I like to do is to pull up the position rankings after an event like this and see what looks out of place. Here are five receivers I think should be rated five spots higher than they are as of July 12 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Jerry Jeudy, No. 7: People ask what Jeudy does best, and the answer is that he has no weaknesses. His size is good at a legit 6’1, routes are strong, feel for the game and hands are plus, speed and quickness are also strengths. He’s not the best at any one thing but not having any weaknesses is a tremendous trait. Jeudy is considering Alabama and Miami, among others.
Devonta Smith, No. 10: Smith has the suddenness usually seen in shorter players, but at 6’1 he is so smooth that opponents seem not to realize how quick he really is. Oh, and his body control is excellent, allowing for acrobatic catches. Smith is considering Alabama, Miami, Nebraska and Mississippi State.
Tyrell Shavers, No. 22: At 6’6 and 202 pounds, Shavers is just filling out and keeps getting better at the position. He has smooth long speed and as he focuses more on football and less on baseball, he’ll only get better. Shavers is committed to Alabama.
Jeremiah Holloman, No. 28: A legit 6’2 with a frame to hold 210 pounds, Holloman is coming into his own. As his pinned tweet says, he had no offers in April of 2015. Holloman made a number of strong plays and ran a variety of routes well. There aren’t many receivers with size who can do that. The feeling is that Georgia is surging above Tennessee, LSU and others for Holloman, but he insisted to me that he does not have a leader.
Oliver Martin, No. 97: When Martin’s name got put on the Opening roster, I did a double take. Who? But the Iowa receiver showed quite well this week and there is no way there are 96 better receivers than the 6’0-1/2, 190-pound Martin. He should move into the top 30 at least. Michigan State has been on Martin for a while and may be rewarded for some great early scouting.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:12 pm to TideSaint
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Dylan Moses, Baron Browning and the No. 1 linebacker spot
The five-star linebacker Moses has been a really good player since he was in middle school, but he does not have a birthright to the No. 1 linebacker status. Baron Browning, of Kennendale (Texas), is a former safety who is growing and improving at a ridiculous rate. Now 6’3 and 232 pounds, Browning is roughly the same size as Moses (6’2-1/2, 235) and a lot better in coverage. I think both are excellent prospects, but I think Browning has the higher ceiling. If Moses hadn’t been so good, so young, I’m not even sure this is a question.
As for his recruitment, I think the Baton Rouge native Moses, now playing at IMG Academy for his senior year in Florida, will end up at LSU unless Texas has a great year. I do not think he’s going to pick Alabama. Browning’s recruitment is wide open.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:14 pm to TideSaint
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Team notes
Talking to players is great, but at an event like The Opening, perhaps the better value is conversing with coaches and other media.
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Texas or Aggies could catch fire late
I wrote in April that many of Texas’ best are waiting to see what happens with the Longhorns and Aggies. That’s still true. Only six of the 42 players rated four- or five-stars in Texas are committed to the pair.
Four-star corner Chevin Calloway picked Iowa over Texas Monday. If either program has a season that outpaces expectations, though, expect them to be right back in the fold as serious contenders for the best in the state.
The magic number seems to be eight wins. Before the bowl game. In talking with people who cover the state, they think Charlie Strong and Kevin Sumlin will be safe if they can win eight regular season games and avoid getting blown out like happened too often in 2015.
Speaking of Texas, QB Sam Ehlinger models his game after Cam Newton and Drew Brees.
Sources who cover Texas did tell me that they believe Ehlinger will keep his options open in case Texas true freshman Shane Buechele has a great year and looks like a four-year starter. Having a backup plan is never a bad idea, and Ehlinger isn't so different physically from Buechele that he would be expected to go in and overtake an established successful starter.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:14 pm to TideSaint
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Georgia’s hot run
Georgia could be in line to have an amazing line of quarterbacks if five-star 2018 prospect Trevor Lawrence commits to go with 2016 five-star Jacob Eason and 2017 four-star Jake Fromm, who was an honorable mention on our All-Opening Team.
In front of them will eventually be an excellent offensive line under the tutelage of coach Sam Pittman, who Kirby Smart stole from Arkansas. Georgia is recruiting big linemen and wants to mash people. With blue-chip prospects like Andrew Thomas (326 pounds), D’Ante Demery (304) and Netori Johnson (348), it’ll happen sooner rather than later. And you just know Georgia will continue to recruit elite running backs.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:14 pm to TideSaint
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I didn’t think it was possible, but Alabama’s class might be underrated
I already mentioned receiver commit Tyrell Shavers, but Vandarius Cowan at 6’4 and 226 pounds again showed that he can actually cover and does not have to be pigeonholed into a defensive end role like many think. Being able to stick at linebacker with that size entering his senior year is a five-star trait. It’s possible Cowan blows up in a college weight program and moves to defensive end, but if he ends up at 235 or 240 he can absolutely play inside linebacker in Alabama’s 3-4 defense. And JUCO offensive tackle Elliott Baker is a plug-and-play starter according to those I spoke with who have seen him in person.
