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ESPN Staff Writer- National recruiting analyst and analyst for ESPNU
- More than a decade of college and pro coaching experience.
- Graduated from Indiana and Nebraska-Omaha
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ESPN Analyst- Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
- Coached in four professional football leagues
- Graduated from Eastern Kentucky and Marshall
The Opening is in the books and was the final event we will use for analysis prior to prospects' senior seasons. Performances at the event will also affect the final ESPN 300 update before football season begins. With over 160 prospects in attendance, it would be impossible to address each one, but here are some superlatives from The Opening:
Sweat
'Freak'ing out: Josh Sweat battled through a hip injury that sidelined him the final day, but his performance was still impressive. The No. 4 overall prospect in the ESPN 300 wasted little time creating a buzz. A physically impressive-looking prospect, the five-star has added some good size to his lean, lengthy, muscular frame while maintaining and, in some areas, improving his athleticism. Sweat, the lone lineman to make the final 10 of the SPARQ Championship, posted a 4.46 40 at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds in the prelims and exceeded his expectations in the kneeling power ball toss, hitting 47 feet and providing one of the "wow" moments of the final. When the event moved to the football field and linemen competed in shoulder pads and helmets, Sweat continued to impress. In one-on-ones, he flashed an explosive first step, was violent with his hands, displayed good ability to bend the edge and overall was tough to handle coming off the edge. There were high expectations for Sweat coming in, and he didn't disappoint. It was unfortunate he couldn't go the last day, but he demonstrated his competitive nature with his willingness to continue to compete despite being banged up and by that point had already made a statement. His lengthy frame, athleticism and power as well as his overall performance drew some comparisons to recent No. 1 overall NFL draft choice Jadeveon Clowney. Sweat's freakish athletic skills could eventually back up those comparisons.
Utility man: WR Christian Kirk was a consummate jack-of-all-trades weapon and proved his worth in every game he played. Kirk, who can line up in the backfield and the slot, is quickly becoming one of those guys where defenses better know where he is when the huddle breaks. When matched up against safeties and linebackers, he made a ton of 20-plus-yard plays between the numbers. What makes Kirk unique is that he is built like a running back but has the ball skills and nuance of a true wide receiver.
Guardians of the QB: A few offensive tackles at The Opening proved very capable of protecting the edge, led by No. 1-rated OT Martez Ivey, who, not surprisingly, performed very well. Ivey possesses a lean build at this stage and needs to fill out and improve his strength, but with outstanding length, ability to set quickly and nimble feet, he can be a tough obstacle for rushers to work around. He needs to continue to develop technique and gain more experience in pass protection, but he has the tools to be an excellent college tackle. A player who opened some people's eyes was Arizona commit Keenan Walker. The ESPN 300 OT performed well and exhibited the physical and nasty demeanor he displays on film. He also caught some defenders attention with his powerful punch that proved capable of knocking them off balance. He got himself in some trouble at times looking for the kill shot, but when he stays balanced and under control, he can be a strong pass protector. USC commit Chuma Edoga is among the most athletic tackle prospects in this class. He lacks ideal height but possesses good length and a competitive demeanor and, as expected, performed well overall, joining Ivey and Walker among the top five O-linemen.
Don't sleep on this guy: It was nice to see WR Trent Irwin match up against speed and skill on defense to truly get a sense of just how quick and fast he is, and he exceeded expectations in our opinion. This guy just knows how to get open. It is always fun to see young receivers have a feel for route running and how to manipulate coverages. Irwin gets deep because defenders think he can't. That's all part of the craft and what makes him so good. There are going to be receivers who are more explosive and have better top-end speed, but you can't coach feel for the game or the trust that QBs have in him.
Taking care of business: One of the most intense and focused prospects in the 2015 class is five-star Byron Cowart, who came ready to compete. One of the No. 2-ranked DE's strengths is versatility, and he moved all around during one-on-ones, taking reps both on the edge and inside and showing the ability to create problems wherever he lines up. He can challenge tackles with his power off the edge and can create mismatches with his quickness when he slides inside. In preparation for the event, Cowart said he studied film on some of the top offensive linemen, including Edoga and Ivey, whom he faced in the lineman finals. The 6-3 ESPN 300 prospect wanted to make sure he got the most out of his time in Oregon as he seemed to take a high volume of reps. With a combination of ability, preparation and competitiveness, it was no surprise that Cowart was among the event's top performers.
Ironman: ATH Donte Jackson was all over the place -- literally. He starred on both sides of the ball as a safety/nickelback and wide receiver. Jackson had an exceptional Day 2, and his ball skills and penchant for pass breakups allowed him to flourish on interceptions. He has range and an excellent feel for the game and always seemed to be around the ball. There were some higher-profile skill players on hand, but in our mind, Jackson upped his stock as much as any and gives coaches a ton of options at the next level.
Fitting right in: The only 2016 big man in attendance was ESPN Jr. 300 DT Rashan Gary, who was the first rising junior lineman to be invited since Robert Nkemdiche in 2012. With the 2015 defensive line class being very strong, we were curious to see how the talented New Jersey DT would perform, and he proved he could hold his own. Gary has excellent size with good strength and initial burst, exceeding many of our expectations. Gary, the No. 17 player in the ESPN Jr. 300, made it to the finals of the lineman challenge and drew high praise from coaches, who were impressed with his natural ability and desire to learn and improve.
