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Ohio State commit Tate Martell has enjoyed immense success in the national seven-on-seven scene.
Ohio State commit Tate Martell has enjoyed immense success in the national seven-on-seven scene.Credit: Student Sports

The Opening 2016: Power Ranking Every 7-on-7 Team

Tyler Donohue
Jul 6, 2016

BEAVERTON, Ore. โ€” Perhaps no event at The Opening, an annual invite-only showcase held at Nike's world headquarters, demands as much attention as its star-studded seven-on-seven tournament.

Action gets underway Saturday morning and continues through Sunday afternoon, with six teams competing for a title. This tournament challenges athletes to rise up against premier peers or risk embarrassment at the expense of opponents.

Each team is equipped with two Elite 11 quarterbacks, who will split reps in an effort to chase down MVP honors. They'll operate alongside running backs, receivers and a tight end, lined up across from linebackers and defensive backs.

Every roster is loaded with talent from across the country, but considering our assessment of regional camps and past high school performances, here's how we rank these six squads.ย 

6. Lunar Beast

1 of 6
Philadelphia RB D'Andre Swift
Philadelphia RB D'Andre Swift

Elite 11 Quarterbacks:ย Jack Searsย (No. 10 pro-style prospect) andย Tommy Devitoย (No. 26 pro-style prospect)

University Vibes:ย Ohio State Buckeyes (six commits) and Washington Huskies (two commits)

Who to Watch

Top-ranked linebackerย Dylan Mosesย is a rare two-time participant at The Opening, and he'll patrol a positional unit that also featuresย Anthony Hines, a Texas product who carries more than 90 scholarship offers, and Ohio State pledgeย Antjuan Simmons. The group is backed by a secondary swarming with future Buckeyes (cornerbackย Shaun Wadeย and safetiesย Isaiah Pryorย andย Brendon White).

Like Moses, Philadelphia running backย D'Andre Swiftย returns to Beaverton for a second straight year and helps spearhead an offensive attack that should also showcase coveted Louisiana receiverย Devonta Smith. Sears, a Southern California native, is the only uncommitted quarterback in attendance, while Devito, a Syracuse commit, was arguably the biggest surprise at the Elite 11 Finals in June.

5. Hyper Cool

2 of 6
Detroit WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Detroit WR Donovan Peoples-Jones

Elite 11 Quarterbacks:ย Dylan McCaffreyย (No. 2 pro-style prospect) andย Myles Brennanย (No. 18 pro-style prospect)

University Vibes:ย Michigan Wolverines (five commits) and LSU Tigers (three commits)

Who to Watch

This quarterback duo should provide a consistent downfield threat, with both passers capable of spinning pretty spirals on deep attempts. Brennan set all-time Mississippi high school records for single-season passing yards and touchdown tosses in 2014, while McCaffrey is the younger brother of Stanford running back and Heisman Trophy finalist Christian McCaffrey.

They'll target a slew of standout receivers, headlined by No. 1 overall pass-catcher prospectย Donovan Peoples-Jonesย and LSU pledgeย Jhamon Ausbon, while Wolverines running back commits O'Maury Samuelsย andย A.J. Dillonย are each threats to claim the top score in the Nike Football Ratings Championship. Defensively, this group is led by New Jersey linebackerย Drew Singleton, Virginia safetyย Devon Hunterย and Southern California cornerbackย Thomas Graham.

4. Fly Rush

3 of 6
Georgia LB Owen Pappoe
Georgia LB Owen Pappoe

Elite 11 Quarterbacks:ย Davis Millsย (No. 4 pro-style prospect) andย Sam Ehlingerย (No. 6 dual-threat prospect)

University Vibes:ย Stanford Cardinal (two commits), Texas Longhorns (two commits) and USC Trojans (two commits)

Who to Watch

Georgia linebackerย Owen Pappoeย makes history as the first rising sophomore to earn an invitation to The Opening, where the 15-year-old phenom will be joined on defense by 5-star Texas linebackerย Baron Browning. This unit is anchored by perhaps the finest cornerback duo in America, as Grayson High School (Georgia) teammatesย Deangelo Gibbsย andย Jamyest Williamsย join forces.

