Meet the Coaches Training College Football's Next Stars at Elite 11, The Opening
"Football Heaven" awaits more than 160 athletes as The Opening and the Elite 11 finals kick off next week in Beaverton, Oregon. And while some of the superstar athletes of the 2016 and 2017 classes will be the center of attention, their eyes and ears will be the focus of coaches offering valuable tutelage and advice.
Each year, The Opening and the Elite 11 provide athletes with coaches who were once the best players of the game. This year's roster features several well-known athletes who were once familiar sights on television screens on Sunday afternoons.
Here are 10 former NFL athletes who will serve as coaches next week in Oregon. Brian Stumpf, vice president of football events for Student Sports and one of the leaders of both the Elite 11 and The Opening, assisted with this compilation.
LeCharles Bentley
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A knee injury and a battle with a staph infection kept him from having a long professional career, but when LeCharles Bentley was healthy, he was one of the most reliable offensive linemen in the NFL. Bentley is arguably one of the most respected coaches and mentors on The Opening staff.
Bentley played six seasons in the NFL and was a versatile interior lineman who could play center or guard. He was selected by New Orleans in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft and went on to play for the Saints for four seasons and Cleveland for two.
As a college lineman, Bentley was a four-year letterman at Ohio State and earned All-American honors in 2001. As a professional, he was named to the Pro Bowl twice.
Bucky Brooks
2 of 10At the majority of the Elite 11/The Opening regionals, Bucky Brooks is one of the last voices that athletes hear before heading home. The NFL analyst coaches wide receivers at The Opening, but he also keeps an eye on quarterbacks participating in the Elite 11.
Brooks spent five seasons in the NFL, suiting up for Buffalo, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Kansas City and Oakland. Brooks saw time on the field with special teams as a returner.
Before his pro stint, Brooks was a standout receiver at North Carolina. He was a second-round pick by Buffalo in the 1994 NFL draft. Brooks was a versatile athlete who could play wide receiver and cornerback.
Keith Bulluck
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Linebackers at The Opening will receive proper training from a guy who knows how to tackle. Keith Bulluck played 11 seasons in the NFL—10 of which with Tennessee—and racked up nearly 1,100 combined tackles, 21 interceptions and 14 forced fumbles.
Bulluck was a first-round selection by the Titans in the 2000 NFL draft. During his college career at Syracuse, he finished with 375 tackles and six sacks—all while seeing time at linebacker and safety.
Bullock's versatility and nose for the football was something that made him one of the league's most consistent players. Hybrid linebackers at The Opening will learn a lot from him.
Curtis Conway
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Curtis Conway can give those with the "athlete" tag at The Opening his testimony. Once considered a quarterback prospect, he was converted to a wide receiver at USC and had a solid NFL career. He played 12 years in the league, seven of which with Chicago.
Conway will coach receivers at The Opening. His career included 594 receptions and more than 8,200 receiving yards. He recorded 1,000 yards receiving three times. He can now be seen as an analyst for the Pac-12 Network and the NFL Network.
Conway played three seasons at USC and was a first-team All-American in 1992. He was drafted by the Bears as the No. 7 overall pick in the 1993 NFL draft. Additionally, Conway is married to boxing champ Laila Ali.
Trent Dilfer
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There are only a handful of quarterbacks who can say they have a Super Bowl ring. Trent Dilfer was the starter for Baltimore's 2000 team and threw for 153 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 34-7 win against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.
In addition to serving as an NFL analyst for ESPN, Dilfer is the head coach for the Elite 11. An energetic, no-nonsense coach, Dilfer expects quarterbacks to give their all in every play, and he's one of the first to offer congratulations when one of the Elite 11 quarterbacks excel.
Dilfer was the sixth overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft, selected by Tampa Bay. Before playing 13 seasons in the league, he had a productive college season at Fresno State.
Kenard Lang
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Looking for someone to deliver a high level of intensity with his tutelage? Kenard Lang is your guy. As a defensive lineman coach, Lang demands excellence from the players he coaches at The Opening—particularly the defensive ends, as he played the position for 10 seasons in the NFL.
Lang played college ball at the University of Miami and was a first-round pick by Washington in the 1997 NFL draft. He also played professionally for Cleveland and Denver.
Lang has been a tough but fair coach to regional participants at The Opening. He's also one of the first to crack a joke or two with players and fellow coaches. You can tell Lang is having fun in the trenches when he's most vocal.
Willie McGinest
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There's always that retired coach who looks like he can still play professionally. Willie McGinest fits the bill. As a defensive ends coach for The Opening, McGinest has been one to watch. He played 15 seasons in the NFL and recently was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
McGinest was a college All-American and a Lombardi Award finalist during his stint at USC (1990-93). He was selected by New England as fourth overall selection in the 1994 NFL draft. During his career, he was a three-time Super Bowl champion and a two-time Pro Bowl pick.
McGinest was the classic hybrid defender, someone who could effectively play outside linebacker and defensive end. When he isn't helping with The Opening, he's an analyst for the NFL Network.
Natrone Means
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As a jumbo back, Natrone Means was fun to watch in the 1990s. He was a 5'10", 245-pound running back who not only bulled his way to yards but also showed deceptive speed to outrace defenders. In short, he earned the nickname Natrone Means Business, given to him by ESPN's Chris Berman.
As a running backs coach, Means will be a major asset for the backs at The Opening. He was selected by San Diego in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft and helped the Chargers advance to Super Bowl XXIX. He rushed for 45 touchdowns and more than 5,200 yards during his seven years in the league, which also included stints at Jacksonville and Carolina.
Before his pro career, Means shined in the backfield at North Carolina. He now spends his time coaching running backs at Winston-Salem State University.
Jordan Palmer
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As an Elite 11 quarterbacks coach, Jordan Palmer has a lot of knowledge to pass on to his players. He spent seven seasons in the NFL, playing for Washington, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Chicago, Buffalo and Tennessee.
Palmer was a sixth-round selection of the Redskins in the 2007 NFL draft. During his college years, he was a reliable quarterback at UTEP, completing better than 58 percent of his passes in his final three years with the Miners.
Palmer is the younger brother of former No. 1 overall pick Carson Palmer, who was selected by Cincinnati in the 2003 NFL draft. While Carson started for the Bengals, Jordan was his backup from 2008-10.
Aeneas Williams
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Considered one of the best defensive backs of his era, Aeneas Williams made a name for himself as a member of the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals. Williams is now taking time out to help solid defensive backs become even better at The Opening.
Athletes will learn from the eight-time Pro Bowler and 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Besides his time with the Cardinals, Williams played for St. Louis during the 2001 season and in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Williams is proof that you don't need to have a Power Five resume to make the professional ranks. He was a ball-hawking defensive back at Southern University. Williams finished with 55 interceptions during his pro career.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
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