Future Gamecocks among the group at The Opening 2014
By Sydney Hunte
So the 2014 edition of The Opening officially begins today and runs all week at the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon. But what exactly is it? And which future South Carolina Gamecocks are set to attend?
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First, a brief history on The Opening, which is
the
event for committed and uncommitted high school football players alike and open to only 162 players. It’s described as “four days of dynamic training, coaching and competition for many of the country’s most elite high school football players…the high profile high school football event in the nation”. It started in 2011 as a correlation between Student Sports and Nike and has absolutely exploded in that short a time period. You may recognize at least one name that’s partaken:
South Carolina’s very own Mike Davis
.
"The competition at The Opening really helped me push myself as a player, and it motivated me to work even harder to get better because I realized there are guys out there just as talented, if not more talented than you are….I would tell other prospects that, regardless of how many offers you have, it is worth coming out there to compete."
So what about this year? And which future Gamecocks or Gamecock recruits are scheduled to attend? Here are just a few.
Committed
Mark Fields, DB, Charlotte (N.C.) Hough (@JussMe_MF)
Fields, who’s been in the fold since March, is the #11 d-back out of the 2015 class according to Rivals.
Sherrod Pittman, LB, Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast (@ROLLINGHARD_9)
Pittman has been locked up since last July and is one of the crown jewels of the Gamecocks’ class: #3 on Rivals.com among the 2015 group of linebackers.
Uncommitted
Rashan Gary, DT, Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (2016)
The ’16 recruit has a host of SEC offers (including the Gamecocks), and a strong appearance at The Opening could really ramp things up even further.
Martez Ivey, OL, Apopka (Fla.) (@tezivey)
The big 268-pound lineman has been offered by South Carolina and several other SEC schools–Alabama and Auburn to name a few.
Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage (@Tee_Time24)
A South Carolina offer, McFadden’s top nine doesn’t currently include the Gamecocks, and he currently looks to be leaning toward Florida State.
A.J. Turner, ATH, Clifton (Va.) Centreville (@AyejayReturner)
Turner, who is thought to have the Gamecocks high on his list, is expected to announce his decision Thursday.