BEAVERTON, Ore. — Arkansas has been well represented at The Opening at Nike Headquarters since the prestigious summer event started.
Hope defensive end McTelvin Agim continued the tradition with one of the best performances among the defensive linemen. He won the vast majority of the 1-on-1 reps against the offensive linemen.
Agim, 6-3, 267 pounds was so impressive he was selected as one of the five defensive lineman to compete in the linemen 1-on-1 finals. He easily won all four reps against Clemson offense line commitment Sean Pollard.
“The coaches kept telling me to play my game,” Agim said. “I feel like in my opinion I’m the best person out here. You have great talent out here and I have to hold my weight and perform to my ability.”
Agim didn’t enjoy his showing until the last rep against Pollard.
When I got it, it was just a sigh of relief,” Agim said. “It was calming feeling. It was finally I was able to show I was the best.”
He entered The Opening rated as the No. 3 defensive end and the No. 15 overall prospect in the nation by ESPN.
“Coming in we obviously had a high bar for him, a five star prospect and in the ESPN 300 and what I’ve been able to see he hasn’t disappointed,” said ESPN national recruiting analyst Craig Haubert, who noted Agim still has work to do fundamentally. “I’ve seen the explosion. You can’t teach that first step.”
Agim feels like he improved his hand placement during the event.
“I don’t think I’ve ever used my hands as much,” Agim said. “In my conference, I could basically power over and now I know how to work double teams now and that’s something I really need to work on how to wrk double teams and things like that. There’s a technique to everything.”
He received tips from Washington Redskins defensive lineman Trent Williams and Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Peters, a former Razorback tight end.
“He should know he’s been in the league, he’s a dominating force,” said Agim of Williams. “Him and Jason Peters I feel they are two of the best in the league right now.”
Prior to arriving in Oregon, Agim received numerous direct messages from the Arkansas coaching staff. That didn’t stop during the event too.
“All the coaches, all of them,” Agim said. “They’re all showing love.”