What I learned about the country's best recruits from 5 days at The Opening

Welcome to The Crootletter (sign up to get this in your inbox every morning!), SB Nation's daily college football recruiting newsletter.

In crafting the recruiting coverage plan for SB Nation and its 80-plus college sites, I remind everyone that recruiting is not a sport. The vast majority of folks who are interested in it are interested solely as an extension of their team-specific college football fandom. I’d go broke trying to make people read pieces that don’t concern their team, so most articles are team-focused.

But following a national showcase event like Nike’s The Opening, there is a need for a national article. If you’re a die-hard who actually enjoys following recruiting as a sport, this is for you. Be sure to also check out our All-Opening Team.

Re-thinking rankings

One of the best things about The Opening is that it allows evaluators to compare elite players against other elite players. This is important because all 150-plus players at the event look awesome on film compared to their high school competition.

Don’t fall in love with short 7-on-7 stars

Before I say that I do not think Ohio State QB commit Tate Martell should be a five-star, I want to say that Martell was gracious and even professional with me after clearly being pissed off about losing in the 7-on-7 tournament Sunday. Some members of his team seemed not to be playing hard on a very cold morning, but Martell clearly did. I fully expected the interview to be lame with a high-schooler giving terse, annoyed answers. It was not. Martell went from being angry to giving thoughtful answers about his game like a more seasoned college or pro player.

But with all that said, I do not believe the 5’10-1/2 Martell should be a five-star. No QB listed under 6’0 has led his team to a national title in the last quarter century, and Martell did not stand out among his peers. Five-star status is reserved for the most elite of players, and I think he's just below that. Maybe he will be a complete superstar at Ohio State, but I’m not the only one who wasn’t wowed by Martell, either, as 247Sports put him 10th out of 12 quarterbacks at the event. If Martell had not been so good so young, I do not think he would be considered for five-star status.

There is also a lot of talk on social media about how some shorter receivers and defensive backs should be rated five-stars based on their performance at The Opening — specifically receiver Tyjon Lindsey (5.8’5) and corner Jamyest Williams (5’9). But I’m not joining that chorus. Seven-on-7 is exactly the format where the very real importance of size is minimized. It’s non-contact by rule. There is no blocking or tackling, no need to take a hit and hold on to the football. And at The Opening, QBs had only 3.5 seconds to throw the ball, roughly 20 percent less time than normal, which made small slot receivers stand out even more as QBs had even less time to push the ball deep than ever. I’m a bit more willing to consider a 5’9 defensive back than a receiver as a five-star player, but would like to see him in pads against other elite players first. The temptation to fall in love with small players who shine in the 7-on-7 format is something folks new to the recruiting scene fall victim to every year. But veterans know not to.

Disappearing defensive linemen, dominant offensive linemen

I’ve been covering The Opening for a half decade now, and I cannot remember a year in which the defensive line was so thoroughly dominated. In the final-five group of the pass rush competition — a drill quite typically favoring the defense, the offensive linemen won at least 11 of the 15 reps. No defensive lineman won more than he lost. And the losses were brutally one-sided, while the wins were by a hair.

This was a major topic of conversation during and after the event, and the consensus seems to be that somewhere between three and five defensive tackles from the class of 2016 were better than the No. 1 of the 2017 crop, Marvin Wilson (considering Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, FSU and Ohio State). All positions are not created equally on a year-to-year basis. It is worth noting that Wilson and Tyler Shelvin, the top two rated defensive tackles at the event, both looked a bit heavy at 332 and 376 pounds, respectively. Both, but especially Shelvin, would benefit from slimming down a bit.

The picture at defensive end isn’t better. The class lacks the truly elite prospects who have both great size and pass-rushing explosiveness.

