Nike’s The Opening Finals, the year’s annual biggest camp for football recruits, is this weekend. Out of the 163 prospects in attendance, a whopping 25 are five-star recruits, per 247Sports, and another 107 are four-stars. The Finals from Frisco, Texas features a variety of competition-based events, including a 7-on-7 tournament, a lineman competition, and a Nike training camp.
Everything to know about The Opening Finals 2018, football’s biggest recruiting showcase
The action gets started June 30. Here’s your schedule, roster, event notes, and more.
You can follow along with all of the action by following @SBNRecruiting on Twitter, we’ll update this post periodically during the event, and we’ll have plenty more later on.
Receivers and QBs got together Saturday
Saturday was a casual QB and WR session with no defense on the field. Further updates to follow in longer form, but here are some tidbits I picked up.
- Trey Palmer, of Kentwood (La.) has serious speed. He’s also a baseball player. LSU is the favorite, but don’t count out Arizona State.
- Lakeland (Fla.) tight end Keon Zipperer said that he knows where he wants to go, and that Alabama and Oklahoma are two schools guaranteed to have hats on the table when he eventually decides.
- Receiver John Dunmore plans to commit next week. He has used officials to Michigan, Penn State, and Auburn. His “dream school,” Florida State, however, won’t host him on an official until later in the season. I asked Dunmore whether he is committing to reserve a spot, or because he really knows where he wants to go. He said it was the latter, but recruiting analysts think his recruitment is probably far from over.
Nolan Smith is freaky, and other Sunday observations
- Georgia defensive end commitment Nolan Smith is a freak athlete. He was my pick to win the Nike Ratings Championship (formerly SPARQ) and he didn’t disappoint, posting a 141.75. The edge rusher ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, 42.2-inch vertical jump, 4.08 short shuttle, and 44.5-foot Powerball throw.
- Clemson receiver commit Frank Ladson, of Miami (Fla.) South Dade did what he’s done his whole career: Dust corners. He’s just too fast, with strides too long.
- Tennessee Offensive tackle commit Wanya Morris, of Loganville (Ga.) Grayson put on a show. The big man is really coming into his own, and moved through drills with a different gear than other 300-pounders.
- 2020 LB Justin Flowe, of Upland (Calif.) is one of the best linebacker recruits I’ve ever seen. He’s huge, he’s fast, he has great instincts and he is just flat out nasty. There is no off switch.
Monday brought some great linemen battles
- Some of the top defensive ends on Monday included Kayvon Thibodeaux, Nolan Smith (Georgia commit), and NaNa Osafo-Mensah (Notre Dame). All three won with speed and bend off the edge.
- On the interior, Siaki Ika won with great power, while Jacob Bandes and Quashon Fuller (Florida State) won with a blend of speed and quickness.
- But it wasn’t all great for the defensive line. Several offensive linemen picked up multiple wins, including Wanya Morris (Tennessee), Jonah Tauanu’u, Darnell Wright, Pierce Quick (Alabama), Evan Neal, Nathaniel Kalepo (Washington), and Kenyon Green (Texas A&M).
- On the skill position side, it was the Kyle Ford show. The 6’2, 2150pound receiver must have caught upwards of 15 balls on the day, with a variety of moves.
- Receiver Mycah Pittman spoke about his recruitment. Based on our conversation, I believe he’ll pick Oregon over Florida.
Championships begin Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET, with the finals at 2 p.m. ET.
There are a total of six teams for the 7-on-7 tournament.
- With five Alabama commitments, Tide fans will be paying attention to Team Hype, led by quarterbacks Dylan Morris and Taulia Tagovailoa, running backs Trey Sanders and Patrick Garwo, wide receivers Joshua Delgado, Cornelius Johnson, Trey Palmer, Mycah Pittman and Garrett Wilson, as well as tight end Jahleel Billingsley. The linebackers are Diwun Black, Shane Lee and Mekhail Sherman, cornerbacks Kaiir Elam, Marquez Beason, Christian Williams and Erick Young, as well as safety Tykee Smith, Raymond Woodie III, and DeMarcco Hellams.
- Georgia and Auburn fans will closely watch Team Boomin, which has quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix, running backs Tyrion Davis and Eric Gray, wide receivers Jadon Haselwood, George Pickens, Dominick Blaylock, Jalen Curry and Jacoby Pinckney, and tight end Ryland Goede. Defensively, it’s linebackers Marcel Brooks, De’Gabriel Floyd and Owen Pappoe, cornerbacks Marcus Banks, Jaydon Hill, DJ Turner II, Woodi Washington, Bobby Wolfe, and safeties Demani Richardson and Brian Williams.
