For the second season in a row, the NFL is partnering with Nike for a season-opening event known as the Nike Football Classic. It will feature three games (2 flag and one tackle) August 24-25 at Nike Worldwide Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
The boys tackle game will feature two teams that finished ’22 ranked in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football. On August 25, No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) will square-off with No. 78 Long Beach Poly (California).
Related: Final 2022 High School Football America 300 rankings
Long Beach Poly has the distinction of producing the most NFL players. According to Pro Football Reference, 60 former Jackrabbits have donned NFL uniforms. The latest is cornerback Alex Austin, who was drafted last month by the Buffalo Bills with the 252nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.
Gorman, which has won twelve Nevada state titles in the last 13 years, had the most players taken in the April draft. The Cleveland Browns took former Gaels wide receiver Cedric Tillman at No. 74 and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson at No. 140. The third BG player taken in Kansas City was cornerback Kye Blue Kelly at No. 157 by the Baltimore Ravens.
The Gorman and Poly girls’ flag teams will also be in Beaverton. On August 24, the Poly girls will play New Jersey’s Irvington High School. Gorman will play Willowbrook High from Illinois.
“For the second year, the Nike Football Kickoff Classic will serve as the official kickoff of high school football around the country,” said Roman Oben, Vice President of NFL Football Development. “These games will bring an unimaginable experience for high school football players. Congrats to all the participating NFL markets giving girls and boys in high school football the shared kickoff experience it deserves.”
chargers 🤝 jackrabbits
— Chargers Community (@ChargersCR) May 15, 2023
we are excited to announce our support for Long Beach Poly boys' football team at the Nike Football Kickoff Classic this summer!
→ https://t.co/19da99Vl3B pic.twitter.com/aUkVinlgnE
This season, schools participating in the Nike Kickoff Classic will be sponsored by the NFL team in their home markets.
- Long Beach Poly High School (Boys Tackle) – L.A. Chargers
- Long Beach Poly High School (Girls Flag) – L.A. Rams
- Bishop Gorman High School (Boys and Girls) – Las Vegas Raiders
- Willowbrook High School (Girls Flag) – Chicago Bears
- Irvington High School (Girls Flag) – N.Y. Jets
Other NFL clubs will mirror the experience by hosting boys tackle and girls flag games in their home markets.