At the same time, this is a good year for the offensive line and much better than 2016. And that is already reflected in the recruiting rankings as seven offensive linemen are rated as five-stars compared to just two from 2016. And I think there should perhaps be even more. Current five-stars Foster Sarell (considering Washington, Stanford and Notre Dame) and Alex Leatherwood (Alabama commit) have that "just stay healthy and you’re a first-round pick" look to them. I also think Phoenix-area tackle Austin Jackson (considering mostly Pac-12 heavyweights) and Jackson, Tennessee tackle Trey Smith (considering a large number of schools) should be five-stars. The class of 2017 really might have 10 offensive linemen worthy of five-star status. I am also very intrigued by the ascension of four-star tackle Walker Little (considering Stanford, Texas, Ole Miss, Alabama and others), who checked in at 6'8, 303 pounds and is still growing into and learning how to use his huge body. Plus, he just turned 17 in April, making him one of the youngest elite players in the class. Little showed a mean streak that wasn't as present when I saw him in Houston a few months ago.

Five receivers who should be rated higher

One thing I like to do is to pull up the position rankings after an event like this and see what looks out of place. Here are five receivers I think should be rated five spots higher than they are as of July 12 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

• Jerry Jeudy, No. 7: People ask what Jeudy does best, and the answer is that he has no weaknesses. His size is good at a legit 6’1, routes are strong, feel for the game and hands are plus, speed and quickness are also strengths. He’s not the best at any one thing but not having any weaknesses is a tremendous trait. Jeudy is considering Alabama and Miami, among others.
• Devonta Smith, No. 10: Smith has the suddenness usually seen in shorter players, but at 6’1 he is so smooth that opponents seem not to realize how quick he really is. Oh, and his body control is excellent, allowing for acrobatic catches. Smith is considering Alabama, Miami, Nebraska and Mississippi State.

• Tyrell Shavers, No. 22: At 6’6 and 202 pounds, Shavers is just filling out and keeps getting better at the position. He has smooth long speed and as he focuses more on football and less on baseball, he’ll only get better. Shavers is committed to Alabama.
• Jeremiah Holloman, No. 28: A legit 6’2 with a frame to hold 210 pounds, Holloman is coming into his own. As his pinned tweet says, he had no offers in April of 2015. Holloman made a number of strong plays and ran a variety of routes well. There aren’t many receivers with size who can do that. The feeling is that Georgia is surging above Tennessee, LSU and others for Holloman, but he insisted to me that he does not have a leader.
• Oliver Martin, No. 97: When Martin’s name got put on the Opening roster, I did a double take. Who? But the Iowa receiver showed quite well this week and there is no way there are 96 better receivers than the 6’0-1/2, 190-pound Martin. He should move into the top 30 at least. Michigan State has been on Martin for a while and may be rewarded for some great early scouting.

Dylan Moses, Baron Browning and the No. 1 linebacker spot

The five-star linebacker Moses has been a really good player since he was in middle school, but he does not have a birthright to the No. 1 linebacker status. Baron Browning, of Kennendale (Texas), is a former safety who is growing and improving at a ridiculous rate. Now 6’3 and 232 pounds, Browning is roughly the same size as Moses (6’2-1/2, 235) and a lot better in coverage. I think both are excellent prospects, but I think Browning has the higher ceiling. If Moses hadn’t been so good, so young, I’m not even sure this is a question.

As for his recruitment, I think the Baton Rouge native Moses, now playing at IMG Academy for his senior year in Florida, will end up at LSU unless Texas has a great year. I do not think he’s going to pick Alabama. Browning’s recruitment is wide open.

Team notes

Talking to players is great, but at an event like The Opening, perhaps the better value is conversing with coaches and other media.

Urban Meyer building Ohio State to last

Meyer won two titles at Florida and left a bit of a mess behind, as Will Muschamp reminds the media every time he touts cleaning up the program as his main accomplishment at Florida. Media who cover the Buckeyes don’t think the same thing will happen at Ohio State. They think Meyer has grown as a coach.