- Team Elite has quarterbacks Cade McNamara and Sam Howell, running backs Devyn Ford and Isaiah Spiller, wide receivers John Dunmore, Jermaine Burton, Elijah Higgins, Ramel Keyton and Emery Simmons, tight end Keon Zipperer and athlete Giles Jackson. The defense has linebackers Rian Davis, Nakobe Dean, and Brandon Smith, cornerbacks Isaiah Rutherford, Renardo Green, Akeem Dent, and Max Williams as well as safeties Dax Hill and Brendan Gant.
- Team Dynamite has quarterbacks Max Duggan and Ty Evans, running backs Sean Dollars, Chris Tyree, and Austin Jones, wide receivers Bru McCoy, Braedin Huffman-Dixon, Maurice Massey, Marcus Washington and Jameson Williams, and tight end Michael Martinez. On defense it’s linebackers Shammond Cooper, Lance Dixon and Tristan Sinclair, cornerbacks Jeffery Carter Jr., Jeremiah Criddell, Elias Ricks, and Mykael Wright, as well as safeties Nick Cross and Jalani Williams.
- Team Overdrive has quarterbacks Brian Maurer and Spencer Rattler, running backs Jase McClellan and Kenny McIntosh, wide receivers Trejan Bridges, Jaylen Ellis, Arjei Henderson, Frank Ladson and Theo Wease, as well as tight end Austin Stogner. The defense has linebackers Bryton Constantin and Aeneas Dicosmo, cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson, Jordan Clark, Chester Kimbrough and Derek Stingley, safeties Kyle Hamilton, Josh Sanguinetti, and Quinten Johnson.
- Team impact has quarterbacks Graham Mertz and Ryan Hilinski, running backs Noah Cain and Zachary Evans, wide receivers Colby Bowman, Kyle Ford, Jeremiah Payton and Lance Wilhoite, as well as tight end Jude Wolfe and athlete Mark-Antony Richards. The defense has linebackers Kalen Deloach, Justin Flowe and Nick Jackson, cornerbacks Jaden Davis, Trent McDuffie, Cameron Smith, Chris Steele and Salim Turner-Muhammad, and safeties Jordan Battle and Keontra Smith.
The Opening Finals 2018 Roster
Name | Pos. | High School: | State: | Stars | Recruitment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeneas Dicosmo | LB | Bergen Catholic | NJ | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Akeem Dent | DB | Palm Beach Central | FL | 5 | FSU |
| Antonio Alfano | DL | Colonia | NJ | 4 | Alabama |
| Arjei Henderson | WR | Richmond Travis | TX | 4 | Oklahoma |
| Austin Jones | RB | Bishop O'Dowd | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Austin Stogner | TE | Prestonwood Christian | TX | 4 | Oklahoma |
| Bo Nix | QB | Pinson Valley | AL | 4 | Auburn |
| Bobby Wolfe | DB | Madison (Houston) | TX | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Braedin Huffman-Dixon | WR | Mater Dei | CA | 4 | Colorado |
| Brandon Smith | LB | Louisa County | VA | 5 | Penn State |
| Branson Bragg | OL | Crandall | TX | 4 | Stanford |
| Brendan Gant | LB | Mater Dei | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Brian Maurer | QB | West Port | FL | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Brian Williams | DB | Bishop Dunne | TX | 5 | Texas A&M |
| Bru McCoy | WR | Mater Dei | CA | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Bryan Bresee | DL | Damascus | MD | N/A c/o 2020 | Uncommitted |
| Bryton Constantin | LB | University Lab | LA | 4 | Clemson |
| Cade McNamara | QB | Damonte Ranch | NV | 4 | Michigan |
| Caedan Wallace | OL | Hun School | NJ | 4 | Penn State |
| Cameron Smith | DB | Westwood | SC | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Chester Kimbrough | DB | Warren Easton | LA | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Chris Steele | DB | St. John Bosco | CA | 4 | USC |
| Chris Tyree | RB | Thomas Dale | VA | N/A c/o 2020 | Uncommitted |
| Christian Williams | DB | Daphne | AL | 4 | Alabama |
| Clay Webb | OL | Oxford | AL | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Colby Bowman | WR | St. John Bosco | CA | 4 | Stanford |
| Cornelius Johnson | WR | Brunswick School | CT | 4 | Notre Dame |
| Darnell Wright | OL | Huntington | WV | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Dax Hill | DB | B.T. Washington | OK | 5 | Uncommitted |
| DeGabriel Floyd | LB | Westlake | CA | 4 | Texas |
| Demani Richardson | DB | Waxahachie | TX | 4 | Texas A&M |
| DeMarcco Hellams | ATH | DeMatha Catholic | MD | 4 | Alabama |
| Derek Stingley Jr. | DB | Dunham | LA | 5 | LSU |
| Derick Hall | LB | Gulfport | MS | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Devyn Ford | RB | North Stafford | VA | 4 | Penn State |
| Deyavie Hammond | OL | IMG Academy | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Diwun Black | LB | Forest | MS | 4 | Ole Miss |
| DJ Turner | DB | North Gwinnett | GA | 3 | Michigan |