Meanwhile, QB commit Tua Tagovailoa was named the MVP of the event. He told us he is committed to Alabama, but sources at the event will not be surprised if he ends up at USC. We do not believe Oregon is seriously a player despite offering.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:39 pm to TideSaint
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During all the lead up to The Opening Finals in Oregon, the talk was about who would be the 'best of the best' in that elite setting. Following five days of work and two days of 7on7 competition, we have our answers. Based solely on what we saw last week in Oregon, we've put together the perfect roster from the event.
Below, we bring you the 2016 edition of the 247Sports Dream Team for The Opening.
LINK
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:39 pm to TideSaint
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Offensive skill
Quarterback - Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama commit)
No quarterback had more touchdown drives than Tua with 11 on the weekend. He also showed outstanding poise in big moments and made some of the weekend's most impressive throws.
Tua Tagovailoa to Jalen Raegor. #Bama to #OU pic.twitter.com/4V1pAe5Bcw
— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) July 9, 2016
Running Back - Stephen Carr (USC commit)
This was a tough call with JK Dobbins and Najee Harris both making strong cases for the job but Carr's consistency throughout the weekend as a downfield pass-catcher and a yards-after-catch guy underneath gave him the edge in a loaded running back group.
Slot - Oliver Martin (Uncommitted)
The biggest riser of any player in the entire weekend. Martin went from anonymous wide receiver to what I now think is one of the elite players at his position nationally with his weekend performance. Michigan State, Wisconsin and Iowa are favorites but Michigan offered immediately after the event to join the mix.
Slot - D.J. Matthews (Florida State commit)
On Saturday, Matthews was probably the best wide receiver at the event. He didn't make as much noise on Sunday but that had as much to do with missed throws by the quarterbacks as anything else. Matthews was a highlight film ready to happen everytime a quarterback looked his way.
Wide Receiver - Jerry Jeudy (Uncommitted)
He had to be the most productive outside receiver of the entire event. The guy was just a workhorse all weekend and the Alabama target seemed to vibe really well with Alabama quarterback commit Tagovailoa. The two couldn't be stopped at times.
My God. #Alabama WR target @jerryjeudy is a highlight-making machine pic.twitter.com/LU45nhaNFT
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisK_AJC) July 9, 2016
Wide Receiver - Devonta Smith (Uncommitted)
Smith's best was better than any other receiver. He's got size and length on the outside, he is incredibly smooth and explosive in and out of his routes and he had a few of the weekend's most spectacular grabs. The Louisiana native is considered an Alabama lean.
Tight end - Colby Parkinson (Stanford commit)
If I'm a quarterback, Parkinson is my first overall pick in a 7on7 draft. At 6-foot-7, 225 pounds, the dude is the ultimate safety net, the ultimate third down option, the ultimate goalline target. Defenders were hanging all over him all weekend and he kept making plays. He will be a star in Palo Alto.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:40 pm to TideSaint
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Defensive skill
Linebacker - Willie Gay (Ole Miss commit)
In a 7on7 setting, you want a linebacker that's athletic and there's no more athletic linebacker than Gay. He ran a 4.53 40, had a 39-inch vertical and he was all over the field at linebacker. He had a pick-six and several pass breakups over the course of the weekend.
Nickel - Jamyest Williams (Uncommitted)
Wherever Williams ends up, he'll give the fans their money's worth. He's small but Williams play so fast, so scrappy, so competitive and he was all over the place over the weekend. His pick-six on Sunday sealed the deal in sending his team to the championship game but it was a routine play for him. Georgia, South Carolina and Clemson were among the favorites.
Dime - Isaiah Pola-Mao (Uncommitted)
He played safety most of the weekend and he had three interceptions and a few more close calls. He just has so much range. He's also a legti 6-foot-4 so if he rolls down into the slot as a dime, he will be able to get his hands on a lot of footballs. Washington is a favorite for the big defender.
Cornerback - Benjamin St-Juste (Michigan commit)
The biggest revelation on defense of the weekend was St-Juste. He's huge at a legit 6-3, 190, he's quick with the second fastest shuttle time of the camp (3.86 seconds) and he was physical all weekend as a cornerback that receivers just couldn't get past. He's a great find by Michigan.
