The Biggest Takeaways from Texas Recruits' Performances at The Opening

BEAVERTON, Ore. — There was one Texas Longhorns commit and a handful of targets at Nike World Headquarters last weekend for The Opening and the Elite 11 competitions.

If Texas fans have their way, a few of those uncommitted players will be wearing burnt orange in 2016.

Texas currently has six 2016 commitments, which means there is plenty of room for head coach Charlie Strong and his staff to build the class. Here are some notes from The Opening, focusing on Texas targets who were competing—as well as the one commit in attendance, who participated in the Elite 11.

Buechele proves himself as a competitor

If nothing else, 4-star Texas commit Shane Buechele made one thing clear all week.

He's a pretty good quarterback—maybe even better than advertised.

Buechele, the lone Texas commit at The Opening, nearly walked away with the Elite 11 MVP award Friday evening. Although he didn't win the MVP award, he was named as a member of the Elite 11, a prestigious club featuring the nation's top 11 quarterbacks.

In short, Buechele had a mission, and he achieved his goals.

"I just wanted to show that I can compete," he said.

On Monday, Buechele won the Golden Gun competition, a drill testing accuracy, strength and endurance where a quarterback attempts to hit targets from various yards away. After winning, he found himself atop the Elite 11 ladder Tuesday:

He remained atop the ladder Wednesday:

He remained on top Thursday:

And entering the final day of competition, Friday, Buechele still was on the top of the ladder:

It wasn't until early Friday evening when he was finally unseated from the top spot by Shea Patterson, as the Ole Miss commit led the Lunarbeast seven-on-seven team from an 0-4 start to The Opening seven-on-seven national championship.

Buechele had an outstanding week. It was the kind of week that gave Longhorns fans plenty of excitement for the future.

A "Shark" sighting at the NFRC

There were several big names at The Opening—several big names...and a shark.

Uncommitted 4-star outside linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch showed his worth by competing as one of the 10 finalists of the Nike Football Rating Championships. Nicknamed "The Shark," McCulloch recorded a rating score of 138.30 in the preliminary round and then a score of 132.54 in the finals.

For the day, McCulloch, who measured at 6'2 ½" and 229 pounds, had solid marks in the 20-yard shuttle (4.0 seconds), the power ball toss (42.5 feet) and the vertical jump (38 inches). He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds.

So what's next? McCulloch told 247Sports' EJ Holland that he will be at Texas' Under the Lights event Saturday after cancelling an unofficial campus visit in June. McCulloch, who is considering Texas, told Holland that he plans on spending time with Strong and his staff in an effort to get to know them better.

McCulloch also said he plans on watching film in an effort to see where he can fit in the Texas defense.

"They want to go to more of a 3-4 defense, but they don't really have the personnel for it," McCulloch told Holland. "The staff said that they really want to get me and a couple of other guys. They see me out there as an outside linebacker."

Texas in top three for ATH Wallace

One thing about Christian Wallace is clear: He doesn't lack in personality or enthusiasm.

When Wallace, a 4-star athlete, wasn't hyping up his team or initiating high-fives in drills and in seven-on-seven competition, he was enjoying the moment of being at The Opening. He even had a chance to go from competitor to roving reporter:

"It's been great. It's a blessing to be here," he said of The Opening. "Overall, it's the best football experience I ever had."

Now that it's over, Wallace said he's looking to finalize his college plans. He is down to three schools: Texas, Mississippi State and LSU.

"[Texas] has a great coaching staff," he said. "I feel like I'll fit in that system well. Mississippi State is the same—plus, it's the SEC. LSU, that's just like a dream school."

Wallace said he'll most likely commit in late August before the start of the 2015 football season.

Seven-on-seven helps ILB Jackson

Some may say the seven-on-seven scene isn't designed for linebackers. Dontavious Jackson would rather turn lemons to lemonade.

Instead of focusing on the disadvantages linebackers may face in seven-on-seven competition, the nation's No. 4 inside linebacker focused on how the competition could be beneficial for linebackers like him—particularly in a setting like The Opening.

"It's the quickest of the quick and the fastest of the fast," Jackson said. "It makes my motor fast and my feet better. It helps me with my coverage and my speed.

"It's been amazing. All the people coming out to watch, just to play seven-on-seven, it's been amazing."

Jackson, a 4-star prospect, reported just south of 60 offers but has a mental list of about a dozen schools that he is focusing on. The Longhorns may or may not be a part of that list.

"In my head, there's about 11 or 12 [schools] that I'm really considering, but I can't really give that away right now."

He then smiled and said, "Just know Texas might be in it."

If Texas is a part of that group, look for the Longhorns to try to close the deal. He's established a solid relationship with Strong as well as freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson.

"I talk to [Strong] a lot, probably a couple times a week," Jackson said. "He's kind of like a father figure to me. We talk about a lot of things, sometimes not even about football."

Longhorns "No. 2" for LSU commit

If it means anything, LSU commit Erick Fowler still has Texas on his brain.

To what extent? That's the question.

Fowler, a 4-star defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid, told Bleacher Report that, although he is solid with his commitment to LSU, Texas is "my No. 2 [school]," and he still keeps in touch with several members of the coaching staff.

How that is interpreted depends on the reader, but Fowler did give words to the LSU fans.

"I'm still committed to LSU," he said.

Fowler was impressive in one-on-one competition during the lineman challenge. Despite being one of the smallest linemen at 6'1" and 233 pounds, he used his quickness in drills to frustrate offensive linemen.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles.