With nearly half the prospects in the ESPN 300, including 10 five-stars, headed to the Nike Campus in Beaverton, Oregon, The Opening will present an opportunity to watch many of the nation's top prospects compete against one another. Although there are many individuals and battles we will be keeping an eye on, there are some key players and matchups to follow closely.
Scouting storylines
Talented tackles: One of the big storylines of the 2017 class is the strong group of offensive tackles in this recruiting cycle. There are nine among the ESPN 300's top 40, and seven of those prospects will be at The Opening. Among that group will be a pair of five-stars in Alabama commit Alex Leatherwood and No. 1 overall national prospect Trey Smith. Over the course of several days, we'll get a great opportunity to see this talented and deep group compete, not only against a good collection of defensive lineman but also against one another. Based off evaluations up to this point, we have high expectations for this group, and we'll see if they can continue to impress as an overall position group and, with many not ranked far from one another, how they stack up individually.
The receiver race: The receivers will unquestionably have their opportunities to shine during this event, and for a group that has already seen a bit of shake-up in the first ESPN 300 update, The Opening could help bring some clarity to this position's rankings. Or it could just muddy the waters further. Top-rated receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones is an outstanding athlete, and he comes in as the defending Nike ratings national champion. He could quickly set the bar within this group with a repeat performance. Tee Higgins is a tall, lean and lengthy target with deceptive speed and strength. After he made a move up the latest rankings update, he could make a case to rise again. Fourth-ranked receiver Jerry Jeudy is a smooth target with tremendous ball skills who has been a consistently strong performer at camps. James Robinson IV and Trevon Grimes present big targets with big play ability downfield, while Tyjon Lindsey and Jeff Thomas are smaller but quick targets who can be tough to stay with and contain. There is plenty of ability in different forms within this group, and we are very interested to see who can perform on a high level and do so consistently.
The bigger picture: No matter where you look across the event, you'll see prospects with the physical tools to compete at the Power 5 level, but there's more to success in college than ability. The Opening is one of few opportunities to learn more about prospects than what can be seen on film or at a one-day camp. We can get a better feel for other important attributes, such as attitude, effort and competitiveness. We'll be interested to see how these prospects perform during drills and play, but we'll also be interested to see how they conduct themselves and interact with fellow prospects, coaches, support staff and media. This is still just a snapshot -- anyone can have a bad day -- but it can be more difficult to keep one's guard up for a week, and this setting could present potential red flags that might need to be looked into further
Prospect watch
Among the talented group of offensive linemen is a particularly interesting prospect. Eze is a Nigeria native who has been playing the game for only a year and against limited competition. But he has quickly shown a lot of promise. A big man who came to the states for basketball, he is tall and lengthy with good feet, and he looks to be taking to the game well. A big step for the ESPN 300 OT (No. 222) was his performance at The Opening's Columbus regional, where against a closer level of competition, he not only held his own but also performed well. Now comes another test for the towering tackle, as he will compete alongside and against some of the premier line prospects in the class of 2017. He is still raw in many ways, but this is an opportunity to get a better gauge of his progress. Eze is a prospect with limited experience but a high ceiling for development.
The No. 2-ranked running back (No. 25 overall) is a tremendous athlete who could have a strong showing from start to finish. Akers can use his athleticism to be a well-rounded player, and that versatility could help him shine in this setting. Seven-on-seven is not an ideal vehicle for backs to fully showcase their abilities as runners, but the uncommitted four-star runner could prove to be a dangerous weapon, with his ability to contribute as a receiving target and the speed and agility to create big plays once he gets his hands on the ball. From testing, where he's capable of posting impressive numbers, to drills to the tournament, this ESPN 300 RB could be one of the most consistent and outstanding performers at The Opening.
Every year, a handful of underclassmen get invited, and this year's group includes another collection of talented rising juniors worthy of national attention. In this group is Thomas, an explosive and promising defensive end. The 2018 prospect out of South Carolina created buzz with his performance at the Charlotte Regional. An athletic and disruptive prospect, his film shows flashes of instant impact defender. It is still early, with much to prove and many evaluations to go through, but Thomas is developing into a strong candidate to be the No. 1 overall player in his class.
Top matchups
RB Najee Harris vs. ATH Dylan Moses
In this showdown of five-star prospects, we wouldn't be surprised if both prospects were looking forward to this matchup themselves. The No. 1 ranked RB (No. 4 overall), Harris can be an absolute handful with his impressive combination of size and explosiveness. Moses (No. 6), the top-rated athlete, is an equally impressive prospect with his blend of size and athleticism. Little separates these two in the ESPN 300, and an argument could be made that Moses is as promising a prospect at running back, but the showdown is with Harris on offense and Moses on defense. Developing at linebacker, Moses has the athleticism and range to drop and be highly effective in coverage. For Harris, this setting will provide an opportunity to showcase his ability as a receiver out of the backfield, where he has shown flashes of excellence. These are two elite prospects, and when they clash, it will be interesting to see if one can gain an edge on the other.
OT Trey Smith vs. OLB Jaelan Phillips
This is a matchup between two of the top three prospects in the nation in No. 1 overall player, OT Smith and Phillips, the top defensive prospect in the nation. This will be the second appearance at The Opening for Smith, after he participated as a junior last summer. A year ago, he more than held his own, but now, with more growth physically and as a player, the five-star is showing that he can be dominant presence at tackle. He possesses ideal size and length. He is not only flexible and light on his feet but also a tough and tenacious blocker. Working past Smith will not be easy, but the versatile Phillips (No. 3 overall) can present a very challenging matchup. Seeing as he is listed as the No. 1 OLB, we anticipate the rangy Phillips to work with the linemen. With his length, athleticism and strength, he can be a menacing pass-rusher, but he will need to resist relying simply on speed to win and must be active with his hands and a little more diverse attack. This could be a great match-up as these two big, athletic and talented prospects have the ability to command and bring the best out of each other.