Cornerback - Darnay Holmes (Uncommitted)
Every wide receiver I talked to always seemed to mention Darnay Holmes when asked about the best cornerback of the event. Holmes is so quick and so competitive and he thrives in 1on1 battles on the outside. He even flashed some offensive skills on the weekend too as a two-way threat.
Safety - Bubba Bolden (USC commit)
You aren't going to see a more complete weekend from a safety than what Bolden showed. He displayed recovery skills, body control, ball skills, the ability to break downhill, the ability to turn and run, multiple interceptions. The guy was just awesome. I think he put himself into the conversation as the top safety in the country.
Safety - Richard LeCounte III (Georgia commit)
LeCounte made a strong case for five-star status. He was a flash out there over the weekend and when he got to the football, he finished. Nothing thrown on his half of the field was safe. I don't care whether it's a short option route or a deep corner route, everything was fair game for LeCounte and he made a lot of quarterbacks pay.
All-Purpose - Ambry Thomas (Uncommitted)
He's on here on the defensive side but Thomas made his mark as our best two-way threat. He was a lock-down guy at cornerback but on a time hampered by injuries on offense, he was one of the day's top deep threats at wide receiver too. Michigan is the current Crystal Ball favorite.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:41 pm to TideSaint
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Offensive line
Offensive Tackle - Foster Sarell (Uncommitted)
In one of the best offensive line groups that The Opening has ever seen, Sarell looked like the best of the bunch. He's massive, he's athletic, he plays with a finisher's mentality and he was dominant all weekend long. Washington, Stanford and Notre Dame are out front right now.
Offensive Tackle - Walker Little (Uncommitted)
When you draw up NFL offensive tackles as high schoolers, you draw up Little. He's 6-foot-8 at a solid 303 pounds, he showed the athleticism and bend that we thought he had over the weekend but he also showed some brute strength and toughness that we didn't know he had. Texas, Stanford and Ole Miss are the favorites.
Offensive Guard - Alex Leatherwood (Alabama commit)
I throw Leatherwood on here as a guard but he can absolutely be a tackle. He played all over the line and was dominant everywhere they put him. He's big, mean and physical. He really uses his hand strength and arm length well and he has the motor to compete on every rep.
Offensive Guard - Jamaree Salyer (Class of 2018)
The strongest hands of any lineman at the event, regardless of class. Salyer's punch was jarring, his physicality was striking. Despite being an underclassman, the kid plays like a bully. The in-state Georgia Bulldogs is currently the leader.
Center - Cesar Ruiz
Ruiz looked like a total star this week. He was dominant on the offensive interior. He only lost a couple of reps on the entire weekend and just looked in complete control both with his hands, his feet and the way he plays with strength and technique.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 2:43 pm to TideSaint
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Defensive line
Defensive End - Chase Young (Uncommitted)
Though he didn't make the Final Five for the event, I liked him a lot. I thought he was the most complete defensive lineman at the event. He's got great length, strength and quickness. He's got a combination of those three that I didn't think anyone could match on the defensive line. Ohio State and Alabama are among the favorites.
Defensive End - Drew Jordan (Duke commit)
Jordan was the smallest defensive lineman at the event but he was probably the edge rusher that offensive linemen least wanted to battle because he was so fast off the edge and he had some sneaky power. As a 3-4 edge rusher, Jordan looks like a special talent.
Defensive End - Xavier Thomas (Class of 2018)
Thomas looked like he belonged with the older guys. He looked like he belonged physically and he didn't look overwhelmed from a competitive standpoint. There was no back-down in his game and he was also one of the most athletic defensive linemen at the event with a 4.58 40 at 250 pounds. Clemson and South Carolina are considered the early favorites here.
Defensive Tackle - Marvin Wilson (Uncommitted)
It wasn't a dominating weekend for Wilson and he certainly lost his fair share of reps but it was a given that every offensive lineman was going to give his best effort when Wilson was lined up in front of him. If they didn't, they would likely get embarrassed. LSU, Texas and Florida State are considered the teams to beat for Wilson.
Defensive Tackle - Jay Tufele (Uncommitted)
This was a tough call for the final interior defender spot. Marlon Tuipulotu had a good week. So did Haskall Garrett. When healthy, I really liked what I saw out of TCU commit James Lynch. Greg Rogers, LaBryan Ray and even Malik Herring all had their moments. To me, Tufele's best was the toughest for the offensive linemen to handle out of the bunch though. He's so quick and still has a lot of strength at 6-3, 297 pounds. Michigan, Ohio State and Utah currently lead.
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