For the first time in its 22 years of existence, The Opening Finals will not be held at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
Instead, the nation’s elite prospects will head to Frisco, Texas — home of Dallas Cowboys’ state-of-the-art practice facility, The Star.
- THE OPENING FINALS
- SATURDAY, JUNE 30 - TUESDAY, JULY 3
- THE FORD CENTER AT THE STAR - FRISCO, TX
- FREE ADMISSION (SELECT EVENTS)
Players earned invitations to the event, which takes place June 30-July 3, at a series of regional events throughout the country. That includes a stop at Massillon Washington in early May, though it was inauspiciously named the Canton Regional.
Ohio State has been among the most-represented programs at The Opening Finals, sending a record 11 commits to Oregon in 2017 and eight more last July. Only three pledges were invited this time around, but several of the staff’s top targets will be in attendance. Once pen hits paper during the Early Signing Period or on National Signing Day, there’s no doubt we’ll look back at the event and see that number pushing double digits.
| NAME | STARS | POSITION | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARRETT WILSON | ★★★★★ | WR | HYPE |
| HARRY MILLER | ★★★★ | C | HYPE |
| DOUG NESTER | ★★★★ | OT | HYPE |
| NAME | STARS | POSITION | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| DARNELL WRIGHT | ★★★★★ | OT | ELITE |
| ZACH HARRISON | ★★★★★ | DE | DYNAMITE |
| NOAH CAIN | ★★★★ | RB | IMPACT |
| JAYLEN ELLIS | ★★★★ | WR | OVERDRIVE |
| ELIJAH HIGGINS | ★★★★ | WR | ELITE |
| MARCUS WASHINGTON | ★★★★ | WR | DYNAMITE |
| JAMESON WILLIAMS | ★★★★ | WR | DYNAMITE |
| RIAN DAVIS | ★★★★ | LB | ELITE |
| JORDAN BATTLE | ★★★★ | CB | IMPACT |
| KAIIR ELAM | ★★★★ | CB | HYPE |
| WOODI WASHINGTON | ★★★★ | CB | BOOMIN' |
| BRENDAN GANT | ★★★★ | S | ELITE |
| JALANI WILLIAMS | ★★★★ | S | DYNAMITE |
| ZACHARY EVANS* | ★★★★★ | RB | IMPACT |
| CHRIS TYREE* | ★★★★★ | RB | DYNAMITE |
| BRYAN BRESEE* | ★★★★★ | DE | DYNAMITE |
| JUSTIN FLOWE JR.* | ★★★★★ | LB | IMPACT |
| MEKHAIL SHERMAN* | ★★★★★ | LB | HYPE |
*Class of 2020
Typically a five-day event, The Opening Finals will feature four days of training, coaching and competition. It will not be broadcast on national television like in years past, but instead will open several events to the general public for the first time, free of charge.
That includes the ‘Showcase at the Star,’ which brings together every attendee for a late-night event with competitions such as fastest player races, power ball toss and a tug-of-war. Team Vapor Speed, led by Ohio State freshman defensive tackle Taron Vincent and linebacker Teradja Mitchell, won last year’s tug-of-war.
The final day of the 7-on-7 tournament and lineman challenge will also be open to the public.
| DAY | EVENT | TIME (CST) |
|---|---|---|
| FRIDAY, JUNE 29 | ARRIVAL* | ALL DAY |
| SATURDAY, JUNE 30 |
QB/WR/TE PRACTICE OPENING CEREMONY |
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 8:30 - 9:15 p.m. |
| SUNDAY, JULY 1 |
NIKE FOOTBALL TRAINING CAMP SHOWCASE AT THE STAR** |
3 - 6 p.m. 8 - 9:30 p.m. |
| MONDAY, JULY 2 |
7-ON-7 JAMBOREE LINEMAN DRILLS 7-ON-7 TOURNAMENT (TWO ROUNDS) |
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. 6 - 9 p.m. |
| TUESDAY, JULY 3 |
LINEMAN DRILLS** 7-ON-7 TOURNAMENT** FINAL FIVE LINEMAN CHALLENGE** 7-ON-7 CHAMPIONSHIP** AWARDS CEREMONY** |
8:30 - 11:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. 12:05 - 12:30 p.m. 1 - 2 p.m. 2 - 2:15 p.m. |
*Not open to the media **Open to the general public
7-ON-7 TOURNAMENT
Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, linebackers and defensive backs are divided among six teams — Boomin’, Dynamite, Elite, Hype, Impact and Overdrive — to compete in the 7-on-7 tournament.
The event begins on Monday, with a round robin format to determine seeding, and the the first two rounds that evening. The championship will be the last competition at The Opening Finals on Tuesday afternoon.
FINAL FIVE LINEMAN CHALLENGE
Since they do not participate in the 7-on-7 tournament, the offensive and defensive linemen invited to The Opening Finals will compete in various drills throughout Monday and Tuesday for a spot in the “Final Five.”
After two-days of intense competition, coaches will determine who they believe are the best offensive and defensive linemen at each position. They will then go head-to-head one final time on Tuesday afternoon, with the winners announced during the awards ceremony — thus closing the chapter on another rendition of The Opening Finals.
Eleven Warriors will be in the Lone Star State this weekend, so stay tuned for non-stop on-site coverage from the event.