Pound for pound: We would argue that during the 7-on-7 portion of The Opening Soso Jamabo was the best, most productive skill player on hand. He is bona fide full-time running back candidate as well as a full-time wide receiver option, and he possesses exceptional ball skills and coverage awareness. He is like a bigger version of Ohio State's Dontre Wilson with the same versatility. He had as big of an impact during the elimination rounds as any player in attendance. He is going to have college coaching staffs fighting over him.
Tough cotton: Lester Cotton couldn't compete in some activities due to an Alabama state rule saying athletes can't compete in pads, but when the Alabama commit did get a chance, he performed well. Not surprisingly, he was among the OL finalists and continues to display the ability to be a strong pass protector. He is a big-bodied lineman with excellent strength and displayed the ability to set quickly and play with a wide base. He can deliver a good punch and mirror well once locked on and continually proved to be a tough obstacle for defenders to try to work around or through.
Interception machine: If there was one player who came out of the spring and summer camp circuit certain to shake up the positional rankings, it was CB Iman Marshall. He is a ball hawk who plays the game with enthusiasm and excellent awareness, and his name seemed to constantly be announced over the PA system with yet another interception. There was a really good, strong group of corners on hand, and Marshall made a strong case for a big jump in the upcoming ESPN 300 rankings.
Range in space: Because of his speed, fluidity and range, LB Roquan Smith had a great coverage performance. At one point during 7-on-7 he had two interceptions in less than two full games, one of which was returned for a touchdown. He ran as well as any linebacker on hand, which allowed him to cover a ton of ground. He tipped balls down the seam that most prospects would not have been able to get their hands on let alone get to the drop point.
Making a statement: Coming into this event, we were curious to see Tommy Hatton for two reasons. First, we have felt that the ESPN 300 OL was a little underrated overall on the national scene. Second, with an anticipated transition to center in college, we wanted to see how the high school tackle would perform at his projected position. The performance put forth by the North Carolina commit proved that he belonged among the top 300 and that he has a bright future at center. A tough, physical and fiery competitor, Hatton competed like he had something to prove. He demonstrated an ability to set quickly with active hands and good placement, gives good effort and can stay in front of defenders once locked on. There is room for improvement physically and technically, but Hatton performed well. He hurt his ankle on his final rep of the event, but he should be ready to go again by the start of his season. Tar Heels fans should be excited about the player they are getting.
Factor back: There might not be a better marriage between skill set and scheme than RB Taj Griffin to Oregon. Not only was Griffin excellent out of the backfield, but on run plays he was almost a guarantee to get 5-7 yards, if not more, and looked like a highlight reel doing it. His measurables may never lend to him becoming a load carrier or to play with great power and pile-pushing ability, but in space with wide splits and a zone blocking scheme, he could be the next LaMichael James. There are a lot of good backs in this class and it can be difficult to slot Griffin, but he picked the perfect school to maximize his strengths.
Mild learning curve: For a guy who has been playing quarterback almost exclusively and will continue to do so for the remainder of his high school career, Deon Cain shows few signs that the learning curve will be steep. He is such a natural athlete that he is already picking up route-running intricacies, and his ball skills are coming along nicely. He really got into a groove with QB-DT Kyler Murray throughout the week and morphed into a go-to target on the outside.
Acknowledging the big men
OL: Clemson commit Mitch Hyatt bounced back with a better performance than his outing at the Atlanta NFTC. The five-star certainly has some good natural tools, and the lengthy tackle had some success pushing rushers past the pocket. He needs to continue to fill out his frame, improve his strength and watch his pad level, and he seemed to have some struggles with rushers who attacked with power moves. ... Javon Patterson is a promising guard prospect with nice size, strength and short-area lateral agility. ... Alabama commit Richie Petitbon might not wow you athletically, but this is a tough, physical competitor. The wide-bodied offensive lineman continues to prove he can be a good productive college guard. ... UCLA fans should be excited about their recent offensive linemen commitments as both OT Andre James and interior OL Fred Ulu-Perry performed well. The physical and competitive Ulu-Perry in particular had some strong moments. ... Matt Burrell Jr. had some struggles, but the ESPN 300 OL looks to be working hard and came to the event having trimmed down some since we last saw him at the DC NFTC. He was overaggressive at times and lunged at rushers, getting himself in trouble, but with some technical improvements and better consistency he can be a solid performer. ... Drew Richmond had some good moments and displayed he is capable of being a good player with continued hard work and further development.
DL: Having a bit of a quiet spring, Terry Beckner Jr. seemed to become somewhat of a forgotten man in this talented D-line class, but seeing him in action at The Opening was a quick reminder that the five-star is definitely among the nation's best. Possessing excellent size with good initial quickness and strength with active hands, he was tough to handle and flashed an impressive push-pull move during one-on-ones. ... Daylon Mack lacks great height and length, but the Texas A&M commit is an explosive, powerful player who can be a real disruptive presence in the trenches. ... New Tennessee commit Kahlil McKenzie and Daron Payne are both massive and proved capable of overpowering blockers at times. Both made the final five of the lineman challenge and overall performed well. ... An intriguing player to watch was Canadian Neville Gallimore. The promising big man didn't look overwhelmed or out of place with many of the best defensive linemen from the states and displays nice upside as he continues to develop and gains more experience at his natural position. ... Texas Tech commit Breiden Fehoko is a thickly built and powerful player who had his share of good moments during the event. ... It's tough to recall any real wow moments with ESPN 300 DL Rasheem Green, but it's also tough to recall any moments where he seemed to struggle. The talented big man, who landed among the final five, deserves some attention for a good overall outing.