The Opening 2016: Biggest Takeaways from Day 4
BEAVERTON, Ore. — Friday arguably was one of the most action-packed days The Opening has seen in years.
The day featured intense one-on-one battles pitting linebackers against running backs, defensive backs against wide receivers and offensive linemen against defensive linemen. The day also included a bench- press challenge, a verbal commitment with a Lamborghini as a prop, a tug-of-war battle and tons of recruiting news.
Additionally, Friday saw some of The Opening names of the past return to help the names of college football's future.
Here are some takeaways from Friday's The Opening action:
A day loaded with The Opening alums
Gone from Friday's The Opening were Clemson's Deshaun Watson, Tennessee's Josh Dobbs, Miami's Brad Kaaya and BYU's Tanner Mangum—the college quarterbacks who served as camp counselors.
Friday's roster assistants featured a few athletes who once graced The Opening grounds. Among them were LSU running back Leonard Fournette, Georgia running back Nick Chubb, LSU safety Jamal Adams, Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson, Alabama tight O.J. Howard, Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan and many others.
"I was here in 2013. It seems like yesterday," Adams said. "It's just unreal to get back and see all these guys, the alumni, coming back giving back to the kids. That's what it's all about. I think there's no better feeling to change somebody's life and help them get better at their game. I know I'm excited, but we're all excited to be out here to help.
Additionally running backs Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott, two The Opening alums who are now seeing time in the NFL, were also on hand. Elliott, a former Ohio State national champion, not only helped coach the players on the field but also had the chance to hand the Nike+ Football Rating Championship to a Buckeyes commit—4-star all-purpose back J.K. Dobbins.
"It's just great to get back out here," Elliott said. "I think The Opening was one of the most fun times I've had with football. You get to compete against the best. I want to come out and make sure I help these guys have an experience as special as I had."
A Lamborghini and a Laborn pledge for Florida State
Virginia Beach, Virginia, 4-star all-purpose back Khalan Laborn admitted he's never trended nationally on Twitter. That happened Friday with the help of a commitment to Florida State—and a Lamborghini.
Laborn was a part of a Bleacher Report showcase that included handpicked one-on-one battles. Before entering the field, he was in the passenger seat of a Lamborghini Gallardo and ran to the field waving a Florida State flag.
"It was a lot of fun, and I'm excited," Laborn said. "I've always wanted to go there. I mean, Deion Sanders is my favorite player. I'm ready to get to work."
In regard to style points, Sanders and other Florida State fans would approve of the Gallardo, an all-black ride with tinted windows and black rims. Seminoles spears were placed on the doors. Chief Osceola was on the hood.
And when it was time for Laborn, the nation's No. 2 all-purpose back, to compete in his one-on-one battle with linebacker Owen Pappoe, he scored two victories, with the first win resulting in a Laborn backflip.
Florida State now has 11 commitments with Laborn's pledge. He is the Seminoles' top-ranked offensive commit.
No. 1 DT Wilson to set 2 official visits
Houston defensive tackle Marvin Wilson was one of the last athletes to show up in Oregon Thursday night. His flight landed around 9:30 p.m., and he showed up at the host hotel around 10 p.m.
The time change wasn't a disadvantage, as he showed why he's the nation's top-ranked defensive tackle and the No. 3 overall player in the 2017 class.
"It's one of the greatest feelings ever to come out here and see where you compare against the best of the best before you go into your senior season. It all works out, because we all want to just get better this week."
Wilson announced he's looking to set two official visits to USC and Florida State this fall. He's visited Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Alabama and Florida State during the spring and summer. Wilson added that he'll take in a trip to USC before the start of his senior season.
"I'm going and seeing where I can be comfortable," he said. "In my mind, if you can't be comfortable wherever you go, you won't be able to develop. If it's far away and I feel comfortable, that's where I'll go."
Comfort key in ATH Ahmed picking from top five
Kirkland, Washington, 4-star athlete Salvon Ahmed dropped his top five of Notre Dame, Oregon, Stanford, USC and Washington Thursday evening. The nation's No. 6 athlete said those schools also will be the ones to receive an official visit this fall.
Look for Ahmed to make a well-informed decision, as he's strongly considering his academic career in his final decision. He's looking to major in business marketing and also study media communications.
"Those five schools really stood out," said Ahmed, who has 11 reported offers. "A lot of them talk to me about being a man outside of football and what I could do outside of football a lot more than about me just playing the sport. I want to know what I can do after sports and be successful."
Ahmed said he plans on taking his official visits and then making a decision.
"I want to know how I'll feel when I step on campus," he said. "I want to know how I feel in a game atmosphere and be a big part of it. Would I be happy being there if I couldn't play football anymore? Those are some of the main things I'm looking for."
Rating contest top three: Potential Buckeyes teammates?
The winner of the Nike+ Football Rating Championship earns bragging rights for being the best high school football athlete in the country. La Grange, Texas, standout J.K. Dobbins, an Ohio State pledge, won the competition with a ratings score of 146.76.
Dobbins ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and completed the 20-yard shuttle in 4.09 seconds. He had a vertical jump of 43.1 inches and threw the power ball 42 feet. His efforts helped him win the title and, ultimately, have Ezekiel Elliott award him the trophy.
"It feels great. It's what I've worked for every day," Dobbins said. "I didn't do all that I wanted to do, but I'm going to keep working hard every day so I can get better."
While Dobbins finished first, defensive back Jeffrey Okudah placed second (142.56), and 5-star running back Cam Akers (140.13). Okudah and Akers, two players ranked among the top 12 in the 2017 class, are 5-star players who are considered heavy Ohio State targets.
Dobbins said he is doing his part to recruit them.
"With Jeff, I'm trying to get him. I hope he joins me as a Texas guy," Dobbins said. "With Cam, I always talk to him, too, about joining us. It would be great having them both.
"If we get all those guys, we could potentially win two championships instead of one. Maybe even three."
USC RB commit Carr: Many 'dream of this opportunity'
Fontana, California, 5-star running back and USC commit Stephen Carr is someone who has made it a priority to relish in the moment.
Carr called The Opening a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" and said he's making the most out of the week as one of 166 selected athletes across the country. It's something he said he won't take for granted.
"I know many kids dream of this opportunity, so I'm just blessed to be here with some of the top-notch athletes," Carr said. "That's just the type of person I was raised to be. I've had athletes before me at my school who have made it to The Opening. I get it from them in a way, and I see what they did and didn't do. I work off of that."
Carr, a USC commit since March 2015, said he's using the tutelage from this week to help him grow into a player better prepared for Pac-12 competition. He added that he was "100 percent to USC" but will take all his allotted official visits to get a feel for different campus experiences.
"I haven't scheduled any visits yet, but I know I'll take all five," Carr said. "I'm not sure where I'll go yet. I'll know more later on."
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
