In the 1-on-1 sessions Sunday, several attendees at The Opening Final showed exactly why they received invitations.

Four-star defensive end Marcus Stripling showed an outstanding first step that won him all but one battle. Meanwhile, Dallas regional OL MVP EJ Ndoma-Ogar not only looked dominant, but was a dominant teammate.

In more than one instance, Ndoma-Ogar’s defensive line opponent ended up on the ground as the Oklahoma commit towered over him. But when men on his team, on his side of the ball, competed well and won he was off his feet shouting with joy and rooting on his teammates.

Being a great teammate is one of the most-underrated traits at high school football showcases, but that characteristic separates team-first players from others.

Elite 2020 running back Jase McClellan caught my eye during 1-on-2 running back drills where two linebackers pursued the running back at the edge. In most instances, the running back is going to get beaten. Just one linebacker has to put two hands on the running back for the linebackers to lose.

But McClellan didn’t need to juke. Didn’t need to spin. He beat two linebackers with sheer straight-line speed.

Steele Wants MVP

Five-star corner back Chris Steele had an outstanding second day, and he said he’s coming for it all in Frisco.

“My goal is to win defensive back MVP,” Steele said. “My big brothers did it two years in a row. (Brendan) Bookie (Radley-Hiles) and Darnay Holmes. So I just want to put on for the CA family and the west coast.”

Steele posted a 4.54 40-yard dash, showing his elite speed. And then he displayed the kind of defensive back skills that have earned him offers from Southern Cal and Oklahoma among others.

“I came out here and competed and won most of my reps,” he said. “I was like 8-2. No receiver gave me problems, but I gotta give props to Guiles Jackson and Theo Wease. Those are probably the two best receivers out here.”

Cain Is Able

Noah Cain is one of the top 2019 running backs to attend The Opening. While he caught a knock on Day 2, he still plans to compete.

“I feel all right,” Cain said. “I hurt my hamstring earlier, but if the Lord says the same I’ll be able to play tomorrow.”

While he sat out the 1-on-1 reps, he took notice of the competition going around him and was wowed by a few players.

“It’s a lot of top dudes out here,” he said. “Dudes out here competing hard. It’s The Opening, so all the top dudes gonna be out here working. So I like all the talent around me.”

Cain mentioned top Oklahoma commits Wease, Trejan Bridges and Spencer Rattler among those who most impressed him.

“My boy Trejan Bridges doing his thing,” he said. “Theo Wease—all them OU boys doing their thing, as expected. I saw their quarterback slinging it out here. It’s some good dudes, good talent.”

Wilkins Shows Out At Right Tackle

Four-star commit Stacey Wilkins hadn’t played right tackle nearly at all. But when he was asked to not just play the down-blocking position but win, he stepped up in a big way.

“Today was really good,” Wilkins said. “I don’t even play right tackle. But I put in all the technique work, and I didn’t lose a rep. So it was really good to win all of my reps at right tackle, and I don’t even play it.”

Wilkins mentioned he’ll drop a top 10 list of schools he’s still considering at the beginning of the 2018 season. But he doesn’t plan to make a decision until the Under Armour All-American or U.S. Army All-American games in January 2019.