On the recruiting side of things, Ohio State seems destined to land a ridiculous class that might be made up entirely of four- and five-stars. Star receivers Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey feel like more of a when than an if proposition. So does elite defensive back Jeffrey Okudah, of Texas, for whom the Buckeyes’ only competition might be Oklahoma. Grimes plays in Florida and Okudah in Texas, but they are originally from Indiana and New Jersey, respectively, and that helps Ohio State’s chances as it is more traditionally Big Ten recruiting territory.

Michigan’s getting physical

Michigan is building the perfect foil to Ohio State’s spread in the Big Ten, a bruising throwback pro-style offense with great diversity in its run game scheme and top-notch QB coaching.

Some of Michigan’s commitments won’t exactly shine in a non-contact event. Take 6’1, 232-pound running back A.J. Dillon. A padless, non-contact event just isn’t his game. The same thing goes for running back O’Maury Samuels, whose game is mostly straight-line size/speed. Oh, and Benjamin St-Juste, a 6’3 defensive back from Quebec should in no way be a three-star after the event. He showed good fluidity and was not outclassed by the major step up in competition.

Michigan is also in great shape for four-star athlete Ambry Thomas, who impressed at receiver and defensive back.

Texas or Aggies could catch fire late

I wrote in April that many of Texas’ best are waiting to see what happens with the Longhorns and Aggies. That’s still true. Only six of the 42 players rated four- or five-stars in Texas are committed to the pair.

Four-star corner Chevin Calloway picked Iowa over Texas Monday. If either program has a season that outpaces expectations, though, expect them to be right back in the fold as serious contenders for the best in the state.

The magic number seems to be eight wins. Before the bowl game. In talking with people who cover the state, they think Charlie Strong and Kevin Sumlin will be safe if they can win eight regular season games and avoid getting blown out like happened too often in 2015.

Speaking of Texas, QB Sam Ehlinger models his game after Cam Newton and Drew Brees.

Sources who cover Texas did tell me that they believe Ehlinger will keep his options open in case Texas true freshman Shane Buechele has a great year and looks like a four-year starter. Having a backup plan is never a bad idea, and Ehlinger isn't so different physically from Buechele that he would be expected to go in and overtake an established successful starter.

Georgia’s hot run

Georgia could be in line to have an amazing line of quarterbacks if five-star 2018 prospect Trevor Lawrence commits to go with 2016 five-star Jacob Eason and 2017 four-star Jake Fromm, who was an honorable mention on our All-Opening Team.

In front of them will eventually be an excellent offensive line under the tutelage of coach Sam Pittman, who Kirby Smart stole from Arkansas. Georgia is recruiting big linemen and wants to mash people. With blue-chip prospects like Andrew Thomas (326 pounds), D’Ante Demery (304) and Netori Johnson (348), it’ll happen sooner rather than later. And you just know Georgia will continue to recruit elite running backs.

I didn’t think it was possible, but Alabama’s class might be underrated

I already mentioned receiver commit Tyrell Shavers, but Vandarius Cowan at 6’4 and 226 pounds again showed that he can actually cover and does not have to be pigeonholed into a defensive end role like many think. Being able to stick at linebacker with that size entering his senior year is a five-star trait. It’s possible Cowan blows up in a college weight program and moves to defensive end, but if he ends up at 235 or 240 he can absolutely play inside linebacker in Alabama’s 3-4 defense. And JUCO offensive tackle Elliott Baker is a plug-and-play starter according to those I spoke with who have seen him in person.

Meanwhile, QB commit Tua Tagovailoa was named the MVP of the event. He told us he is committed to Alabama, but sources at the event will not be surprised if he ends up at USC. We do not believe Oregon is seriously a player despite offering.

Stanford has an NFL-prototype-QB-and-tight end-recruit pair

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Cardinal have commitments from, in my opinion, the best QB and tight end prospects at The Opening and perhaps the country in Davis Mills and Colby Parkinson.