The Opening 2016: 10 Sleeper Recruits to Watch in Beaverton
There are a few athletes—running back Najee Harris, linebacker Dylan Moses and defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, for example—who many expect to have dominating performances at The Opening next week in Beaverton, Oregon. And while that may occur, there will be those athletes at the upcoming high school showcase who improve their national recruiting stock with accelerated play.
Calling athletes who qualified for The Opening "sleepers" can be processed oxymoronically, but it isn't totally off-base to say that the event will have its surprise performers. There are 166 athletes headed to Nike World Headquarters, and not everybody is a 5-star or high-4-star target. There will be opportunities for some to take the pedestal that other elite-level targets are used to.
Here are 10 athletes attending The Opening who may not receive the fanfare of some national blue-chippers. These 10, however, could be major storylines once The Opening comes to a conclusion. Only one of the 10 players is ranked in the top 300 of the 247Sports Composite rankings. Another player isn't even ranked in the top 800.
All names are listed in alphabetical order.
3-Star APB Darrian Felix
1 of 10
Hometown (school): Fort Myers, Florida (Fort Myers HS)
Size: 5'11", 194 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 605 overall (No. 8 APB)
You would think someone with 28 reported offers doesn't have much to prove. In the case of Darrian Felix, a strong showing at The Opening could be parlayed into a few more offers and, perhaps more importantly, a higher player ranking nationally.
A superb athlete with a near-44-inch vertical, Felix can be a player who could find himself in the hunt for top honors in the Nike+ Football Rating Championship. He had the seventh-highest ratings score in regional competition with a 128.76, and he is expected to challenge for the No. 1 spot.
Felix has offers from all over the country, but schools like Miami, Tennessee and Auburn are ones to watch as he continues his recruiting process. Felix was a 1,000-yard rusher who scored 16 rushing and receiving touchdowns combined as a junior.
3-Star LB Sherrod Greene
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Hometown (school): Rocky Mount, North Carolina (Rocky Mount HS)
Size: 6'1", 225 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 577 overall (No. 34 OLB)
For those in attendance at The Opening Charlotte regional, seeing Sherrod Greene compete was like watching a feel-good, made-for-TV movie. He took tons of constructive criticism from very demanding coaches and turned it into a performance good enough to earn a trip to Beaverton.
It may be hard for some to believe that Greene only has 11 reported offers, but he has his pick of heavyweights to choose from. South Carolina, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and North Carolina State are among the schools that offered. Greene most recently picked up an Alabama offer two weeks ago.
The linebacker position normally isn't considered the featured position in 7-on-7 play, but if Greene can perform in Beaverton the way he performed in Charlotte, he will definitely turn heads.
4-Star WR K.J. Hamler
3 of 10
Hometown (school): Farmington, Michigan (St. Mary's HS)
Size: 5'9", 155 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 302 overall (No. 41 WR)
Separating yourself from the pack is a goal for many high school wide receivers. It serves as a priority for many of the wide receivers who earn the opportunity to play in The Opening, and K.J. Hamler knows his opportunity to shine as an elite receiver is coming.
As good as Hamler is, he is currently sitting outside the top 40 nationally in the 2017 class at his position. As a slot receiver, Hamler can find his niche in 7-on-7 competition and become a legitimate go-to option among the elite receivers who are ranked higher.
Hamler shined at The Opening Columbus regional and has the chance to do even more shining in Beaverton. He has 23 reported offers, including Michigan State, Penn State and Oregon. Per Hamler's 247Sports Crystal Ball, Michigan State and Oregon are the teams to beat.
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3-Star CB Harrison Hand
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Hometown (school): Cherry Hill, New Jersey (Cherry Hill HS West)
Size: 5'11½", 183 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 567 overall (No. 54 CB)
Talk about playing with house money. Harrison Hand entered The Opening New Jersey regional as something of an unknown on a national scale. He left the event as the camp MVP for defensive backs. He also earned an invitation to The Opening.
Now, Hand is looking to show everyone that the performance at the New York Jets facility at the beginning of May wasn't a fluke. A speedy cornerback with good instincts, Hand can earn his stripes in 7-on-7 competition against some of the best wide receivers in the country.
Hand currently has nine reported offers, the latest coming from BYU. A rush of Power Five schools can be in Hand's future if he turns in stellar performances throughout the upcoming week.
