The Opening 2016: Each Top 25 Team's Most Important Target at Beaverton
College football recruiting is a never-ending process, but there are some key moments in the timeline that all fans should pay attention to. The most notable of these are national signing day, which isn't until February, and the summer showcase known as The Opening.
The weeklong event at Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, set to begin July 5, will feature a who's who of the top prospects from the 2017 recruiting class. A fair number of these players have already committed, but quite a few remain undecided and thus will be closely monitored by coaches.
Using Bleacher Report's most recent Top 25 as a guide, we've identified the top target that each school will be keeping its eye on during The Opening. These are the players programs will be regularly checking in on to see how they perform but also to make sure the recruits know those schools are still interested.
No. 25 Miami (Florida): Trevon Grimes
1 of 25
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6'3", 202 lbs
Rank: 29th
Miami's priority remains trying to keep South Florida's best players from leaving the region for other schools. Eleven of the Hurricanes' 15 commits to this point are from the Sunshine State, with most of them within an hour of their Coral Gables campus.
Trevon Grimes would amount to a huge get for the 'Canes in this pursuit, as the seventh-best player in Florida is one schools from all over the country are pursuing. That includes Ohio State, which has turned Grimes' St. Thomas Aquinas High School into somewhat of a pipeline of late, as well as Alabama and Georgia, and in-state rivals Florida and Florida State.
Grimes is expected to commit on Aug. 24, choosing among those six suitors. Expect each of them to keep a close tab on him at The Opening, where he'll be part of the Alpha Pro team that includes 4-star Miami commit Christopher Henderson.
No. 24 Wisconsin: Amir Riep
2 of 25
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5'11", 185 lbs
Rank: 115th
Wisconsin doesn't have many players it's actively after among The Opening's lineup, but one prospect the Badgers have plenty of interest in is Amir Riep. Then again, that's nothing unique, since the Cincinnati product has 48 scholarship offers.
The Badgers joined the fray in February but haven't managed to get him to come to Madison for a visit. They'll have to suffice with any interactions they can make in Beaverton, when Riep will show off his pass-coverage skills as part of the Lunar Beast team.
Riep is one of three corners on that team, with the other two (Shaun Wade and Marcus Williamson) having already committed to Ohio State. That could allow Riep to rise to the occasion in front of schools still hoping to lure him in, including Wisconsin.
No. 23 Washington State: Salvon Ahmed
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Position: Athlete
Height, weight: 6'0", 185 lbs
Rank: 156th
Though Washington State is relatively close to where The Opening is being held, the program's rural location normally keeps it miles away from being able to land the top prospects each year. The Cougars didn't sign a high school player rated better than No. 556 in the 2016 class, and wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins is their top commit for 2017 at No. 343.
If WSU were to steal a big name away from the more notable programs, it would probably be someone who's used to the wintry conditions that come to Pullman each season. That makes in-state prospect Salvon Ahmed a key target it hopes to be able to woo.
Ahmed, from the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, is the third-rated player in Washington and the No. 6 athlete in his class. He'll be representing the Mach Speed team.
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No. 22 Oregon: Elijah Molden
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Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5'10", 181 lbs
Rank: 190th
Having The Opening in its backyard—well, an hour or so away—usually bodes well for Oregon on the recruiting trail. It makes it very possible to convince prospects to swing by the football facilities either just before or immediately after competing at Nike headquarters, thus making a memorable impression on those recruits.
Oregon sure wouldn't mind escorting Elijah Molden around Eugene and explaining how the 23rd-best corner in the 2016 class would fit in Brady Hoke's defense. He's made plenty of visits, being the second-ranked player in the state, but one more couldn't hurt.
Molden is very high on the Ducks, and the "Crystal Ball" predictions are high on him becoming one, but Stanford, USC, Notre Dame and plenty of other schools are also in the running. He'll play for the Alpha Pro team at The Opening.
21. TCU: Baron Browning
5 of 25
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'3", 230 lbs
Rank: 8th
TCU's rise the last few seasons first enabled it to get in the door with the state's top prospects and now has the Horned Frogs making many short lists. Baron Browning included TCU in his top 10 back in April, and other than Texas, the rest are out-of-state programs that will have to put in extra effort to get the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country.
