The Opening, Rivals100 Challenge etc.

[STLDomer]

Dupre w/ the TD, Hood had a couple catches including the 2 point conversation on the first drive. Sean White, Braxton Berrios & Erik Brown are on this team too.

 

[NDWorld247]

Did Corey Holmes get hurt? I haven't heard his name all week and haven't seen him in this game at all (I'm half paying attention to it tho).

 

[NDWorld247]

I love that Hood is getting involved in this game. I didn't expect to see him catch so many balls.

After his last catch my wife says (out of nowhere, didn't realize she was watching the TV), "Look at his muscles. That's ridiculous!". The way she said it was hilarious.

 

[WestCoast]

Would you not find it amazing if a team in the NBA had 4 native Americans?

I dunno, not so amazing. Indians love basketball.

 

[STLDomer]

Lol not at all the same. How many percent of the united states are Polynesian? Would you not find it amazing if a team in the NBA had 4 native Americans?

I dunno, not so amazing. Indians love basketball.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3Xsr1fN4GUg?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[irishog77]

I saw a special on this years ago (60 minutes?)... bottom line is genetics (+ some other factors that really seemed like window dressing to me). A high percentage of Polynesians are just thick, muscular, athletic, football-body-type people. Certain groups of people are pre-disposed to be awesome at certain things. Alternatively... there is a reason why there hasn't been a white CB in the NFL since.... Seehorn?

They were made to play football. Physically, their bones are huge and they are naturally strong. Mentally, they come from a Warrior culture and they are fearless. The numbers I presented from Am Samoa would be even higher but their education system is fcuked and many of their athletes don't qualify and get lost in the JuCo system.

Another interesting statistic is Utah and Hawaii have the 3rd and 4th highest ratio of HS players to FBS signees in the country (Florida is #1 and Georgia is #2). American Samoa would be #1 by a LARGE margin if they were included. So, the three 'states' with the biggest concentration of Polynesian players are in the top 5.

I saw a study about polynesians and blacks (particularly from the south) playing DL in the NFL. There's a huge percentage of them. The study used the basis that is was evolutionary-- that Polynesians and Africans evolved over time without using long-range weaponry (arrows, bullets, etc.), but rather close-combat, hand-to-hand battle techniques. So Polynesians and Africans tended to produce (or aspired to) large, powerful men capable in such battle.

Interesting.

 

[SaltyND24]

I dunno, not so amazing. Indians love basketball.

Yeaaaa....feather not dot...Is that mean/racist? If so, I'm Paula Deen

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Yeaaaa....feather not dot...Is that mean/racist? If so, I'm Paula Deen

Hey Paula.

 

[dublinirish]

i remember reading some stuff about polynesians playing sports before and it mentoined that historically their diet (mainly fish/protein) played a large part in their development as a race and how athletic they can be. I think though there was something said too about their genes that means they are suspect to obesity if they consume foodstuffs that historically they didnt have available to them.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

i remember reading some stuff about polynesians playing sports before and it mentoined that historically their diet (mainly fish/protein) played a large part in their development as a race and how athletic they can be. I think though there was something said too about their genes that means they are suspect to obesity if they consume foodstuffs that historically they didnt have available to them.

Poverty. Plain and simple. Football is a way out.

 

[STLDomer]

The Opening Dream Team: Best of The Opening

WR – Christian Kirk, Superbad
One of a handful of underclassmen at The Opening, Kirk didn’t show a hint of uncertainty. The 5-10 wide receiver was outstanding as a pass-catcher out of the slot. He made some spectacular catches look easy and even in a one-hand touch setting, Kirk was difficult to get corralled once the ball was in his hands.

WR – Justin Brent, Vapor Carbon
One of the biggest ‘stock up’ performances of the entire event, Brent has a big frame, and good ball skills but he also showed an understanding for route-running, depth and timing and received strong praise from offensive coaches throughout the week.

WR – Malachi Dupre, Field Generals
Among all the wide receivers at the event, there may not be another that possesses a higher ceiling than Dupre. The big wide receiver with springy legs was a big play waiting to happen and showed an outstanding skill set despite limited passes being thrown his way in a run-heavy high school offense.

AP - Budda Baker, Apocalypse
Whether he was at wide receiver, rattling off some of the week’s biggest plays downfield or at safety, covering impossible ground to break up completions that looked like no doubt big plays, Baker was a game-breaker all week long.

