Oklahoma QB commit Michael Hawkins invited to Elite 11 Finals
McKinney (Texas) Frisco Emerson four-star quarterback and Oklahoma commit Michael Hawkins has received an invitation to the 2023 Elite 11 Finals. He earned it after his performance at today’s Elite 11 Regional in Austin, Texas.
Hawkins is the No. 353 overall prospect and No. 22 quarterback in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 58 player in Texas.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound signal-caller is the latest quarterback to make the cut for the Elite 11’s showcase event in California. Others include Carlsbad (Calif.) five-star Julian Sayin (Alabama commit), Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military School four-star Luke Kromenhoek (Florida State commit) and Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange three-star Trever Jackson.
One of the highest honors for a high school quarterback is being invited to the Elite 11 Finals. The event, which will celebrate its 24rd year in 2023, brings together the country’s elite signal-callers for three days of competition and training in Los Angeles.
Elite 11 alumni include Carson Palmer, Andrew Luck, Matthew Stafford, Tim Tebow, and more recently Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and more. Last year’s Elite 11 Finals featured more than a dozen of the top 20 quarterbacks in the final On3 Industry Rankings, including three of the top five players at the position.
Hawkins is an early member of Oklahoma’s 2024 class
Hawkins announced his pledge to the Sooners on April 8. He chose head coach Brent Venables‘ program over TCU.
“Once Coach V got there, the culture changed,” Hawkins told On3’s Sam Spiegelman. “Oklahoma has come a long way with the culture over there. You can instantly tell that everyone is together as a whole, as a family.”
“Being around him and the players, there’s a lot of discipline being shown and also a lot of love,” he added.
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jeff Lebby played a key role in Hawkins’ decision to choose Oklahoma.
“Lebby is a great coach and our relationship is really good,” Hawkins said. “It’s really just always been good. I remember watching a lot of film with him and that’s been good, being in the film room watching their offense and how they operate the offense during spring ball, that’s been good.”
Hawkins is one of multiple players in Oklahoma’s 2024 recruiting class. Queen Creek (Ariz.) Casteel four-star cornerback Jeremiah Newcombe and Missouri City (Texas) Hightower four-star wide receiver Zion Kearney are two others.