That's what makes The Opening such a big opportunity, not just for the out-of-state suitors but also TCU. Though Browning is just coming off a visit to TCU (after checking out Michigan before that), this is the kind of prospect Gary Patterson and his staff will need to keep in constant contact with.
Browning, who has 39 total offers, is part of the Fly Rush team at The Opening. TCU doesn't have any committed players on that team, while Texas has two in quarterback Sam Ehlinger and cornerback Kobe Boyce.
20. Iowa: Mark Webb
6 of 25
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6'2", 199 lbs
Rank: 119th
After amazingly putting together a class made entirely of 3-star prospects for 2016, Iowa has ramped up the recruiting for 2017 by already grabbing commitments from 5-star defensive end A.J. Epenesa and 4-star running back Eno Benjamin. The Hawkeyes aren't sitting back and settling, though, still actively pursuing several big names, including a wide receiver who would make for a great addition to the class.
Mark Webb is the fifth-best prospect in Pennsylvania and the No. 15 wideout in 2017, coming off a junior year of high school in which he converted 10 of 22 receptions for touchdowns. Iowa is one of seven schools to offer him since early May, along with Big Ten foes Illinois, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
He is set to compete for Team Lunar Beast, where he'll be catching passes from quarterbacks Jack Sears and Tommy Devito.
19. North Carolina: Devon Hunter
7 of 25
Position: Safety
Height, weight: 6'1", 205 lbs
Rank: 58th
Like many schools in the ACC, North Carolina considers Virginia as important a recruiting area as its own state. The Tar Heels signed three players from that state in 2016 but haven't landed a commitment from north of the border yet this cycle.
Devon Hunter would make for a nice start to that haul, one who would help continue UNC's drive toward having a rock-solid defense. The fourth-best safety of 2017 is highly sought after and so far has only managed to trim his list down to 11 schools, with the Heels making the cut.
Though 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictions have him going to Virginia Tech, Hunter has spent most of his time recently in Chapel Hill. "The Tar Heels have hosted Hunter a couple times in the past few weeks and they seem to have a lot of his attention right now," Rivals' Adam Friedman wrote.
Hunter will compete for Team Hyper Cool at The Opening.
18. Washington: Foster Sarell
8 of 25
Position: Offensive tackle
Height, weight: 6'6 ½", 311 lbs
Rank: 9th
Nothing would help Washington's push to return to college football's elite like being able to land the top player in its own state and the nation's second-ranked offensive tackle. Foster Sarell has been a target for the Huskies, but he's also highly coveted by schools such as Stanford, Notre Dame, UCLA and Michigan.
Being from the Seattle area, Sarell has had plenty of contact with Washington and has been using his summer to check in on other schools. He spent a weekend at Notre Dame recently, and further visits are on the docket after he goes through offensive line workouts at The Opening.
Washington will want to stay in constant contact with Sarell if it wants to keep him home. The Huskies missed out on the No. 1 player from their state last year when quarterback Jacob Eason signed with Georgia, though they signed the top in-state prospect in 2015 (defensive end Benning Potoae) and 2014 (safety Budda Baker).
17. USC: Joseph Lewis
9 of 25
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6'1 ½", 207 lbs
Rank: 11th
There are few certainties in college football recruiting, but one that's pretty close is that USC gets the pick of the litter when it comes to Los Angeles-area wide receiver prospects. A quick scan of the Trojans roster shows that most of the pass-catchers are from the region, with the likes of Stephen Mitchell Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster being highly rated prospects when in high school.
Joseph Lewis would be the next in that line of standout wideouts from L.A. to play for USC, as he is the No. 4 prospect in California and the second-best receiver in the 2017 class. It's by no means a done deal, though, since Lewis has more than 30 scholarship offers and is good friends with a pair of local skill prospects (quarterback Tristan Gebbia and receiver Keyshawn Johnson Jr.) Nebraska has plucked out of the region.
Lewis will be playing for Team Fly Rush, which also includes USC commits in running back Stephen Carr and safety Bubba Bolden.
16. Michigan State: Jaylen Kelly-Powell
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Position: Safety
Height, weight: 6'0", 175 lbs
Rank: 261st
Last year's clash between Michigan and Michigan State featured an epic finish, one where it seemed like Michigan had the game in the bag before MSU pulled out the last-second victory. The Spartans may need a similar late push to get Jaylen Kelly-Powell away from the Wolverines, since the state's No. 6 prospect has spent quite a bit of time with Michigan this spring.