 

[STLDomer]

Football University Top Gun Football Camp Preview

Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab class-of-2017 linebacker/running back Dylan Moses has yet to play a high school football game. That hasn’t stopped Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Texas and UCLA from offering. On the same stage with so much talent, the 6-foot, 217-pound Moses could be this weekend’s biggest star.

Top 2014 prospects include Notre Dame running back commit Elijah Hood who arrives as the nation’s No. 6 running back according to the 247Composite and No. 45 prospect overall, will also participate.

Notre Dame has the early lead over LSU for Top100 offensive tackle Tristen Hoge.

There will be two Top247 quarterback in the 2015 class at the event slinging it in Newhall (Calif.) Hart’s Brady White and Green Bay (Wis.) Ashwaubenon’s James Morgan. Both figure to be highly recruited before it’s all said and done.

 

[Voltaire]

Do campers have to pay their own way to get to camps like Top Gun or the Opening?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Do campers have to pay their own way to get to camps like Top Gun or the Opening?

I think the top campus usually pay for travel expenses (I know the Opening does.) That's why campers have to pay their own way if they want to take visits on the same trip.

 

[STLDomer]

Free: Running Updates from Wiltfong at The Top Gun Football Camp

Already a couple notes on Hood

 

[NDPhilly]

JC said Hood may get his 5th star depending on how he does at the Army bowl.

 

[STLDomer]

Elijah Hood, Todd Kelly Shine Day One at FBU Top Gun Camp

 

[NDWorld247]

Do campers have to pay their own way to get to camps like Top Gun or the Opening?

The Opening and Rivals Challenge pay for travel. I believe they are the only two that do. I'm almost positive the FBU Top Gun does not.

 

[STLDomer]

Football University FBU Top Gun: Friday Standouts

Worth noting, James Morgan is at the camp and has not been a standout eithier days

 

[STLDomer]

Elite 11 in Ohio today:

James Morgan showing out as usual, 247 guys confused why real BCS offers haven't come

Doesn't sound like Malzone (UM) or Burrows (OSU) have been particularly impressive. Reading OSU and UM fans fight over who is better has been entertaining.

 

[STLDomer]

June 8th Rivals Five-Star Challenge: 7-on-7 rosters

Team Blur

St. Brown
Langley
Moses ('17)
Baker
Barajas
Houston
Clark
Team Clutch

Henry ('16)
Boykin
Ofodile
Sheffield
Green

Team Highlight

Barnett
Eason ('16)
Jamabo
Hilliard
Masina
Cornell

Figures. Three days ago I would think having Barnett on the same team as Jamabo, Hilliard and Cornell would be great for ND.

Team Renegade

Francois
Marshall
Patrick
Tillery

 

[jerboski]

Dammit, three of our biggest guys are with Blake, hope he doesn't negative recruit us!

 

[Luckylucci]

So, since yesterday I went through and watched a lot of the rivals footage on the 5 star challenge and will post some thoughts. I only see what they taped and uploaded so obviously missed some aspects of the two day event. Also, I'm not going to give updates on each prospect just the ones that pertain to ND or are noteworthy.

QB's
Barnett's team won although he wasn't overly impressive. This setting isn't built for DT QB's he was just above average on the day but Francois was terrible. Threw 3 INT's in the championship game. Like Lax has stated and I've agreed with, the real loser of the Barnett fiasco was ND missing on Brady White. He is just very smooth. Very accurate and is more of a spread QB that will be able to pick apart defenses with his throwing and timing than running. Made some great throws. Francois won QB MVP but I haven't seen too much tape of him so I can only judge based on that.

WR's
Trent Irwin is becoming one of my favorite WR's. Some may have seen me say something about him a month or so ago. He runs great routes, exceptional feet and hands. Very surprised we haven't offered. Whether we'd have a shot or not doesn't matter, he deserves an offer. He's Tj Jones but more advanced coming in. ESB wasn't as productive as some would have liked but he looks great. Physically the best looking wideout. Boykin was good. He is very long and has a huge catch radius. However, I still think he projects best at TE at the next level. Where I think he'd project as on the best in the country. Ray Ray played all over the place and will be a very exciting prospect at the next level provided he's in a system that caters to his game. Ofodile left a lot to be desired at the event. He looked good doing drills but wasn't as productive during 7 on 7 portion. There could be many reasons for that and it doesn't change my opinion of him. Christian Kirk, Tyron Johnson, and Calvin Ridley are awesome but it doesn't matter for ND.

