The Opening 2017: Ranking the Top 10 Recruits in Attendance
College football recruitment has become big business, and one of the biggest events on the summer calendar is The Opening.
One hundred and sixty-six of the nation's top recruits in the classes of 2018 and 2019 will congregate in Beaverton, Oregon, at the Nike World Headquarters from June 28 through July 3 to test their skills against the best of the best.
A number of talented athletes will be on hand, but who are the best of the best? We took a look with help from Scout.com's recruiting rankings and ranked the top 10 recruits expected to be at The Opening.
Factors including expected impact in college, diversity of skills and measured statistics were all considered in this ranking.
10. WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
1 of 10
Recruiting info
No. 12 overall player in Class of 2018; considering LSU, Texas, TCU and Texas A&M.
1 thing to know
Terrace Marshall is coming off an excellent junior season with 55 catches for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Why he’s here
At 6'3", 192 pounds, Marshall is a special player who is capable of scoring every time he touches the ball. He has good size and speed and is a dangerous downfield receiver, but he can also make things happen after the catch by staying on his feet. He is a great outside receiver who should be an exciting player to watch at The Opening.
9. QB Matt Corral
2 of 10Recruiting info
No. 10 overall player in Class of 2018; considering Alabama, Arizona State, Georgia, Michigan and Texas A&M.
1 thing to know
Matt Corral will be one of the biggest names to watch at The Opening. He was committed to Southern California, but he has decommitted from the Trojans and completely reopened his recruitment.
Why he's here
Corral has decent size at 6'2", 196 pounds and has shown the skills to be a major impact player in college. He has the ability to take a bruising hit and bounce back with a big throw, using his strong arm and making good reads in the pocket. He can also move in the pocket and throw on the run, or even scramble for necessary yardage.
It will be fascinating to see where he winds up following his divorce from the Trojans, and his performance at The Opening could be telling.
8. CB Anthony Cook
3 of 10
Recruiting info
No. 9 overall player in Class of 2018; considering Baylor, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas and Southern California.
1 thing to know
Anthony Cook is a ballhawk who has an impressive 10 interceptions over the past two seasons.
Why he's here
Cook is an excellent cover corner. He has decent size for a corner at 6'0", 168 pounds and is a playmaker with three interceptions returned for touchdowns in his career. He has great hands and has the ability to snatch balls away from receivers in close quarters.
He will be tested at The Opening but should perform well and prove that he is an elite player.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. OG Jamaree Salyer
4 of 10
Recruiting info
No. 8 overall player in Class of 2018; considering Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State and Stanford, among others.
1 thing to know
Jamaree Salyer is a rare guard. Dating back to 2000, he's the second highest-rated offensive guard in recruiting rankings, with only current NFL offensive tackle Andre Smith ranked ahead of him.
Why he's here
Salyer is a smart, strong player who can bench-press 415 pounds and could project as either a guard or center in college.
He has good flexibility and is strong at the point of attack, and he is ready to pick up any college system thrown at him. He is the top-ranked offensive lineman in 2018 and will be a strong addition to any class.
6. DE Xavier Thomas
5 of 10
Recruiting info
No. 6 overall player in Class of 2018; committed to Clemson.
1 thing to know
Xavier Thomas is the latest in Clemson's long line of talented defensive ends. Per Phil Kornblut of The State, he sees himself in the mold of former Clemson DE Vic Beasley, currently excelling with the Atlanta Falcons.
Why he's here
The top player in South Carolina and one of the top defenders in the 2018 class, Thomas is an explosive prospect on the edge.
He is a smart player who has an excellent motor and great burst off the ball. He is an athletic player who can rush passers or drop into coverage if needed. He is very fast and has the potential to step in immediately to make a big difference on Clemson's defensive line, continuing the Tigers' NFL assembly line.
5. QB Justin Fields
6 of 10
Recruiting info
No. 5 overall player in Class of 2018; considering Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Florida State, Ole Miss, Penn State.
1 thing to know
Fields is the nation's top dual-threat quarterback and made waves with his recent decommitment from Penn State. His recruitment will be a major summer storyline.
Why he's here
Fields is an excellent athlete who can make things happen with his legs as well as a strong arm capable of passing deep effectively. Last fall, he threw for 2,770 yards with 23 touchdowns against six interceptions and added 1,176 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
He stands 6'3", 221 pounds and has a tantalizing blend of athleticism and size. Fields will be one of the most-watched players at The Opening thanks to his mobility, overall skills and recruiting status.
4. LB Palaie Gaoteote
7 of 10
Recruiting info
No. 4 overall player; committed to Southern California.
1 thing to know
Palaie Gaoteote is a winner. The Las Vegas Bishop Gorman product will be working with teammates to win the program's ninth consecutive Nevada state championship this fall.
Why he's here
He is the top inside linebacker and linebacker prospect in America. Gaoteote is an active player who made 68 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and two sacks as a junior and a solid frame at 6'2", 210 pounds.
He is a solid tackler who can hang well with receivers in coverage and has good footwork. He is a rangy, tough physical player who is one of the best linebackers to commit to Southern California over the past decade and is in line to have an immediate impact there.
3. CB Patrick Surtain Jr.
8 of 10
Recruiting info
No. 3 overall player in Class of 2018; considering LSU, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Ohio State.
1 thing to know
He is the son of Patrick Surtain, who played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, including three Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections.
Why he's here
Surtain has a great pedigree, but he can stand on his own merits, too. He stands 6'2", 192 pounds and has excellent instincts and coverage skills, with good size and physicality.
He also has great burst off the snap and can close the gap quickly with opposing receivers. He will be a premier college corner and a major focal point this week.
2. DE Micah Parsons
9 of 10Recruiting info
No. 2 overall player in Class of 2018; considering Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Penn State.
1 thing to know
Micah Parsons' recruitment could wind up making big waves in the Big Ten East. He was originally committed to Penn State but backed off that pledge. Now, Ohio State is among his main suitors, setting up a big battle for the Pennsylvania native's signature.
Why he's here
At 6'3", 241 pounds, Parsons is an elite, game-changing talent. He has excellent explosion off the snap and great change-of-direction skills, and his length is a major advantage. He can catch up with plays and make a difference in offensive backfields.
His frame is powerful and lengthy, but Parsons still has room to grow and has great range and athleticism. The sky is the limit for his potential, which makes him an elite talent and one of the top overall prospects at The Opening.
1. QB Trevor Lawrence
10 of 10Recruiting info
No. 1 overall player in Class of 2018; committed to Clemson.
1 thing to know
Despite growing up in Georgia, Lawrence followed the path set by another talented Peach State quarterback, Deshaun Watson, who spurned UGA for Clemson and led the Tigers to their first national title since 1981. Can Lawrence repeat the feat?
Why he's here
Lawrence stands 6'6", 209 pounds and is the total package as a passer. He has an extremely big, accurate arm which garnered plenty of attention from college coaches prior to his Clemson commitment. He has also thrown 120 touchdowns against 20 interceptions in three seasons of high school football at Cartersville (Ga.). High School.
Furthermore, Lawrence is mobile, can evade defenders, move the pocket and scramble for yardage, too. He is a perfect fit in Clemson's offense, and he will show why the Tigers have such a gem on their hands at The Opening.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
