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With Nike's The Opening kicking off on Wednesday, there was plenty of excitement to see how that top players in the country would stack up against each other.
For Miami, that meant all eyes were on commits WR Sam Bruce (the highest rated player in the Swag16 class), and fast rising speedster RB Travis Homer.
However, for a good portion of the morning, there was absolutely no mention of either player or their performance at the elite recruiting event, much to my chagrin.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nary a Sam Bruce nor Travis Homer update from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheOpening?src=hash">#TheOpening</a>. I'm is perplexed</p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618835875141582848">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Testing is now complete at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheOpening?src=hash">#TheOpening</a> and not a single tweet or update about the 2 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canes?src=hash">#Canes</a> commits there. Sweet.</p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618841893359620096">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Now, that was in the Sparq rating (athleticism testing) portion of the morning. With Homer entering The Opening 4th nationally in Sparq rating after Regionals, I expected to hear SOMETHING about him during that part of the day. But, alas...
But then, we moved into the 1-on-1's. And that, friends, is where both Bruce and Homer did work. You wanna see them do work? Of course you do.
Sam Bruce working on a comeback route:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FINALLY a Sam Bruce tweet from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheOpening?src=hash">#TheOpening</a> RT <a href="https://twitter.com/joshnewberg247">@joshnewberg247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cane?src=hash">#Cane</a> commit Sam Bruce cuts like a <a href="http://t.co/pwA0jyYtSU">pic.twitter.com/pwA0jyYtSU</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618864612297936896">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OMG! HOMER EXISTS TOO RT <a href="https://twitter.com/TDsTake">@TDsTake</a> Miami RB commit Travis Homer in a footrace with 5-star Alabama LB Lyndell Wilson. <a href="http://t.co/2ht2NGgzNq">http://t.co/2ht2NGgzNq</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618865509065359360">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Homer was so impressive, he was individually recognized by a national recruiting analyst
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Quick stuff from first RB vs LB drills: <a href="https://twitter.com/calebkkelly">@calebkkelly</a> looks every bit a 5-star and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canes?src=hash">#Canes</a> RB commit <a href="https://twitter.com/travishomer4">@travishomer4</a> creates PROBLEMS w/ speed.</p>— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) <a href="https://twitter.com/TDsTake/status/618867207301246976">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Not only that, but 247Sports named Homer the RB Alpha Dog (an informal award for top performer) of the day. An excerpt:
"Speed, speed, and more speed. That's the best way to describe Travis Homer. ... He also did well in footwork drills and was showered with compliments from the camp counselors" - 247Sports
As for Bruce, he put on a show throughout the 1-on-1 portion of the day. More videos:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Get used to seeing this, guys RT <a href="https://twitter.com/joshnewberg247">@joshnewberg247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cane?src=hash">#Cane</a> commit Sam Bruce wins his first 1on1 <a href="http://t.co/XGvi8GLQX8">pic.twitter.com/XGvi8GLQX8</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618868830954098689">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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This next one was probably the closest rep Bruce had all day. Also has an uncharacteristic drop from the uber talented 4-star WR. Don't expect to see many of those, though.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gotta catch that, Sam RT <a href="https://twitter.com/SanjayKirpalani">@SanjayKirpalani</a> Sam Bruce vs shyheim carter <a href="http://t.co/GXaoXbMbaY">http://t.co/GXaoXbMbaY</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618869345037324288">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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The next rep makes me mad. Bruce absolutely abused the DB, but the throw was somewhere in the next county. @ views of the same play:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Undressed him, but that throw was TERRIBLE. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/TomVH">@TomVH</a> WR Sam Bruce against DB Damar Hamlin <a href="http://t.co/gzLI86RQy3">http://t.co/gzLI86RQy3</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618870364446154752">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Different angle. Same shitty throw RT <a href="https://twitter.com/joshnewberg247">@joshnewberg247</a> CB Trayvon Mullen vs Sam Bruce <a href="http://t.co/3IfiAjlUIY">pic.twitter.com/3IfiAjlUIY</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618870677274144768">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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This next one, however, just makes you sit back and smile.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THAT is what Sam Bruce can do with a throw in his area, ladies and genltemen RT <a href="https://twitter.com/joshnewberg247">@joshnewberg247</a> Ok, Sam Bruce <a href="http://t.co/Th0pudEIEz">pic.twitter.com/Th0pudEIEz</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618871436267012098">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Too easy
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Been tryna tell y'all for the LONGEST RT <a href="https://twitter.com/joshnewberg247">@joshnewberg247</a> Sam Bruce makes it look easy against the best in the nation <a href="http://t.co/pW9IU4GsvV">pic.twitter.com/pW9IU4GsvV</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618872565100974080">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I'm sure you're thinking "Sam Bruce hasn't gone deep yet". Well, he does here. With ease. Oh, and throws up The U after the catch.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">*smiles* *nods* RT <a href="https://twitter.com/joshnewberg247">@joshnewberg247</a> And then Sam Bruce takes 'em deep. Throws up the <a href="http://t.co/8O3vwQ9JeC">pic.twitter.com/8O3vwQ9JeC</a></p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618874693034979328">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Now, through the first part of the day, there were rumors that all of the SoFLA players, Bruce included, ran in the high 4.6's for their 40 yard dashes. My next comment addresses that.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Man. Sam Bruce sure looked like a high 4.6 player when he was running past that DB on that deep ball. /sarcasm font</p>— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU/status/618875056760860672">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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In any event, both Bruce and Homer displayed their skills well on Wednesday. I fully expect there to be even more highlights when the pair teams up on Team Super Bad for 7-on-7 play starting on Thursday.
LATE EDIT:
Right before I was set to publish this update, I got this tweet from Bleacher/Report recruiting analyst Tyler Donohue
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canes?src=hash">#Canes</a> fans: speedy RB <a href="https://twitter.com/travishomer4">@travishomer4</a> has a message for you from Oregon... <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStateOfTheU">@TheStateOfTheU</a> <a href="https://t.co/2V1lYijOPB">https://t.co/2V1lYijOPB</a></p>— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) <a href="https://twitter.com/TDsTake/status/618926416856543232">July 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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