| Dominick Blaylock | WR | Walton | GA | 5 | Georgia |
| Doug Nester | OL | Spring Valley | WV | 4 | Ohio State |
| Duke Clemens | OL | Punahou | HI | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Dylan Morris | QB | Graham-Kapowsin | WA | 4 | Washington |
| EJ Ndoma-Ogar | OL | Allen | TX | 4 | Oklahoma |
| Elias Ricks | DB | Mater Dei | CA | N/A c/o 2020 | Uncommitted |
| Elijah Higgins | WR | Bowie | TX | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Emery Simmons | WR | South View | NC | 3 | UNC |
| Enokk Vimahi | OL | Kahuku | HI | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Eric Gray | RB | Lausanne | TN | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Erick Young | DB | Fort Bend Bush | TX | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Evan Neal | OL | IMG Academy | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Frank Ladson Jr | WR | South Dade | FL | 5 | Clemson |
| Garrett Wilson | WR | Lake Travis | TX | 5 | Ohio State |
| George Karlaftis | DL | West Lafayette | IN | 4 | Purdue |
| George Pickens | WR | Hoover | AL | 4 | Auburn |
| Giles Jackson | ATH | Freedom | CA | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Graham Mertz | QB | Blue Valley North | KS | 4 | Wisconsin |
| Hakeem Beamon | DL | Lloyd C. Bird | VA | 4 | Penn State |
| Harry Miller | OL | Buford | GA | 4 | Ohio State |
| Isaiah Rutherford | DB | Jesuit | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Isaiah Spiller | RB | Klein Collins | TX | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Ishmael Sopsher | DL | Amite | LA | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Jacob Bandes | DL | Pittsburg (CA) | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jacob Monk | OL | Corinth Holders | NC | 3 | Duke commit |
| Jacoby Pinckney | WR | Dorman | SC | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Jaden Davis | DB | St. Thomas Aquinas | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jadon Haselwood | WR | Cedar Grove | GA | 5 | UGA |
| Jahleel Billingsley | TE | Phillips Academy | IL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jalani Williams | DB | Parkway North | MO | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jalen Curry | WR | St. Pius X | TX | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jameson Williams | WR | Cardinal Ritter | MO | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jaquaze Sorrels | DL | Largo | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jase McClellan | RB | Aledo | TX | N/A c/o 2020 | Oklahoma |
| Javonne Shepherd | OL | North Forest | TX | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jayden Daniels | QB | Cajon | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jaydon Hill | DB | Bob Jones | AL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jaylen Ellis | WR | Cedar Ridge | TX | 3 | Baylor |
| Jeffery Carter Jr. | DB | Aledo | TX | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jeremiah Criddell | CA | Mater Dei | CA | 4 | Oregon |
| Jeremiah Payton | WR | Fletcher | FL | 4 | Miami |
| Jermaine Burton | WR | Marrietta | GA | N/A c/o 2020 | Uncommitted |
| John Dunmore | WR | Chaminade-Madonna | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jonah Tauanu'u | OL | Narbonne | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jordan Battle | DB | St. Thomas Aquinas | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jordan Clark | DB | University Lab | LA | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Joseph Anderson | DL | Siegel | TN | 4 | South Carolina |
| Josh Sanguinetti | DB | University School | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Joshua Delgado | WR | IMG Academy | FL | 4 | Oregon |
| Joshua Pakola | DL | St. Francis (MV) | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Jude Wolfe | TE | St. John Bosco | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Justin Flowe | LB | Upland | CA | N/A c/o 2020 | Uncommitted |
| Kaiir Elam | DB | The Benjamin School | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Kalen Deloach | LB | Islands | GA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Kardell Thomas | OL | Southern Lab | LA | 5 | LSU |
| Kayvon Thibodeaux | DL | Oaks Christian | CA | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Kenny McIntosh | RB | University School (FL) | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Kenyon Green | OL | Atascocita | TX | 5 | Texas A&M |
| Keon Zipperer | TE | Lakeland | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Keontra Smith | DB | Chaminade-Madonna | FL | 4 | Miami |
