Highlights and Analysis from The Opening New Jersey Regional
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Opening's nationwide spring tour rolled into the Garden State on Sunday, as athletes from across the Northeast traveled to compete at New York Jets headquarters.
The facility hosted several top-tier committed players, along with many recruits who've yet to declare their college football intentions. High school standouts ranging from freshmen to juniors enjoyed time on turf typically reserved for NFL stars such as Darrelle Revis and Brandon Marshall, dealing with occasional rain showers in the process.
Like past regional events, this setting served as a precursor to The Opening national finals. By the end of an action-packed Sunday, six prospects secured their spot in the July showcase, held at Nike's world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
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Philadelphia running back D'Andre Swift, New Jersey cornerback Harrison Hand, Florida cornerback Marco Wilson, Connecticut receiver C.J. Holmes, Pennsylvania receiver Mark Webb and Massachusetts running back A.J. Dillon made the cut for competition in Oregon. Other competitors from the regional are likely to be added to The Opening roster as coaches continue to evaluate the talent they've encountered this year.
Meanwhile, two quarterbacks qualified for Elite 11 national semifinals, which take place the first weekend of June in Redondo Beach, California. Syracuse commit Tommy DeVito and Texas Longhorns pledge Sam Ehlinger are headed to the West Coast for that highly anticipated event.
"I focused on what the coaches had to tell me and did my best to bring that into every rep all day," Ehlinger told Bleacher Report. "I'm definitely excited to get invited. It's an honor."
There were matchups and developments to monitor throughout the day. B/R enjoyed a firsthand look yards away from the action, so here's a breakdown of developments that stood out in Florham Park.
New Nebraska Commit Gives Cornhuskers Fans Another Reason for Excitement
Nebraska head coach Mike Riley and his staff have been on a roll in the 2017 recruiting cycle. The Cornhuskers have climbed into top-20 overall national composite recruiting rankings with a slew of key spring commitments.
Quarterback Tristan Gebbia and receiver Keyshawn Johnson Jr.—4-star teammates at Calabasas High School in California—helped set the tone weeks ago. Delaware linebacker Avery Roberts delivered another monumental pledge April 21 when he chose the Cornhuskers over Penn State.
"Nebraska is doing something great there, and a lot of players are noticing it," he said. "They have a whole family vibe there, and those guys love each other and treat each other like brothers. The whole campus and the whole city gets behind the football team, so it feels like a home away from home."
Roberts, a 4-star recruit rated No. 8 nationally among inside linebackers in composite rankings, didn't win 100 percent of his reps Sunday but claimed an edge in the vast majority. He started off strong, opening one-on-one drills with a stop against aforementioned 5-star running back Swift:
The 6'1", 215-pound playmaker exhibits excellent range at the second level, blending solid run-stuffing abilities with lateral quickness that should continue to develop in a collegiate training system. Roberts recorded 112 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season as a junior at Concord High School, according to Jake Jensen of Hail Varsity.
He hopes to help Nebraska further bolster its burgeoning 2017 haul by implementing some peer recruiting. Roberts mentioned 5-star California cornerback Darnay Holmes as a primary target.
Second Time is the Charm for Texas Longhorns Commit Sam Ehlinger
Elite 11 coaches didn't invite Ehlinger to national semifinals following his first foray in camp action this spring. Still, the Westlake High School (Austin, Texas) standout walked away from an April 3 effort at the Houston regional with his ambition still intact.
"There's nothing better than competing against the best, so I wouldn't want to miss out on that opportunity," he said.
Ehlinger made the long-distance trip to New Jersey alongside his mother. That mileage ultimately paid off when he received a coveted invitation to the competition.
The 6'1 ½", 215-pound passer participated in "pressure chamber" action Sunday, throwing in an intense time-restricted setting that featured five players of the coaches' choice. It forces young quarterbacks to handle play calls and alternating defensive looks on the fly.
"He built on a good performance in Houston and looked even better today," Opening coach Brian Stumpf said. "He's obviously been as productive as you could want from a high school player on the field. Combined with the physical talent he showed today, it was a no-brainer for us to include him in that final 24 for Elite 11 competition in June."
Ehlinger, who committed to nearby Texas last July, has indeed been among the most prolific athletes in his class when it comes to filling a stat sheet. He tallied 6,133 passing yards, 2,082 rushing yards and 103 total touchdowns during the past two seasons.
2016's No. 1 Recruit Makes an Appearance at His Old Stomping Grounds
Rashan Gary absolutely owned opponents on the field during The Opening's New Jersey regional in 2014 and 2015. Those efforts helped the 5-star talent from nearby Paramus Catholic High School earn two invitations to The Opening national finals and cement his spot atop 2016 national composite rankings.
Now approaching the end of his prep academic journey, he is less than two months shy of embarking on a college career in Ann Arbor. Gary, who committed to Michigan over schools such as Clemson, Alabama and Auburn, joins head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines in June.
The biggest prize of this past national signing day returned to Jets headquarters Sunday but stuck to the sideline this time around. He attended the event to support Paramus Catholic teammates like 2017 defensive tackle Corey Bolds and 2018 quarterback Allan Walters, who each hold a scholarship offer from Michigan.
We're told Gary, who stands 6'5", is weighing in at approximately 290 pounds these days. He looked trimmer than ever, while maintaining the massive frame that enabled him to embarrass highly regarded offensive linemen in Beaverton each of the past two summers.
Michigan isn't likely to wait long to incorporate its dynamic new weapon. Expect Gary to challenge for an expansive role at defensive end as a true freshman.
2018 New Jersey Wide Receiver Sees Momentum Mount on Recruiting Trail
Nearly a decade after Atlanta Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu starred at South Brunswick High School in central New Jersey, Justin Shorter aims to make his case as the program's next big thing. The sophomore has enjoyed a surge in the eyes of college coaching staffs this year, with Penn State and Syracuse among the most recent universities to extend scholarship offers.
"I'm so happy right now because these opportunities are starting to roll in," he said. "Hopefully more offers continue to come this month."
Shorter, a 6'4", 205-pound prospect, also reports offers from Rutgers, Old Dominion, Temple and Pittsburgh. He pointed to Maryland, Michigan, Clemson and Ohio State as squads that rank highly on his radar among schools that could someday join this pursuit.
Rated No. 13 nationally among wide receivers and No. 2 overall in the 2018 New Jersey class by 247Sports, Shorter explained he's capable of competing at tight end in college if that's where coaches ultimately envision his greatest potential.
Given his size and athleticism, there will undoubtedly be some discussion about how Shorter projects on defense. (He currently lines up at safety for South Brunswick and fills the physical mold of an outside linebacker.)
He caught 31 passes for 582 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior, per MaxPreps. Shorter added two interceptions in the defensive backfield.
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