3-Star RB Chase Hayden
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Hometown (school): Collierville, Tennessee (St. George's Independent School)
Size: 5'10", 185 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 429 overall (No. 31 RB)
Chase Hayden is an athlete who combines speed with power well. Being a running back who can catch the football out of the backfield is another major asset, particularly with 7-on-7 play scheduled at The Opening. Hayden is hoping to be a major X-factor in Beaverton.
As the son of former Tennessee running back Aaron Hayden, Chase said he hears a lot of persuasive argument from Volunteers fans. While Tennessee is a school to keep an eye on, Arkansas is the school that's trending in Hayden's 247Sports Crystal Ball.
Hayden's numbers support the argument that he can play at the next level. He rushed for 2,625 yards and 37 touchdowns as a junior. Hayden also caught 19 passes for 249 yards.
4-Star OC Creed Humphrey
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Hometown (school): Shawnee, Oklahoma (Shawnee High School)
Size: 6'4", 301 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 299 (No. 3 OC)
If you're looking for a fearless competitor, Creed Humphrey may best fit the bill from an offensive lineman perspective. His efforts at The Opening New Orleans regional made him out to be a modern-day gladiator, as he battled some of the nation's top defensive linemen—and won many of the one-on-one matchups.
Humphrey is a guy who plays with brute strength and a lot of technique. Add in that he plays each down with a mean streak, and it's easy to see why he is nearing 20 reported offers.
The race for Humphrey could come down to Oklahoma and Texas A&M. He's visited both schools this month and has made multiple visits to both facilities. Alabama also is a major contender. Humphrey visited the Alabama campus in April.
3-Star CB Donovan Johnson
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Hometown (school): Detroit (Cass Technical HS)
Size: 5'10", 176 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 581 overall (No. 56 CB)
Donovan Johnson is one of four players who will be representing Detroit's Cass Tech. Of the four, Johnson may have the most to prove.
As a cornerback, Johnson will be called upon to keep some of the nation's top wide receivers in check. It's a tall task, but it's a job he doesn't fear. Johnson earned the opportunity to compete at The Opening after winning defensive back MVP honors at the Columbus regional.
Johnson has 14 reported offers, and Penn State, West Virginia, Arizona and Virginia Tech are four schools to keep an eye on. He most recently visited West Virginia for an elite camp, according to 247Sports' Chris Anderson.
3-Star WR Oliver Martin
8 of 10
Hometown (school): Iowa City, Iowa (West Senior HS)
Size: 6'0 ½", 188 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 851 overall (No. 127 WR)
Let's be honest: The 127th-ranked wide receiver is not expected to be invited to The Opening. But as Oliver Martin ran routes and performed drills at The Opening Chicago regional, he impressed more and more coaches and, ultimately, earned his golden ticket.
Martin may not be the fastest receiver, but he could be one of the best route-runners in Beaverton. He also has exceptional hands and can be used as both an outside and a slot receiver. Martin currently has seven reported offers, including Michigan State, Wisconsin and the home team, Iowa.
If he performs remotely close to how he performed at the Chicago regional, look for Martin's popularity to skyrocket in recruiting. He no longer will be considered a sleeper.
3-Star ATH Derrek Pitts Jr.
9 of 10
Hometown (school): Charleston, West Virginia (South Charleston HS)
Size: 6'1", 174 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 438 overall (No. 33 ATH)
Derrek Pitts Jr. is ranked as the No. 2 player from the state of West Virginia, but an invitation to The Opening is giving him the opportunity to receive additional national exposure. He showed his competitive side and ability to cover inside and outside receivers at The Opening Columbus regional.
Pitts has good size to be either a cornerback or safety at the next level, and he'll have the opportunity to find his niche in the secondary at one of 19 schools that reportedly have offered. He named a top 10 last week.
Don't be surprised if Pitts sees time at both positions in the secondary at The Opening. His versatility is a strong asset that could take him far at the next level.
3-Star OG Jordan Reid
10 of 10
Hometown (school): Detroit (Cass Technical HS)
Size: 6'3 ½", 286 lbs
247Sports composite ranking: No. 341 overall (No. 15 OG)
Interior linemen are vital in a well-run offense, and Jordan Reid is the type of athlete who can immediately help a college program. He showed his worth at The Opening Columbus regional, claiming camp offensive lineman MVP honors over a host of quality linemen ranked higher.
Reid has 16 reported offers and released a top five in April of Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt and Tennessee. He most recently took in unofficial visits to Ohio State and West Virginia.
The Opening will be the perfect opportunity for Reid to not only prove to his peers, but also prove to recruiting analysts that he's better than his 3-star status.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
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