Mills, rated No. 1 on Elite 11 coaches' boards during the finals, will have an opportunity to target fellow Stanford commitย Colby Parkinson, who is considered the class' top tight end recruit. USC running back pledgeย Stephen Carrย and Trojans receiverย Joseph Lewisย are both 5-star talents, joined in the offensive arsenal by rising Georgia receiverย Jeremiah Holloman.

3. Mach Speed

4 of 6
Indiana QB Hunter Johnson
Indiana QB Hunter Johnson

Elite 11 Quarterbacks:ย Hunter Johnsonย (No. 1 pro-style prospect) andย Sean Cliffordย (No. 8 pro-style prospect)

University Vibes:ย Clemson Tigers (three commits) and Ole Miss Rebels (two commits)

Who to Watch

The aerial attack will have a major Clemson feel to it, as No. 1 overall quarterback recruit Johnson delivers darts to fellow Tigers commitsย Tee Higginsย andย Amari Rodgers. This trio is augmented by Florida standoutย James Robinsonย andย Ole Miss commitย D.D. Bowieย at receiver, whileย Anthony McFarland Jr.ย andย Khalan Labornย are among the most versatile all-purpose backs in America.

Top-rated cornerbackย Darnay Holmesย holds things down in the defensive secondary, where he joins prized Pennsylvania productย Lamont Wadeย and intimidating IMG Academy (Florida) safetyย Grant Delpit. The linebacker corps is led by Alabama/Auburn targetย Will Ignontย andย Sherrod Greene, who is leaning toward South Carolina at this stage.

2. Alpha Pro

5 of 6
Las Vegas QB Tate Martell
Las Vegas QB Tate Martell

Elite 11 Quarterbacks:ย Tate Martellย (No. 1 dual-threat prospect) andย Jake Frommย (No. 3 pro-style prospect)

University Vibes:ย Georgia Bulldogs (five commits) and Florida State Seminoles (two commits)

Who to Watch

Martell, who committed to Ohio State last month, is unbeaten as a starter at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School and has also cruised past opponents in a highly competitive national seven-on-seven landscape. He'll be busy recruiting Alpha Pro receivers Trevon Grimesย andย Tyjon Lindseyโ€”one of his closest friendsโ€”to the Buckeyes while targeting them throughout the tournament.

Fromm, a Georgia pledge, joins forces with Athens-bound receiverย Trey Blountย and primary Bulldogs running back targetย Toneil Carter. Los Angeles receiverย Jalen Hallย is the top-rated prospect at his position in the 2018 class, while this defensive secondary is stocked with sensational talent such asย Patrick Surtain Jr.ย (No. 1 cornerback in 2018),ย Jeffrey Okudahย (No. 1 safety in 2017) andย Richard LeCounte IIIย (No. 2 safety in 2017).

1. Vapor Speed

6 of 6
California RB Najee Harris
California RB Najee Harris

Elite 11 Quarterbacks:ย Tua Tagovailoaย (No. 2 dual-threat prospect) andย Chris Robisonย (No. 7 pro-style prospect)

University Vibes:ย Oklahoma Sooners (eight commits) and Alabama Crimson Tide (six commits)

Who to Watch

Alabama and Oklahoma both qualified for the College Football Playoff last season and will be well-represented on Team Vapor Speed, starting with Tagovailoa (Crimson Tide) and Robison (Sooners). Tagovailoa, a Hawaii native, was the most impressive prospect during the Elite 11 Finals, and he'll team up with fellow Tide commits in No. 1 overall running back recruitย Najee Harrisย and freakishly athletic receiverย Tyrell Shavers.ย 

Harris, who is also a fantastic pass-catcher, teams up with former Alabama commit and fellow 5-starย Cam Akersย to form a lethal backfield. Florida State legacy cornerback commitย Stanford Samuelsย joins Alabama safety pledgeย Xavier McKinneyย and four Oklahoma commits in the defensive secondary, while Norman-bound linebackerย Levi Draperย and Crimson Tide commitsย Markail Bentonย andย VanDarius Cowanย provide ample presence up front.

Tylerย Donohueย is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy ofย 247Sports' composite ratings.

Follow Tyler via Twitter:ย @TDsTake.