Previewing The Opening Atlanta

The Opening will make its annual stop in Atlanta on Sunday at Buford High School.

The Clemson Insider will be on hand to see a number of the top 2018 and 2019 targets on Clemson’s recruiting board.

Headlining the event from a Clemson standpoint are Atlanta (Ga.) Pace Academy five-star offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer and Warner Robins (Ga.) Houston County four-star offensive lineman Trey Hill, the top two offensive guards in the 2018 class, respectively.

Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian cornerback Kyler McMichael, who joined Salyer and Hill at Clemson’s junior day in January, is slated to compete. He will work out in the DB group with a couple of fellow 2018 targets: Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School four-star safety Brendon Harris and Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake four-star cornerback Myles Sims. McDonough (Ga.) Eagles Landing Christian corner Tre Douglas, who was offered by Clemson in December, is part of the group as well.

At running back, we’ll be keeping a close eye on Butler (Ga.) Taylor County four-star Lyn-J Dixon, who doesn’t currently have an offer from Clemson but is one of the few running backs on the Tigers’ board in the 2018 cycle.

Jacksonville (Fla.) Providence 2018 four-star tight end Will Mallory, who was offered by Clemson in January and visited for the Syracuse game last season, will be in action.

There are several 2018 names of note on the defensive line: Covington (Ga.) Newton four-star defensive tackle Darnell Jefferies, Stockbridge (Ga.) four-star defensive end Brenton Cox and Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin four-star defensive tackle Coynis Miller.

Jefferies picked up an offer from Clemson during his junior day visit on March 4 and has visited three times altogether this month. Cox, meanwhile, added an offer from Clemson last October several weeks after visiting for the Louisville game. Miller received an offer from Clemson in February and has expressed the desire to get on campus.

There are plenty of top 2019 prospects relevant to Clemson worth mentioning, as well.

Hogansville (Ga.) Callaway offensive guard Keiondre Jones, the nation’s No. 1 offensive guard in his class per 247Sports, is scheduled to be there. So is Brunswick (Ga.) offensive tackle Warren McClendon, who was offered by Clemson in January.

Scottsboro (Ala.) Scottsboro School quarterback Bo Nix, who is the son of former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix and visited for the Louisville game last season, is competing. Likewise is Marietta (Ga.) Walton wide receiver Dominick Blaylock, who is the son of former NBA point guard Mookie Blaylock and visited for the South Carolina game last November.

Several prospects who visited Clemson for junior day on March 4 are expected to compete in Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville offensive tackle Pierce Quick, Calhoun (Ga.) safety Brannon Spector, Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian defensive end Christopher Hinton and his brother, 2020 offensive tackle Myles Hinton.

Some members of Georgia’s touted “True 19” that visited Clemson for the junior day earlier this month will be out there on Sunday as well, including Loganville (Ga.) Grayson cornerback Jalen Alexander, Powder Springs (Ga.) Hillgrove safety Jaylen McCullough, Lagrange (Ga.) Troup County linebacker King Mwikuta, Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer athlete Jalyn Phillips, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson running back Ronald Thompkins, Thomaston (Ga.) Upston-Lee defensive tackle Travon Walker and Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview athlete Malik Washington.