Ohio State has 8 commits competing in The Opening Finals this weekend

Nike’s annual “The Opening Finals” event kicks off from Beaverton, Oregon today. The three day event features a lineman competition, various Nike skills tests and drills, and finishes with a 7-on-7 tournament on Monday. Unlike past years, the full event will not be televised, but the 7-on-7 finals on Monday will be aired on NFL Network. The full event can be followed through SB Nation’s live blog, and at @SBNRecruiting on twitter, as well as on our twitter, @Landgrant33.

Ohio State, as per usual, will have a number of commits and targets at the event. In total, eight current Buckeye commitments, and roughly 17 “top targets” for the 2018 class will be in attendance at the prestigious camp. The Opening always serves as a great way to determine the most talented players in the country, and if the Buckeye commits and targets in attendance put up a good showing, they could see big jumps in their recruiting rankings.

So who all will be there that Ohio State fans need to pay attention to?

Player Photos via 247Sports

BUCKEYE COMMITS

5-Star DT Taron Vincent, Bradenton, FL, Vapor Speed: Ohio State’s highest ranked recruit in the 247sports composite rankings, Taron Vincent, will be in attendance this weekend, and competing for team Vapor Speed, along with the seven other Buckeye commitments at the event (how convenient!). Obviously, Vincent will not be playing in the 7-on-7 tournament, but he will participate in everything else, in hopes to cement his standing as one of the best recruits in the nation.

5-Star DE Brenton Cox, Stockbridge, GA, Vapor Speed: One of the three defensive line commits that will be in attendance, Cox will have the chance to jump up the rankings with a good showing. Both Cox and Andrew Chatfield are thought of as being athletic edge rushers, and the Nike trials will be a great chance to show off that athleticism.

4-Star S Jaiden Woodbey, Bellflower, CA, Vapor Speed: The other position, along with linemen that Ohio State has an abundance of at The Opening, is defensive backs, and Woodbey is the highest ranked of the three that will be in Beaverton. He will be playing in 7-on-7, and if team Vapor Speed makes it to the finals, you’ll be able to watch him, and his fellow commits play on Monday.

4-Star APB Jaelen Gill, Westerville, OH, Vapor Speed: The only commit on the offensive side of the ball for Ohio State at The Opening this year, Jaelen Gill has more to prove than pretty much anyone at the event. He injured his ankle last season, and questions about his speed and health have come with that injury, as they would with any leg injury. Gill will have the chance to show that he hasn’t lost a step from last year, as he participated at The Opening last season as well.

247Sports

4-Star ILB Teradja Mitchell, Virginia Beach, VA, Vapor Speed: The most recent Buckeye commit that will be competing at The Opening this year, Teradja Mitchell will be looking to make up for some poor camp showings that resulted in a rankings drop. Mitchell has a chance to silence some of his critics with a good performance, especially in the 40 time.

4-Star S Josh Proctor, Owasso, OK, Vapor Speed: Josh Proctor, similar to fellow safety Jaiden Woodbey, doesn’t really have a game that’s well suited for 7-on-7 environments. He’s a big hitting safety, and won’t really get to showcase that talent anywhere but on the field for his high school this fall. That doesn’t mean he won’t be able to put on a show at The Opening, as Proctor is one of the most athletic players in the country, and his final Nike+ Football numbers should reflect that.

4-Star CB Sevyn Banks, Orlando, FL Vapor Speed: Banks, similar to Jaelen Gill, has something to prove at The Opening. He also suffered an injury last season, and is looking forward to this chance to show off why Ohio State loves his game so much. Banks is an absolute freak of an athlete, and should put up monster numbers, and an impressive performance in the speed-oriented 7-on-7 tournament.

247Sports

4-Star DE Andrew Chatfield, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Vapor Speed: One of the bigger surprises thus far in the 2018 recruiting cycle for Ohio State is Florida product Andrew Chatfield. The dangerous edge rusher was expected to land at LSU for much of his recruitment, but a push from the Buckeyes in late May led to a quick and unexpected commitment. Chatfield will have the chance to show Buckeye fans what they’re getting this weekend, as he may very well be the most athletic defensive lineman in attendance.

BUCKEYE TARGETS

5-Star DE Micah Parsons, Harrisburg, PA, Untouchable: Uncommitted

5-Star ILB Palaie Gaoteote, Las Vegas, NV, Alpha Menace: USC Commit

5-Star CB Anthony Cook, Houton, TX, Vapor Speed: Uncommitted

5-Star OG Jamaree Salyer, Atlanta, GA, Alpha Menace: Uncommitted

5-Star OT Jackson Carman, Fairfield, OH, Vapor Speed: Uncommitted

5-Star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Anaheim, CA, Alpha Menace: Uncommitted

5-Star WR Brennan Eagles, Houston, TX, Vapor Speed: Uncommitted

5-Star CB Tyson Campbell, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Hyper Strong: Uncommitted

4-Star WR Kamryn Babb, St. Louis, MO, Mach Speed: Uncommitted

4-Star CB Houston Griffith, Bradenton, FL, Alpha Menace: Uncommitted

4-Star ILB Soloman Tuliaupupu, Santa Ana, Vapor Speed: Uncommitted

4-Star TE Jeremy Ruckert, Lindenhurst, NY, Alpha Menace: Uncommitted

4-Star DE Tyreke Smith, Cleveland, OH, Alpha Mencace: Uncommitted

4-Star L’Christian Smith, Dayton, OH, Mach Speed: Uncommitted

4-Star ILB K’Vaughn Pope, Dinwiddie, VA, Mach Speed: Uncommitted

2019 5-Star DE Zach Harrison, Lewis Center, OH, Mach Speed: Uncommitted

2019 5-Star OLB Owen Pappoe, Loganville, GA, Alpha Menace: Uncommitted

2019 5-Star OT Devontae Dobbs, Belleville, MI, Vapor Speed: Uncommitted

2019 4-Star DT Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati, OH, Untouchable: Uncommitted

SCHEDULE

There will be plenty of news and highlights from this weekend, so be sure to keep an eye on SBNation dot com and Land-Grant Holy Land.

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