| Kevin Harris II | DL | Grayson | GA | 4 | Alabama |
| Kyle Ford | WR | Orange Lutheran | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Kyle Hamilton | DB | Marist | GA | 3 | Notre Dame |
| Lance Dixon | LB | West Bloomfield | MI | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Lance Wilhoite | WR | Franklin | TN | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Marcel Brooks | LB | Marcus | TX | 4 | LSU |
| Marcus Banks | DB | Dekaney | TX | 3 | LSU |
| Marcus Stripling | DL | Mayde Creek | TX | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Marcus Washington | WR | Trinity Catholic | MO | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Mark-Antony Richards | WR | Wellington | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Marquez Beason | DB | Bishop Dunne | TX | 4 | Illinois |
| Maurice Massey | WR | Kirkwood | MO | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Max Duggan | QB | Lewis Central | IA | 4 | TCU |
| Max Williams | DB | Serra | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Mekhail Sherman | LB | St. John's | DC | N/A c/o 2020 | Uncommitted |
| Michael Martinez | TE | Mater Dei | CA | 3 | UCLA commit |
| Mohamoud Diabate | DL | Auburn | AL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Mycah Pittman | WR | Calabasas | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Mykael Wright | DB | Valencia | CA | 4 | Oregon |
| Nakobe Dean | LB | Horn Lake | MS | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Nana Osafo-Mensah | DL | Nolan Catholic | TX | 4 | Notre Dame |
| Nathan Pickering | DL | Seminary | MS | 4 | Mississippi State |
| Nathaniel Kalepo | OL | Rainier Beach | WA | 4 | Washington |
| Nick Cross | DB | DeMatha Catholic | MD | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Nick Jackson | LB | The Lovett School | GA | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Noah Cain | RB | IMG Academy | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Nolan Smith II | DL | IMG Academy | FL | 5 | UGA |
| Owen Pappoe | LB | Grayson | GA | 5 | Auburn |
| Patrick Garwo III | RB | Conwell Egan Catholic | PA | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Pierce Quick | OL | Hewitt-Trussville | AL | 5 | Alabama |
| Quashon Fuller | DL | Lehigh | FL | 4 | FSU |
| Quinten Johnson | DB | St. John's | DC | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Ramel Keyton | WR | Marietta | GA | 4 | Tennessee |
| Raymond Woodie III | DB | Florida State University School | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Renardo Green | DB | Wekiva | FL | 3 | FSU |
| Rian Davis | LB | Wekiva | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Ryan Hilinski | QB | Orange Lutheran | CA | 4 | South Carolina |
| Ryland Goede | TE | Kennesaw Mountain | GA | 4 | Georgia |
| Salim Turner-Muhammad | DB | Episcopal | VA | 4 | Stanford |
| Sam Howell | QB | Sun Valley | NC | 4 | FSU |
| Sean Dollars | RB | Mater Dei | CA | 4 | Oregon |
| Shammond Cooper | LB | Trinity Catholic | MO | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Shane Lee | LB | St. Frances | MD | 4 | Alabama |
| Siaki Ika | DL | East (Salt Lake City) | UT | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Spencer Rattler | QB | Pinnacle | AZ | 4 | Oklahoma |
| Stacey Wilkins | OL | Fairview | AR | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Stephen Herron Jr | DL | Trinity | KY | 4 | Michigan |
| Taulia Tagovailoa | QB | Thompson | AL | 4 | Notre Dame |
| Theo Wease Jr | WR | Allen | TX | 5 | Oklahoma |
| Travon Walker | DL | Upson-Lee | GA | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Trejan Bridges | WR | Hebron | TX | 4 | Oklahoma |
| Trent McDuffie | DB | St. John Bosco | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Trey Palmer | WR | Kentwood | LA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Trey Sanders | RB | IMG Academy | FL | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Tristin Sinclair | LB | San Ramon Valley | CA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Ty Evans | QB | Palmer Ridge | CO | 3 | Colorado commit |
| Tykee Smith | DB | Imhotep Charter | PA | 3 | Uncommitted |
| Tyrion Davis | RB | Southern Lab | LA | 4 | LSU |
| Tyrique Stevenson | DB | South Ridge | FL | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Wanya Morris | OL | Grayson | GA | 5 | Tennessee |
| Warren McClendon | OL | Brunswick | GA | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Woodi Washington | DB | Oakland | TN | 4 | Uncommitted |
| Zach Harrison | DE | Oletangy Orange | OH | 5 | Uncommitted |
| Zachary Evans | RB | North Shore | TX | N/A c/o 2020 | Uncommitted |
