BEAVERTON, Ore. — The Opening Finals have officially returned as 120 of the best prospects across the 2027 to 2029 recruiting cycles have descended upon Nike’s 400-acre Philip H. Knight Campus. First introduced in 2011, the invite-only experience and competition returns for the first time since 2019 and kicks off with the Jordan Training Camp followed by the beginning of 7-on-7 play.
The Jordan Training Camp kicks off in the morning with an individual period, quickly followed by an extensive 1-on-1 session for the WRs/TEs and DBs along with a “make ’em miss” session for the RBs and LBs. The Jordan Training Camp will continue into the morning with a fastest man competition, tug of war, QB long toss, and a highly anticipated dunk contest with a plethora of above-the-rim athletes in attendance.
DAY ONE THE OPENING FINALS LIVE UPDATES FROM THE 247SPORTS NATIONAL TEAM
After the Jordan Training Camp, there will be a brief pause in the action where five of the 120 prospects will announce their commitment live on the CBS College Football YouTube channel. The main event of 7-on-7 action will then get underway as the prospects will be divided into six teams; Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, South, and West.
The eight-year run of The Opening Finals from 2011 to 2019 featured 428 eventual NFL Draft selections, including 95 eventual first-round draft picks. NFL superstars Saquon Barkley, Ja’Marr Chase, Derrick Henry, Trevor Lawrence, and Patrick Surtain II are among some of the notable alumni of the event.
Thursday live commitment preview
– Neimann Lawrence, 2028 Top247 QB: Lawrence will be the lone junior quarterback on hand and gives the Elite 11 staff an even number of quarterbacks for the 7-on-7 tournament. A two-year varsity starter down in South Florida, the quick-triggered Lawrence has shown no shortage of command in the pocket. He can manipulate defenses with his eyes and extend plays with his legs. Texas, Miami, Notre Dame, Michigan and Texas A&M will all have hats on the table.
– Sean Fox, Top247 LB: Fox is a hulking second-level defender who can do a little bit of everything. He got his hands on multiple passes at The Opening Indianapolis after a junior campaign in which he wreaked havoc on the corner. Georgia and Clemson hosted Fox for official visits, but Kentucky is believed to be in the driver’s seat entering the announcement. He would put an exclamation point on a UK class that currently ranks inside the top 25 of the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings.
– Frederrick Ford, Top247 LB: Ford is a hit-and-run linebacker who can collect stops all around the field. He too is on the taller side and has immense bulking capabilities on a frame that has been verified at just above 6-foot-3. Ole Miss and Mississippi State have been battling for the Magnolia State native, but Michigan is surging in the recruitment. Ford will likely need some time to get the body right, but he’s a two-time state qualifier in the high jump with rare contact courage.
– Kelvin Millington, three-star CB: Millington is a towering corner who went from a relative unknown to top priority for many College Football Playoff hopefuls following a breakthrough outing at The Opening Atlanta. He’s comfortable operating out of zone looks and understands how to slow down assignments with his hands. South Carolina, Texas Tech and Virginia Tech are the three finalists for Millington, who has tested off the charts: 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 38.5-inch vertical jump.
– Stanley Peters Jr., three-star CB: Peters has one of the best stories at The Opening Finals. A last-second add to The Opening New Orleans, the small-town coverman quickly turned heads during the 1-on-1 session with his sound technique and competitive drive. Peters didn’t pick up his first Power Four scholarship offer until March, but is now set to pick between Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Houston. He could thrive in a nickel role with his quick feet and route awareness.
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