Saturday morning, Nike's premier recruiting event – The Opening – returned to Columbus and continued their search for 150 or so of the country's top high school prospects to participate in their national event this July.
As you'd expect with a camp in Columbus, there was a heavy Buckeye "feel" to the event. Six Ohio State commitments showed up and showed out.
How did these future Buckeyes' fare? Let's take a look.
DANNY CLARK • QB • AKRON ARCHBISHOP HOBAN
Danny Clark had a solid, but not great, day. He's continued to improve his game over the last few years and made a number of big-time throws on the afternoon. Clark's arm-strength and physicality are not – and have never been – a question. He issue has always been consistency.
Clark was solid all day and in his usual fashion was active in chatting up Buckeyes' targets. Clark is and has been a leader in the 2017 recruiting class. In fact, at the conclusion of the event, he headed to campus to escort four-star Georgia defensive back Jamyest Williams around on his first visit to Ohio State.
TODD SIBLEY • RB • AKRON ARCHBISHOP HOBAN
Every year it seems necessary to underscore this point about running backs at recruiting camp/combines: They're not who these things are made for, especially a between-the-tackles type of running back like Sibley.
Still, Sibley did well. He showed up in great shape – despite not being in "football" shape because he's been running track – and has continued to put on good weight over the last year while keeping his speed. Todd catches the ball well and is rounding out his game nicely. Solid, strong, efficient and good in space — that is Todd Sibley.
JOSH MYERS • OL • MIAMISBURG
Though he didn't earn an invitation to The Opening Saturday, Myers was a physical monster all through the afternoon. He showed up in great shape – he told me he's been working out harder than he's ever done before – and it definitely translated to the field.
Todd Huber, one of the big decision makers for The Opening, told me following the event that the offensive line group from Saturday was maybe the best they've ever had in a single, regional camp. He also said Myers not being selected for The Opening isn't an indictment on him at all. He got beat one time that I saw but was dominant nearly every step of the way. The odds are very high that the Miamisburg five-star will end up being selected and end up in Oregon come July.
JAKE MORETTI • OL • ARVADA (COLORADO) POMONA
Like Myers, it is very likely that Jake Moretti ends up being chosen for an "at-large" spot for The Opening. As good as Myers was Saturday, the four-star Moretti – playing center which is not where plays – may have been just as a good, if not better. He's incredibly strong and plays with great leverage.
Moretti's natural position is tackle, as noted, Saturday he lined up at a center and did an incredible job. He was lauded for his ability to quickly pick up the spot.
Ohio State is a getting a really good pair of offensive linemen in their 2017 class.
ANTJUAN SIMMONS • LINEBACKER • ANN ARBOR (MICHIGAN) PIONEER
The only Buckeye commitment to "get open" Saturday was Antjuan Simmons, who made the trip down to Columbus from Ann Arbor.
For the four-star linebacker, earning the invitation Saturday was a surprise. He told 11W before the camp that he was nursing a tight hamstring and had actually signed up for next weekend's regional camp in Chicago because he felt he'd hold back a bit.
Simmons is so quick and possesses very natural instincts in space which makes him tough guy to beat in such an event.
BRENDON WHITE • ATHLETE • OLENTANGY (OHIO) LIBERTY
Brendon White may not have a natural position, but it's clear from the minute he gets off the bus that he's a serious athlete. The comparisons between the Buckeye legacy and Darron Lee are appropriate as White can do it all.
Saturday, he camped at wide receiver and was without question of the top three or four in attendance. White has been working very hard to in the weight room and he told me that while he wouldn't mind playing wide receiver in college, he thinks that playing outside linebacker may be his best ticket to early playing time and also a road to the NFL.
Cincinnati defensive tackle Jerron Cage, who was expected according to the registration list, did not make the trip.