Rb's
Kirk Merritt is an ARB, being evaluated as a WR doesn't do him justice. One of my favorite offensive skill position players but looks out of place playing outside at WR. Patrick is big to very big for a HS RB but can still run. Also, showed some very good ball skills at times. Making a couple catches in traffic/coverage. Soso has skinny build to him at this stage but 1-2 years of development between now and his sophomore year of college and you can see the makings of an exceptional player. Once again Oregon nailed there RB recruiting. Taj Griffin will be lights out in that offense. It wasn't even fair when he was matched up on LB's.

TE:
Chris Clark is as good as advertised maybe better. Probably best TE prospect in the country. He is physically ready to play right now. One of the most physically impressive at camp but was also able to get downfield and separate. NFL caliber TE.

CB's
Iman Marshall thats really all that needs to be said. Could probably start day 1 at any program he chooses. Literally everything you want from a big time CB prospect.

LB's:
Nick Connor was better much better in coverage than he had been at previous camps and on his tape. It seems as though these camps are really benefiting his footwork and hips. Movement skill in general. Osa masina was great in coverage. He probably projects best as a DOG 3-4 OLB but he was just outstanding, IMO. Lastly, Baker was much better in coverage than I expected. He had a few reps where there was blanket coverage including one rep with 2016 all world kid Dylan Moses. Also, he had probably the best rep of any LB against Taj Griffin only getting slightly beat but was close enough in coverage that when the ball was under thrown he broke it up. Was the only incomplete pass that I saw thrown to Taj.

Dline:
Cowart is a 1st rd talent. Greene looks like one as well but needs to refine his game. Physically he's your off the bus first type of kid. Natrez Patrick is added to the list of guys that make getting to the playoff much easier maybe even mandatory. Very good off the edge. Cornell looked good, he still has good feet and quickness even though he's still too heavy. At this stage he's either a SDE or even a 3tech DT. In passing situations moving him inside could be a deadly future pass rush for the team he chooses.

I'll add to this post as things come to me but this should be a good start.

 

[Luckylucci]

So here's some of Jake Brown's notes.

QB's in order of performance:
Francois
Wimbush
White
Eason
Henry
Austin Kendall
Barnett
Green

Notable ND targets at WR, St.Brown, Boykin, and Ofodile in that order of performance.

 

[NDdomer2]

So here's some of Jake Brown's notes.

Notable ND targets at WR, St.Brown, Boykin, and Ofodile in that order of performance.

I want all three. most likely not going to happen. But any combo of two with those already on board = Nice wr haul.

 

[GoIrish41]

QB's
Barnett's team won although he wasn't overly impressive. This setting isn't built for DT QB's he was just above average on the day but Francois was terrible. Threw 3 INT's in the championship game. Like Lax has stated and I've agreed with, the real loser of the Barnett fiasco was ND missing on Brady White. He is just very smooth. Very accurate and is more of a spread QB that will be able to pick apart defenses with his throwing and timing than running. Made some great throws. Francois won QB MVP but I haven't seen too much tape of him so I can only judge based on that.

????

 

[Luckylucci]

????

He threw 3 INT's in the championship game. He was given the MVP for his work as a whole, my comment was just referencing that game. Apologies if that wasn't clear.

 

[Irish#1]

He threw 3 INT's in the championship game. He was given the MVP for his work as a whole, my comment was just referencing that game. Apologies if that wasn't clear.

Thanks for the recap Lucky.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Three Class of 2016 studs have been invited to <a href="https://twitter.com/TheOpening2014">@TheOpening2014</a> (FREE) <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Bolts&src=hash">#Bolts</a> <a href="http://t.co/caXlKE2P3b">http://t.co/caXlKE2P3b</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DTRAIN__">@DTRAIN__</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/iamlevonta">@iamlevonta</a></p>— Justin Hopkins (@JHopkins247) <a href="https://twitter.com/JHopkins247/statuses/477584299147796480">June 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I don't remember underclassmen being invited before. Anyone know if this is a first?

You have to figure if a 2016 guy balls out he's going to turn a ton of heads.

 

[STLDomer]

Campbell, Fitzpatrick, Kirk, Marshall, & Derwin James were there last year.

That's from the roster in this thread from last year. From memory I think Hand was there as an underclassmen the year before.