Talent-rich Ohio sends seven players to Nike's The Opening this weekend in Portland, including an Elite 11 QB prospect in Notre Dame commit DeShone Kizer.
Kizer, a four-star ranked as the No. 3 dual-threat QB in the country, is joined in Portland by a pair of wide receivers in Parris Campbell and Thaddeus Snodgrass and a pair of linebackers in Kyle Berger and Dante Booker. Campbell and Booker are teammates, playing at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, best known as the alma mater of a certain LeBron James. Booker is ranked as the No. 2 player in Ohio by 247's composite, Campbell No. 4.
Here's a look at the Ohio contingent headed to the event, with bios provided by The Opening:
QB DeShone Kizer (@DKizer_14)
Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic
The 6'5, 210-pound Kizer is an excellent prospect with a consensus four-star rating. At the talent-rich Columbus Elite 11 Regional Camp on June 1, he was the only QB invited to the Elite 11 and the Opening after that day's action. He passed for 1,150 yards and 10 TDs last season while rushing for 540 yards and four touchdowns. Kizer committed to Notre Dame in mid-June over offers from two dozen universities including Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Michigan State, North Carolina, Penn State, Syracuse and Tennessee.
WR Parris Campbell (@PCampbell21), 6-0, 180
Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary
He impressed at the Massillon Nike Football SPARQ Combine in February when he ran a 4.47 in the 40 and recorded a 38.9 vertical jump. He came back out to the Columbus NFTC where he stood out at the wide receiver position and earned his Opening invite. He committed to Ohio State over offers from Indiana, Michigan State and Tennessee.
WR Thaddeus Snodgrass (@ThadSnod1), 6-0, 175
Springfield, Ohio
Snodgrass will show up wherever there is competition, having attended a pair of Nike Camps and Nike Combines the last two years and producing a 96.27 SPARQ Rating. A standout at the Columbus NFTC, he caught 30 passes for 452 yards last year and has committed to Kentucky over 15 colleges including Georgia Tech, Louisville, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
LB Kyle Berger (@k_bergs), 6-1.5, 220
Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius
Berger had 39 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks as a junior to earn Div. I All-State honors. The Ohio State commit had scholarship offers from other Big 10 programs such as Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Penn State as well as Alabama, Arkansas,Tennessee, UCLA and West Virginia in part because of his 4.0 GPA. He was the linebacker MVP in a strong group at the Columbus NFTC.
LB Dante Booker (@D_Book47), 6-3, 210
Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary
Booker earned several honors as a junior including MaxPreps All-American, Army All-American, All-State and Div. III Defensive He will stay within his home state borders to play for Ohio State. Other offers included Indiana, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State and Tennessee.
OL Kyle Trout (@trout75), 6-5.5, 300
Lancaster, Ohio
Trout had a strong Columbus NFTC, the location where he'll suit up in college as he committed to Ohio State over Cincinnati, Illinois, Michigan State, Pitt, Purde and West Virginia. Trout, who also plays basketball and throws the shot put and discus, was a Central Div. I All-District honoree in 2012.
DL Joe Henderson (@Talent_52), 6-3, 220
Cleveland (Ohio) Shaker Heights
Henderson has recorded 29 sacks over the last two seasons and was the Defensive Line MVP at the Columbus NFTC. The Ohio native has committed to Tennessee over offers from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Pitt, West Virginia and Wisconsin.