The Opening 2013, one of the year's most prestigious prospect camps, kicks off Saturday in Beaverton, Ore., and RecruitingNation will be on the scene to follow all the stars and big storylines and maybe find a breakout player or two. We asked our on-site reporters what they are most looking forward to seeing next week. Here's what they had to say.
Which player has the most to prove next week?
Jeremy Crabtree, RecruitingNation: Morgan Mahalak (Kentfield, Calif./Marin Catholic High School) was hand-selected by new Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich to be the Ducks' quarterback for the 2014 class. However, Mahalak really hasn't drawn the national headlines and lofty rankings of other signal-callers in this class. Heck, Mahalak only had offers from Duke, Idaho, NC State, Oregon State, South Alabama and USF when he committed to Oregon. That's mainly because he hasn't had a large body of work to look at because 2013 will be his first year as a full-time, varsity starter. At the Elite 11, he could go a long way toward proving Helfrich's confidence in him is worthy.
Tom Luginbill, RecruitingNation scout: For an interior player, it's OT Kyle Trout (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster). I'm excited to see how Trout performs in one-on-one situations from a pass-protection standpoint. We have liked him all along, but in his high school scheme -- a veer/Wing-T run game -- he sees limited reps in pass protection. He is a big-bodied kid who has really shown flashes of brilliance, but there is also very little on which to evaluate him. He can be a bit raw as a result, but his strength, measurables and upside to develop intrigue me. I'm looking for him to make a statement when matched up against superior athletes along the defensive front.
For skill players, it's WR Allen Lazard of Urbandale (Iowa) School. There has been a lot of hype surrounding Lazard, and while we feel he is a fine player, we have not had him as high on the board as others. We know he is big and tall (6-foot-5, 208 pounds), has great measurables and is a terrific red zone threat. My concerns have been top-end speed, level of competition and whether he can sink his hips and get in and out of breaks on routes that aren't of the vertical nature. I want to see how precise he is and if he can create separation and not just be a jump ball or red zone player.
Derek Tyson, GatorNation: In my opinion, defensive back Quincy Wilson (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./University School) has the most to prove. At 6-2 and 198 pounds, Wilson wants to play cornerback at the next level. He has done well at corner at 7-on-7 events over the summer, but how will he do against the top receivers in the country? This will be an excellent opportunity for Wilson to showcase his skills as a corner, otherwise his future position could be at safety.
Tom VanHaaren, WolverineNation: I think it might be defensive end Da'Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge). This is his second time at The Opening, he's a top-five player and there is always a lot of hype around him. If he has a poor day, or a poor week, I think there will be a lot of eyeballs on him, so he'll need to make sure he's at the top of his game.
Mitch Sherman, RecruitingNation: Let's start with a big fish. QB David Cornwell of Norman (Okla.) North is committed to Alabama and earned the first invite to the Elite 11 finals. But he has since fallen behind Keller Chryst (Palo Alta, Calif./Palo Alto) in the pocket-passer rankings. More important, Cornwell has played just one year of varsity football at a small school in Oklahoma.
Which player are you most excited to see next week?
JC: I've always had a soft spot in my heart for dual-threat quarterbacks, and there has been a tremendous buzz around Clemson commitment Deshaun Watson (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville), so I'm excited to see if he is as advertised. While The Opening really isn't the best environment to allow a run-pass quarterback to excel, I have a feeling Watson is up for the challenge. I was a big Jameis Winston fan in the 2012 class, and I can't wait to see how Watson compares to him in person. I have feeling Watson's going to flourish and stand out this week.
TL: CB Adoree' Jackson (Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra). Pound for pound, Jackson could be the best athlete in attendance and certainly is one of the more versatile. There is no question he could line up and be the best slot receiver prospect in attendance. If the return game were featured in this setting, he'd be a difference-maker. The receivers in attendance will need some separation skills, because they will be operating in tight quarters against this guy. It is always fun to see how WRs respond when they get frustrated or can't get off the ball, so Jackson should provide some stiff competition for everyone involved.
DT: I'm excited to see Jackson, who is also a track standout, in action. He will have a chance to showcase his playmaking ability against some of the top wide receivers in country. At 5-10 and 171 pounds, he's not the biggest defensive back, but what he lacks in size, on tape, he more than makes up for with pure athleticism.
TV: I can't wait to see what Jackson does. This type of event is almost tailored for a guy like him to do well. He will be able to help his 7-on-7 team on offense and defense. He's explosive, and I'm hoping that he puts on a show.
MS: Without Jabrill Peppers (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) in attendance, Jackson is the top-rated cornerback among an ultra-talented group of defensive backs at the event. I've seen Texans Tony Brown (Beaumont, Texas/Ozen) and Jamal Adams (Lewisville, Texas/Hebron) in person, and if Jackson is better than that pair, he'll be a sight to behold.
Who will be the breakout player of the week?
JC: Ranked as a three-star prospect, there's a lot to like about Jonathan Lockett's game. The cornerback from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei had seven interceptions and scored seven touchdowns on special teams as a junior, all of which means he has the skill set to thrive in a 7-on-7 competition like The Opening. While he might not be a known national name, Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, San Jose State, UCLA and Washington all know about his coverage skills. I'm betting that by the end of the week, everybody else will too.
TL: WR Braxton Berrios' stock just continues to rise. Much like last year when Ryan Switzer performed very well, we would expect the same from the Raleigh (N.C.) Leesville Road WR, only Berrios is a more natural pass-catcher at this stage. Berrios is a terrific route runner with stop/start suddenness to create separation and a nice window for the QB. Berrios was excellent on the spring camp circuit, which only reinforced my view of him on film. He has received two grade increases already and could receive a third with another top-level effort here.
