Early Tuesday morning, more than 100 of the nation’s very best prospects in the 2012 class embarked on journeys that will bring them together for an inaugural national event.
Facebook statuses and Twitter feeds from coast to coast outlined the beginnings of those journeys, which will allow the players to converge on the Nike facilities in Beaverton, Ore., for ‘The Opening.’
“The Opening is designed to be the ultimate football training experience for the top aspiring prospects in the country,” said ESPN Rise’s Brian Stumpf. “They've put in the work and showed their ability in the spring and now it's time for them to take every advantage and face the best of the best, the chosen few who have an opportunity to learn from the best and compete with each other during a week of unparalleled competition.”
Stumpf and his colleagues selected 150 of the nation’s top prospects after watching players in person at Nike training camps across the country and pouring over film of others. The event will feature five current Notre Dame commitments – Florida wide receiver Justin Ferguson, California wide receiver Deontay Greenberry, North Carolina offensive lineman Mark Harrell, Indiana athlete David Perkins and California cornerback Tee Shepard.
Also in attendance will be numerous current Irish targets, including Ohio running back William Mahone, Ohio defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo, Massachusetts athlete Armani Reeves, Washington running back KeiVarae Russell, Washington offensive linemen Zach Banner and Josh Garnett, Indiana defensive lineman Sheldon Day, Virginia defensive lineman Korren Kirven, North Carolina defensive lineman Jamal Marcus, California wide receiver Bryce Treggs, Texas defensive back LaDarrell McNeil, California offensive linemen Kyle Murphy and Jordan Simmons, Florida athlete Nelson Agholor, Arizona athlete Davonte’ Neal, California defensive lineman Aziz Shittu and Florida offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil.
The players are scheduled to arrive in Oregon on Tuesday with testing, training and competition set to begin on Wednesday.
“The players will compete in the SPARQ Rating National Championship on Wednesday,” said Stumpf. “There will be a Nike Training Camp-style workout Thursday and then the skill athletes in a six-team, 7-on-7 tournament Friday and Saturday while the linemen have their own separate competitions.”
Selected portions of The Opening will be shown on ESPNU. On Thursday (9-10 p.m. EST), there will be a recap of the SPARQ championship followed by highlights of the 7-on-7 and lineman challenges on Friday and Saturday (9-11:30 p.m. EST).
