The 2014 edition of The Opening football camp kicks off this Friday and runs until July 10 at Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.
The invite-only event pits the top 2015 recruiting prospects from across the country against one another in a variety of skills challenges as well as 7-on-7 tournaments.
The camp, which features 162 of the top high school seniors, will include a handful of Florida commits and targets.
The three commits in attendance will be quarterback Sheriron Jones (6-foot-2, 189 pounds, Moreno Valley, Calif., Rancho Verde High), wide receiver Derrick Dillon (5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Franklinton, La., Pine High) and cornerback commit Marcus Lewis (6-foot-0, 194 pounds, Washington, D.C., Gonzaga College High).
Jones, who will be on Team Alpha Pro along with Dillon, will arrive in Beaverton on July 5th to compete in the Elite 11 quarterback challenge, and will be assigned a team following its completion. The Elite 11 challenge has produced high-profile quarterbacks including Tim Tebow, AJ McCarron and Jameis Winston.
There are a number of top Florida targets participating as well, including the No. 4 ranked offensive tackle Martez Ivey (6-foot-5, 271 pounds, Apopka, Fla., Apopka High).
Ivey has offers from in-state rivals Florida State and Miami as well as seven offers from Southeastern Conference schools.
Florida’s top wide receiver target George Campbell (6-foot-3, 183 pounds, Tarpon Springs, Fla., East Lake High) is set to participate in the week-long event. Campbell, a bigger offensive target, might not fit perfectly in Kurt Roper’s new offense — one that relies on speedy receivers to make plays by creating space.
However, Campbell is still at the top of Florida’s offensive big board.
Ray-Ray McCloud (5-foot-9, 176 pounds, Tampa, Fla., Sickles High) is listed as an athlete on Team Mach Speed but is considered a running back prospect for the Gators.
On the defensive side of the ball, five-star strong-side defensive end Byron Cowart (6-foot-3, 252 pounds, Seffner, Fla., Armwood High) is on Team Fly Rush.
If Cowart — the No. 1 defensive end in the 2015 class — winds up in Gainesville, he will be Will Muschamp’s biggest recruit landed during his tenure at UF.
Four-star outside linebacker Adonis Thomas (6-foot-4, 217 pounds, Lawrenceville, Ga., Central Gwinnett High) will join McCloud on Team Mach Speed.
Thomas visited UF unofficially in June, and he plans to verbally commit to a school by Aug. 1 — only weeks after The Opening concludes.
A variety of The Opening’s events will air on ESPNU beginning Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Follow Morgan Moriarty on Twitter @Morgan_Moriarty
Head coach Will Muschamp has three 2015 commits competing in The Opening football camp, which takes place Friday until July 10 in Beaverton, Ore.