DT: Anyone with the name Speedy has to be a player to watch. Speedy Noil (New Orleans/Edna Karr) is an electric player and can do many things with the ball in his hands. This 7-on-7 event should be the perfect platform for Noil to showcase his abilities as a receiver. With a big performance, Noil could cement himself as one of, if not the top athlete in the country.
TV: Depending on how he performs, there might be a lot of talk about wide receiver Terry McLaurin (Indianapolis/Cathedral). He's a guy who isn't even ranked and only had offers from Ball State, Cincinnati, Iowa, Purdue, Toledo and Western Kentucky before receiving an offer from Ohio State. The Buckeyes commit had the best SPARQ Rating of any wide receiver at all the Nike Combines this year, so I think his name is going to come up a lot once everything is done and over.
MS: OK, it's not as sexy a pick as WR Torii Hunter Jr., who broke out in a big way at The Opening last year en route to accepting a Notre Dame offer, but I'll go with OG Tanner Farmer of Highland (Ill.) High. The Nebraska pledge already has enjoyed a breakout camp season, impressing at the Chicago NFTC. Nevertheless, he's missing from the ESPN 300. Maybe that changes soon.
What college program has the most to gain next week?
JC: Ohio State fans have openly complained that the Buckeyes' class isn't ranked high enough nationally. With nine commits on the roster at The Opening, it's a great opportunity for the Ohio State class to improve its stock and shoot up the rankings. I'm going to keep a close eye on McLaurin and quarterback Stephen Collier (Leesburg, Ga./Lee County). If they play well, Buckeyes fans can tell a lot of people "told you so."
TL: Ohio State. It won't be the only one, because all schools that have committed kids in attendance can benefit from their commitments' ability to recruit, but with nine players in attendance, the Buckeyes get the nod here. With other high-profile Midwest prospects yet to commit, those Buckeyes commits can go to work for Urban Meyer and his staff. Prospects such as Clifton Garrett (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) and Nyles Morgan (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) are two high-profile prospects with Buckeyes offers. DT Thomas Holley (Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln) is another. Anytime you can have ambassadors for your program recruit when you can't, it can pay huge dividends in the end. This can be a time for Ohio State to find out just how committed their prospects are by how hard they work to secure others great players.
DT: I believe Virginia has the most to gain this week. It already has a commitment from the No. 1-ranked safety, Quin Blanding (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside), and could potentially land Andrew Brown (Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Frommel Smith) when he makes his college decision Saturday during a live chat with RecruitingNation. Landing two of the top 11 players in the country could be monumental for a school that has not enjoyed much recruiting success in recent memory.
TV: Probably Ohio State. With nine commitments at the event, the Buckeyes' commits will wind up being a big storyline. Some of the prospects on the roster, though, are lower-ranked recruits. Trout, Collier and defensive tackle Dylan Thompson (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic) all have a lot to gain for their class if they can perform well.
MS: I'm tempted to go with Oregon on the heels of its victory in escaping major sanctions for recruiting violations that date back several years. The Ducks look set to steal San Antonio Roosevelt CB Arrion Springs out from under Texas. But a potentially bigger winner is Virginia, which may grab top-rated DT Brown on Saturday to go with Blanding.
What's the key storyline you'll be watching?
JC: I love that there are 11 players ranked No. 1 at their position at the event, but I'm really fired up to see the top defensive tackle, top defensive end and top offensive tackle there. This means the Lineman Challenge could be epic. I'm already ready to see Brown and Hand line up across from top-ranked OT Cameron Robinson (West Monroe, La./West Monroe) in one-on-ones.
TL: Offensive and defensive linemen finally going one-on-one in pads. One-on-ones in shorts at most spring camps are lopsided drills that benefit the defensive player, while the offensive player must deal with many disadvantages. At least this time the offensive player has a fighting chance with pads are on. Keep in mind, the defensive player has a two-way go and no run support responsibility or gap control. The offensive player is on his heels and on an island. The defensive player should win this drill. Therefore, we pay attention when an offensive player begins to win one-on-one matchups. This is an opportunity to see how the prospects deal with adversity. What do they do when they get beat two reps in a row? What do they do when they get embarrassed on a rep? One of two things happen: Either the player goes in the tank or he responds. Mental toughness and competitive character are huge here.
DT: I'm looking forward to watching some of the one-on-one matchups between Robinson and Damian Prince (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) and some of the top defensive linemen such as Hand, Brown, Lorenzo Carter (Norcross, Ga./Norcross) and Kentavius Street (Greenville, N.C./J.H. Rose). Most linemen dominate their competition in high school because they are much bigger and more athletic, but matched up against guys with the same physical abilities will make for great competition throughout the week.
TV: This type of event is awesome because it's good on good all week. Every prospect in attendance earned his way here, so there aren't any possibilities to take a rep off. I'll be watching to see who really rises to the top among the best. I want to see which prospects stand out among their peers and who takes in the coaching given to them throughout the week. That's what this event is all about, who is the best in this class.
MS: These typically develop a day or two into the event, so check back Monday. But from the start, I want to watch elite Louisiana prospects RB Leonard Fournette, No. 1 in the ESPN 300 out of New Orleans Saint Augustine, and ATH Noil, the No. 8 overall recruit. Together they could transform LSU's class from good to great.