Can you imagine witnessing the best in high school football talent at once under one roof? Well, it’s happening soon as Nike Football announces its annual showcase where the nation’s top talent participate in a 4-day a competition at the Nike Headquarters.
Here’s more detailed information and a roster of who’s participating in “The Opening”:
After months of highly competitive training and testing, The Opening presented by Nike Football will bring together 161 of the nation’s top high school football prospects for the ultimate football experience. The four-day competition, taking place at Nike’s World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., from June 30-July 3, will provide athletes the opportunity to learn from, and compete with, the best in the game.
Known as one of the premier events in high school football, The Opening attracts the best of the best and is designed to help athletes improve their knowledge of the sport, learn position-specific training techniques, and ultimately crown a winner for the Nike 7ON tournament (7v7), Nike Elite Linemen Challenge and SPARQ Rating National Championship.
Over the past six months, a series of Nike events managed by Student Sports have evaluated more than 17,000 athletes on a 26-stop tour through 19 different cities, showcasing extraordinary talent from student-athletes throughout the country. ESPNU will broadcast the SPARQ Rating National Championship live on July 1 and show key highlights for the other two events July 2-3.
As part of The Opening this year, Nike will also host the Elite 11 Quarterback Competition – featuring the top 18 high school signal callers vying for 11 spots in this year’s Elite 11 class. The Elite 11 will commence on June 28 and run through the end of the Nike 7ON tournament on July 3, with the final 11 announced that evening.
Several Nike NFL athletes, including Ndamukong Suh, Bo Jackson and Aaron Rodgers, as well as 2013 NFL first round draft picks Tavon Austin, Eli Manuel, Dee Milner and Desmond Trufant will be on hand during The Opening to assist in coaching and provide expert insights on training at the highest level.
THE ELITE 11 SCHEDULE:
June 29, Saturday
4Â –Â 6 p.m. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Afternoon Practice
June 30, Sunday
9:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Morning Practice
THE OPENING SCHEDULE:
July 1, Monday
9 a.m. – 12:30.p.m         SPARQ Preliminary testing & Nike Football Training Camp
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.          SPARQ Rating National Championship
July 2, Tuesday
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.          Linemen Challenge workout #1
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.      Nike 7on7 Pool Play
July 3, Wednesday
9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.         Nike 7on7 Double-Elimination Tournament
10 a.m. – 1p.m.           Linemen Challenge Workout #2 and Championships
5 p.m. – 6 p.m.            Nike 7on7 Championship Game
6:15 p.m. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Opening Awards Ceremony
THE OPENING MEDIA CONTACTS
Kevin Foley, Position Sports                    Brian Strong, Nike Communications
480-766-8011Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 646-232-0651
kevin.foley@positionsports.combrian.strong@nike.com
For additional media information, please visit www.TheOpeningMedia.com
THE OPENING ROSTER
NAME, POSITION, HOMETOWN
Jamal Adams / SAF / Carrollton, TX
Matthew Adams / LB / Sugar Land, TX
Kavin Alexander / CB / North Little Rock, AR
Terrence Alexander / CB / River Ridge, LA
Joey Alfieri / LB / Portland, OR
Brian Allen / OL / Hinsdale, IL
Kyle Allen / QB / Scottsdale, AZ
Bryson Allen-Williams / LB / Ellenwood, GA
Budda Baker / SAF / Bellevue, WA
Drew Barker / QB / Hebron, KY
Derek Barnett / DL / Brentwood, TN
Dillon Bates / LB / Ponte Vedra, FL
Kyle Berger / LB / Cleveland, OH
Braxton Berrios / WR / Raleigh, NC
Quin Blanding / WR / Virginia Beach, VA
Jeb Blazevich / TE / Charlotte, NC
David Blough / QB / Carrollton, TX
John Bonney / SAF / Houston, TX
Dante Booker / LB / Akron, OH
Jacob Bragg / OL / Nacogdoches, TX
Justin Brent / WR / Speedway, IN
Andrew Brown / DL / Chesapeake, VA
Erik Brown / WR / Fontana, CA
Tony Brown / CB / Beaumont, TX
Charles Buchannon / RB / Pleasant Grove, AL
Ian Bunting / TE / Hinsdale, IL
Derik Calhoun / LB / El Cerrito, CA
George Campbell / WR / Tarpon Springs, FL
Parris Campbell / ATH / Akron, OH
K.D. Cannon / WR / Mount Pleasant, TX
K.J. Carta-Samuels / QB / San Jose, CA
Lorenzo Carter / DL / Norcross, GA
Keller Chryst / QB / Palo Alto, CA
Nick Chubb / RB / Cedartown, GA
Khairi Clark / DL / Hollywood, FL
