Nebraska QB commit Daniel Kaelin ready to prove himself in Elite 11 Finals

Bellevue (Neb.) Bellevue West three-star quarterback Daniel Kaelin’s obsession with playing quarterback started in the sixth grade and watching that year’s Elite 11. That was the year Tua Tagovailoa was named the MVP of the event and Kaelin tuned in for every episode.

The obsession began and seven years later the Nebraska pledge has joined that elite company as he will be one of the 20 recruits competing in this year’s Elite 11 finals in Los Angeles.

“Being an Elite 11 finalists has been one of my biggest goals as far as what I want to do before getting to college,” Kaelin told On3. “It means a lot to me knowing that I’m in that company and I’m one of those guys as part of that lineage of who’s gone through the Elite 11. It means a lot to be mentioned in that group of guys.” 

The No. 28 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Kaelin received his invite to the event on May 25.

Kaelin says he’s not changing much to is game as he approaches the week. He views the trip as a business trip but one he plans to fully enjoy and learn from as he competes against the nation’s best.

“A bunch of the guys going there I’ve thrown with and it’s a talented group,” Kaelin said. “I know what I’m capable of and I know I can throw. I would put myself in that category but now it’s time to show it on a bigger stage in front of a bunch of people who are knowledgeable about the position. It’s an opportunity to prove that I’m one of those top guys.”

Kaelin ready for role as 2024 recruiter

Competing in the Elite 11 Finals is the latest of childhood dreams Kaelin has achieved in the last month. The first was his pledge to Nebraska.

A former Missouri commitment, Kaelin decommitted from the Tigers in mid-May and announced his commitment to the home-state Cornhuskers on May 20.

Kaelin said he ultimately made the decision to play for Matt Rhule as he believes that he’s the coach to bring Nebraska back to the top of the college football landscape.

With the reality of playing for Nebraska having sunk in already, Kaelin said his next task is playing as a recruiter for the rest of the Cornhuskers 2024 class.

“The staff has given a list of guys at each position in and out of the state so I’ve been in contact with them,” Kaelin said. “Our first OV weekend was last weekend so I came up and was around the recruits getting comfortable with them and paint that picture of what could be in Lincoln. We’ve got the right staff but now we need the right players.”