247Sports' Crystal Ball predictions have Michigan with a 94 percent chance of grabbing the Cass Tech product, but it's not just the Wolverines that MSU has to contend with. Kelly-Powell has visited Arkansas and Notre Dame recently, and he's scheduled to attend Ohio State's Friday Night Lights Camp after returning from The Opening.
Kelly-Powell is part of Team Fly Rush.
15. Georgia: Andrew Thomas
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Position: Offensive tackle
Height, weight: 6'5", 310 lbs
Rank: 49th
Georgia will have its eyes on a long list of skill-position players at The Opening, many of whom have a good shot at ending up on the 2017 roster. Yet the most important target for the Bulldogs among those headed to Beaverton figures to be one who could end up blocking for those flashier prospects down the line.
Andrew Thomas, out of Atlanta's Pace Academy, is rated as the 10th-best tackle prospect in the country and the No. 5 player in Georgia. Though considered a lock to the Bulldogs, based on Crystal Ball predictions, Clemson and Notre Dame also made his top three, per 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong, and those schools will be keeping close tabs on him in Beaverton as well.
Other schools could get involved after watching Thomas perform at The Opening, though with 29 offers, most of the big-name schools have already reached out.
14. Stanford: Darnay Holmes
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Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5'10", 190 lbs
Rank: 10th
The top-rated cornerback in the 2017 class was supposed to be off the board by now, saying back in February that he'd make his college choice public on his birthday (June 23). That date has come and gone, which means all the work teams such as Stanford have done to land his services is far from being done.
Holmes has a final seven of Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Stanford, UCLA and Washington, per Maize n Brew's Evan Petzold, and it might come down to how he's used in college. Though his ranking is based on defense, Holmes is a two-way star who caught 25 touchdown passes the last two seasons at Calabasas High School in California.
A member of Team Mach Speed, Holmes is the highest-ranked player on his unit at The Opening and one most coaches will be watching closely.
13. Louisville: LaBryan Ray
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Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6'4", 270 lbs
Rank: 102nd
Louisville has had defensive linemen taken in the NFL draft in each of the last two years, including first-round pick Sheldon Rankins in April. That's likely a big part of the recruiting pitch that Louisville is throwing out in hopes of being able to steal LaBryan Ray out of Alabama's backyard.
The fourth-best player in Alabama and the nation's No. 5 strong-side defensive end, Ray included the Cardinals in his list of 12 back in May. They're one of six non-SEC schools still in the running, along with Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and USC.
Louisville hasn't managed to get him to come to campus, but if it can keep in contact with him while he competes at The Opening, there's a good chance it will stay on his radar.
12. Houston: Toneil Carter
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Position: Running back
Height, weight: 5'10 ½", 197 lbs
Rank: 108th
Houston made a huge splash on the 2016 recruiting trail when its #HtownTakeover movement managed to land some big-name in-state prospects including 5-star defensive tackle Ed Oliver. The 2017 push hasn't been as strong yet, but that could change if the Cougars keep one of the city's best players from going elsewhere.
Though the Cougars have 18 commitments already for 2017, Toneil Carter would be the cherry on top. The fifth-ranked running back in the class would fit well in their uptempo offense, but that's also why the likes of LSU and Texas A&M are so high on him.
Carter will play for Team Alpha Pro at The Opening, one of two rushers along with Florida State commit Zaquandre White.
11. Notre Dame: Robert Beal
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Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6'3 ½", 230 lbs
Rank: 30th
Robert Beal was supposed to visit Notre Dame in mid-June, a trip that would have kept the Fighting Irish on his mind as he headed to Oregon for The Opening. That visit ended up getting canceled, meaning Notre Dame has its work cut out to be able to secure a commitment from the nation's second-best weak-side defensive end.
It's been that kind of relationship between the school and player, as Beal had previously committed to Notre Dame last November but backed off the pledge in February. This came around the same time Beal's sister was denied admission to Notre Dame, per Anna Hickey of Scout.
A Georgia native who is that state's No. 1 prospect, Beal has 36 scholarship offers with most of the top teams in the ACC and SEC on his radar as well.