Jamardre Cobb / LB / Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Collier / QB / Leesburg, GA
Dalvin Cook / RB / Miami, FL
David Cornwell / QB / Norman, OK
Kevin Crosby / TE / Bamberg, SC
Trevor Darling / OL / Miami, FL
Kain Daub / LB / Jacksonville, FL
Duke Dawson / CB / Cross City, FL
Kammy Delp / OL / Pomona, CA
Johnnie Dixon / WR / Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Malachi Dupre / WR / River Ridge, LA
Rashaan Evans / LB / Auburn, AL
Tanner Farmer / OL / Highland, IL
Minkah Fitzpatrick / CB / Jersey City, NJ
Andrew Ford / QB / Camp Hill, PA
Leonard Fournette / RB / New Orleans, LA
Josh Frazier / DL / Springdale, AR
Edwin Freeman / LB / Arlington, TX
Royce Freeman / RB / Imperial, CA
Kenyon Frison / OL / West Valley City, UT
Clifton Garrett / LB / Plainfield, IL
Kyle Gibson / CB / Seffner, FL
Wesley Green / CB / Lithonia, GA
Will Grier / QB / Davidson, NC
Marcus Griffin / DL / Bellevue, WA
Naijiel Hale / CB / Bellflower, CA
C.J. Hampton / SAF / Meridian, MS
Da’Shawn Hand / DL / Woodbridge, VA
Chris Hardeman / CB / Houston, TX
Drake Harris / WR / Grand Rapids, MI
Treon Harris / ATH / Miami, FL
Javon Harrison / ATH / Lakeland, FL
Jalen Harvey / WR / El Cerrito, CA
J.C. Hassenauer / OL / Woodbury, MN
Jerrod Heard / QB / Denton, TX
Joe Henderson / DL / Cleveland, OH
Thomas Holley / DL / Brooklyn, NY
Corey Holmes / WR / Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Jalyn Holmes / DL / Norfolk, VA
Elijah Hood / RB / Charlotte, NC
Jalen Hurd / RB / Hendersonville, TN
Adoree’ Jackson / CB / Gardena, CA
Bijhon           Jackson / DL / El Dorado, AR
Derwin James / SAF / Auburndale, FL
Lorenzo Joe / WR / Abilene, TX
Jeff Jones / RB / Minneapolis, MN
Brad Kaaya / QB / West Hills, CA
DeShone Kizer / QB / Toledo, OH
Demetrius Knox / OL / Fort Worth, TX
Chris Lammons / CB / Plantation, FL
Ermon Lane / WR / Homestead, FL
Allen Lazard / WR / Urbandale, IA
Toa Lobendahn / OL / La Habra, CA
Jonathan Lockett / CB / Santa Ana, CA
Tyler Luatua / TE / La Mirada, CA
Morgan Mahalak / QB / Kentfield, CA
Joshua Malone / WR / Gallatin, TN
Damien Mama / OL / Bellflower, CA
Iman Marshall / SAF / Long Beach, CA
Trey Marshall / SAF / Lake City, FL
Corey Martinez / OL / Tampa, FL
Montel McBride / OL / Plant City, FL
Garrald McDowell / DL / Covington, LA
Mattrell McGraw / SAF / River Ridge, LA
Shai McKenzie / RB / Washington, PA
Terry McLaurin / WR / Indianapolis, IN
Raekwon McMillan / LB / Hinesville, GA
Christian Miller / LB / Columbia, SC
Joe Mixon / RB / Oakley, CA
Nyles Morgan / LB / Crete, IL
Anthony Moten / DL / Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Quenton Nelson / OL / Red Bank, NJ
Montae Nicholson / ATH / Monroeville, PA
Speedy Noil / WR / New Orleans, LA
Edward Paris / CB / Arlington, TX
Jacob Park / QB / Goose Creek, SC
Adarius Pickett / CB / El Cerrito, CA
John Plattenburg / CB / Corona, CA
Michiah Quick / WR / Fresno, CA
C.J. Reavis / SAF / Chester, VA
Chris Register / LB / Greensboro, NC
Austin Roberts / TE / Carmel, IN
Cameron Robinson / OL / West Monroe, LA
Luke Rubenzer / QB / Scottsdale, AZ
Travis Rudolph / WR / West Palm Beach, FL
Curtis Samuel / WR / Brooklyn, NY
Dalton Schultz / TE / South Jordan, UT
Artavis Scott / WR / Tarpon Springs, FL
Derrell           Scott / RB / Havelock, NC
Brandon Simmons / SAF / Arlington, TX
John Smith / WR / Long Beach, CA
Enoch Smith Jr. / DL / Chicago, IL
Thaddeus Snodgrass / WR / Springfield, OH
Bentley Spain / OL / Charlotte, NC
Arrion Springs / CB / San Antonio, TX
M.J. Stewart / CB / Arlington, VA
Kentavius Street / DL / Greenville, NC
Dylan Sumner-Gardner / SAF / Mesquite, TX
Jalen Tabor / CB / Washington, DC
Viane Talamaivao / OL / Corona, CA
Ainuu Taua / DL / Lompoc, CA
Roderick Taylor / OL / Jackson, MS
Chad Thomas / DL / Miami, FL
Racean Thomas / RB / Oxford, AL
Solomon Thomas / DL / Coppell, TX
De’Andre Thompkins / WR / Swansboro, NC
Dylan Thompson / DL / Lombard, IL
Trevion Thompson / WR / Durham, NC
Kyle Trout / OL / Lancaster, OH
Troy Vincent / CB / Baltimore, MD
Jaleel Wadood / CB / Bellflower, CA
Ronald Walker / SAF / Jackson, MS
Deshaun Watson / QB / Gainesville, GA
Armani Watts / SAF / Forney, TX
Damon Webb / CB / Detroit, MI
Kendarius Webster / CB / Stockbridge, GA
Sean White / QB / Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Manny Wilkins / QB / Novato, CA
Andrew Williams / DL / McDonough, GA
Dwight Williams / LB / Gardena, CA
T.V. Williams / WR / McKinney, TX
Gerald Willis / DL / New Orleans, LA
Petera Wilson / LB / Memphis, TN
Quincy Wilson / CB / Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Isaiah Wynn / OL / St. Petersburg, FL
Joseph Yearby / RB / Miami, FL
Richard Yeargin / LB / Ft. Lauderdale, FL
via theopeningmedia