Future Gators Previews The Opening

One of the biggest recruiting events all year will take place this weekend in Oregon.  The Opening will be loaded with talent as it will include 84 players that are in this year's ESPN 150.  Gator fans will have a lot to watch this weekend on ESPNU as seven Florida commits and other targets will be at the camp.  Below is a preview of The Opening for the Florida Gators.

There are three major parts to the Opening; SPARQ Rating National Championship, Nike 7ON, and the Elite Lineman Challenge.  Every player at the camp will compete in the SPARQ Championship which basically measures the athleticism of the recruits.  The players will then break into either the Elite Lineman Challenge or the Nike 7ON depending on their position.

Nike 7ON Preview

Six of the seven Gator commits will be participating in the Nike 7ON.  The list includes three DBs (Nick Washington, Keanu Neal, Tre' Bell), running back Kelvin Taylor, wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood, and LB Quinton Powell.  Gator fans won't have to wait long to see their recruits with six players participating in one event.  As mentioned earlier, there will be also some Florida targets at the camp, but I won't go into too much detail about them.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the three defensive backs fare against top-level talent.  Also, one of Florida's top targets, CB Vernon Hargreaves III, will be at the camp.  Hopefully fans will get to see VHIII go one-on-one with Ricky Seals-Jones, the top ranked receiver in the nation.

Quinton Powell can prove to the experts that they are wrong.  Scout lists pass coverage as a weakness for the OLB, but he'll have his chance to prove himself against the best in the nation.  OLB Alex Anzalone will also be in Oregon this weekend.  He will make his commitment this weekend at the camp (between Penn State, Notre Dame, and Florida).

Ahmad Fulwood is the only WR commit going to the camp representing Florida.  He has a good chance to get a small taste of what is to come in future years if he is guarded by one of his future teammates.  Seeing Fulwood against his friend and fellow UF commit, Nick Washington, would be great.  Is Fulwood's downfield playmaking ability as good as advertised?  We'll have to wait for the weekend.

Elite Lineman Challenge Preview

4-star DT Caleb Brantley will be only Florida commit competing in the challenge.  The Elite Lineman Challenge will contain a lot of one-on-one battles.  This will give Brantley a great opportunity to show off his strength and descriptiveness that he is known to have.

Florida is in the top five for talented DE DeMarcus Walker, who will also be at The Opening.  Walker took a trip to Gainesville just last week.

Future Gators will have more coverage of The Opening throughout the weekend.

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Wrapping Up The Rivals Challenge

Rivals hosted their first ever Rivals100 Challenge this weekend in Atlanta.  Caleb Brantley was the only Florida commit that was at the camp.  Rivals ranked the best defensive lineman for the weekend($) and Brantley came in third.  Here is what they had to say about his performance:

The 6-foot-3, 302-pound Florida commit came to Atlanta with a chip on his shoulder. Brantley felt he had something to prove coming in to the Challenge and he made sure the offensive linemen would remember his name. He had an incredibly high motor and did not give up on the play, even when the offensive linemen got in a good punch early. He won most of his 1-on-1 reps and really showed a competitive spirit. The nation's No. 8 defensive tackle was certainly one of the best at his position on Saturday.

While Brantley was the only Gator commit, there were a couple other targets including safety Leon McQuay III.  Rivals listed McQuay as having the third-best performance($) amongst all defensive backs:

McQuay arrived to Atlanta late Friday night, just came off a two-day team camp and normally plays safety. But he showed how talented he is in coverage during the one-on-one drills. The four-star standout has special athleticism, stays in the hip pocket of receivers and competes for every ball thrown his way. Oklahoma running back commit Greg Bryant was the only one to catch a pass on him all day.

Gator Recruiting News - 6/22

Is VHIII coming to Florida?

VHIII List Three Florida Schools As Favorites.  5-star CB Vernon Hargreaves III tells Josh Newberg of 247Sports($) that USF, Florida, and Miami are his favorite three right now.  He also said that he hasn't eliminated anyone yet.

Florida In Top 2 For Scott Pagano.  In a InsideTheGators.com interview($) with Rivals250 DT Scott Pagano, he listed Florida and LSU as his favorites.

"My top two favorites right now are LSU and Florida," Pagano said. "But you know, things can change."

In the article, he said that he would take trips to Alabama, Clemson, and Florida State (along with Florida and LSU) next month.  Right now, Florida has one defensive tackle verbally committed for 2013, Caleb Brantley.

At the Rivals Challenge today, Pagano showed up to the camp rocking a Gators hat.  Hopefully that is a good sign of things to come.

Side note:  Along with Pagano, there are three Rivals250 players in the state of Hawaii.  I'm impressed for such a small state.

More From Rivals100 Challenge.  Only one Florida commit (DT Caleb Brantley) will be competing this weekend in Atlanta at the Rivals100 challenge.  However, UF targets like safeties Leon McQuay III, Marcell Harris, and Demarcus Robinson will be at the camp.