10. Ohio State: Chase Young
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Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6'5", 225 lbs
Rank: 32nd
Ohio State holds the No. 1 recruiting class for 2017, though with seven months until signing day there's a lot of work left to do. Five of the Buckeyes' commitments are from defensive players rated among the top 130 players in the country, but they're far from done.
Chase Young is the kind of player who could help lock up that top ranking, a weak-side defensive end from Maryland who is that state's top prospect. Maryland and OSU are his top choices at this point, though he told SB Nation's Land-Grant Holy Land blog that "you could say that" the Buckeyes were his leader.
The Buckeyes have two defensive tackle pledges for 2017 but want an edge-rusher to help replenish that position, since projected starters Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis could turn pro after this season.
9. Ole Miss: Trey Smith
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Position: Offensive tackle
Height, weight: 6'5 ½", 299 lbs
Rank: 48th
You can never have too many top-tier blockers. Just a few months after signing the top overall tackle in the 2016 class in Gregory Little, Ole Miss is hoping to add Trey Smith to its line for 2017.
The No. 9 tackle in the country and the third-best prospect in Tennessee, Smith has had plenty of contact with the Rebels over the last few months. Unofficial visits in April and June and participation in Ole Miss' camp earlier this month has the Rebels in a good place to grab his commitment, but it won't be easy.
Tennessee, Alabama, Notre Dame and others are also highly interested in Smith, who is third overall in 247Sports' own rankings and is the top offensive tackle on their list.
8. Baylor: K'Lavon Chaisson
18 of 25
Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6'4", 211 lbs
Rank: 88th
The fallout from Baylor's sexual assault scandal has resulted in numerous former 2016 signees ending up at other schools, and the Bears' 2017 class is in even worse shape. Just one player remains committed after they lost five pledges since late May.
Despite that turmoil, Baylor remains dogged in its pursuit of many notable prospects, with K'Lavon Chaisson high on that list. It didn't make the Houston product's recent top 10, but he's still open to adding other schools to the list. That's how the Bears have to operate, thinking they can manage to stay in contention for the fifth-best weak-side defensive end in the country.
7. Tennessee: Deangelo Gibbs
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Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 6'2", 204 lbs
Rank: 34th
Family connections never hurt, but Tennessee isn't going to rely solely on those to land coveted corner Deangelo Gibbs. If it helps the Volunteers pull him out of Georgia and away from other SEC teams, though, they'll take any advantage they can get.
Gibbs, the fourth-best corner in the 2017 class and Georgia's No. 2 prospect, is getting recruited to play that position as well as safety and wide receiver.
"It's kind of my decision," Gibbs, who is the cousin of Tennessee safety Nigel Warrior, told Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles. "I can play wherever, but it's up to me. I'm just looking at where I'll feel comfortable and an atmosphere where I know I can fit in. There's a lot to look at."
Gibbs will be part of Team Fly Rush, along with fellow Georgia-based corners A.J. Terrell and Jamyest Williams.
6. Oklahoma: Creed Humphrey
20 of 25
Position: Center
Height, weight: 6'4", 301 lbs
Rank: 300th
With 15 commitments, including seven among the top 300, Oklahoma is well on its way to one of its best recruiting classes in years. The Sooners continue to pursue a number of key prospects that will further bolster that class, with Creed Humphrey a critical target who would pair nicely in the group with 4-star guard commit Tyrese Robinson.
Humphrey, the third-best center in 2017 and Oklahoma's No. 4-rated prospect, spent time in Norman this month, but also visited Texas A&M in June. Those are two of his top pursuers, along with Oklahoma State and Alabama.
UPDATE: Humphrey committed to Texas A&M on Wednesday, via Twitter. Don't expect that to mean Oklahoma will stop pursuing him, though, not until a letter of intent has been signed.
5. LSU: Dylan Moses
21 of 25
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6'2", 220 lbs
Rank: 2nd
With No. 1 overall recruit Najee Harris off the board, via his longstanding commitment to Alabama, Dylan Moses is the top-rated unattached player headed to The Opening. He's used to being one of the main attractions wherever he goes, so this won't be anything out of the ordinary.
Moses grew up in Baton Rouge, attending a high school on LSU's campus before transferring to Florida's IMG Academy for his senior year. The Tigers remain high on his list though, and because he's spent so much time around the program, Moses didn't include them among his official visits (Alabama, Miami, Ohio State, Texas and UCLA) he announced Tuesday.
SEC Country's Sam Spiegelman noted that LSU might have an edge besides being close to Moses' family. There's also the opportunity to be the next player to wear the famed No. 7 jersey, currently donned by running back Leonard Fournette.
"That may seem like something of minor importance, but it can’t be swept under the rug," Spiegelman wrote.
4. Michigan: Donovan Peoples-Jones
22 of 25
Position: Wide receiver
Height, weight: 6'2", 192 lbs
Rank: 6th
As a member of Team Hyper Cool at The Opening, Donovan Peoples-Jones will be catching passes from Michigan commit Dylan McCaffrey and cheering on four other future Wolverines on that squad. Michigan's staff hopes that a camaraderie will develop between those pledges and Peoples-Jones to the point that it gets him on board for 2017 as well.
The nation's No. 1 wide receiver prospect from Detroit's Cass Technical High School is getting used to being recruited by commits from other schools. In addition to encouragement from those Michigan players, he's on the list of elite players that Ohio State quarterback commit Tate Martell expects to join him in Columbus.
A recent tweet from Peoples-Jones, in which he says he put 10 schools into a hat and Ohio State was the one that "fell out," only adds to the intrigue for this player. Expect a major battle between these rivals, not just at The Opening, but throughout the recruiting process.
3. Florida State: Khalan Laborn
23 of 25
Position: All-purpose back
Height, weight: 5'10", 199 lbs
Rank: 38th
Virginia has long been a fertile recruiting ground for Florida State, where the Seminoles have signed the likes of Levonta Taylor, Josh Sweat and EJ Manuel. Each of those standouts were the top-ranked player in Virginia, the same ranking Khalan Laborn has as FSU zeroes in on him for 2017.
Laborn, who ran for 2,228 yards and 32 touchdowns last season, per MaxPreps, could be the heir apparent to Dalvin Cook if he were to end up in Tallahassee. Before that happens, though, FSU has to fend off other finalists Alabama, Auburn, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
A member of Team Mach Speed at The Opening, Laborn had previously planned to announce his college choice at the end of June but changed his mind last month.
2. Clemson: D'Andre Swift
24 of 25
Position: All-purpose back
Height, weight: 5'10", 204 lbs
Rank: 31st
With a top five of Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia and Penn State, D'Andre Swift is setting up an epic battle between the ACC, SEC and Big Ten. Clemson likes its chances in that competition, seeing Swift as a key piece of its future offensive game plan.
The Philadelphia product has scored 29 rushing touchdowns and 15 receiving TDs in his high school career, numbers that have made him the top all-purpose back in the 2017 class. Each school would likely use him in some sort of hybrid rusher/receiver role, though specifics could get ironed out once he starts meeting with teams on an individual basis.
"I'm trying to get out this summer and see as many schools as I can," Swift told Bleacher Report's Tyler Donohue.
Donohue noted that Clemson's “fast-paced spread offense” is similar to what Swift's high school team runs, which could give the Tigers an edge over the rest of the field. He'll put those talents on display at The Opening with Team Lunar Beast, a team that includes six Ohio State commits.
1. Alabama: Marvin Wilson
25 of 25
Position: Defensive tackle
Height, weight: 6'4", 329 lbs
Rank: 3rd
Alabama wants all the defensive linemen. It signed four in the 2016 class and has one defensive line commit for 2017, but has made offers to 55 different prospects at either defensive tackle or defensive end. The Crimson Tide won't get everyone they're after, and they'll be OK with that, but not locking down Marvin Wilson isn't an option.
The top defensive tackle in the class and Texas' No. 1 overall prospect, Wilson is wanted by everyone. Only 10 are still in the running, though, with Alabama facing off against SEC foes Florida, LSU and Texas A&M as well as big names from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12.
Wilson's most recent visit was with Florida State, where he attended a camp two weeks ago, and many more trips will be in line this fall. Some could get set up while he's showing off at The Opening, where he isn't part of a team but will get to face off against some of the best offensive line prospects in the country.
All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted. All statistics provided by cfbstats.com, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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