USC 5-star QB commit Julian Lewis earns Elite 11 Finals invitation
USC five-star quarterback commitment Julian Lewis has been a household name in football recruiting circles all the way back to middle school. And the Carrollton (Ga.) star keep proving why he’s been one of the most talked-about prospects in recent years, winning local and national awards, as well as racking up eye-popping stats.
On Sunday, he added another feather to his cap with an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals this summer in Los Angeles. That comes following a standout performance at the Elite 11 regional competition in the Atlanta area.
There are few higher honors for high school quarterbacks than being invited to the Elite 11 Finals. The event, which will celebrate its 25th year in 2024, 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 each of the top five players at the position.
He becomes the eighth invitee to this year’s event, joining Ohio State pledge Tavien St. Clair, Notre Dame commit Deuce Knight, Texas A&M commit Husan Longstreet, Texas commit K.J. Lacey, SMU commit Keelon Russell, Oklahoma commit Kevin Sperry and Florida State pledge Tramell Jones.
Multiple schools trying to flip Lewis away from the Trojans
Since his reclassification into 2025 and commitment to USC in August, Lewis has remained a top priority for other programs. In-state Georgia was thought at one time to be the biggest flip threat, but ultimately chose to take four-star Ryan Montgomery and largely stopped pursuing Lewis.
Schools like Colorado, Auburn, and Alabama haven’t relented in their efforts, though. He’s visited each campus multiple times since his pledge to the Trojans, and he has official visits locked in with the Buffaloes and Tigers this summer. Alabama, meanwhile, could still get an official as well.
Lewis was the state Gatorade Player of the Year this past fall and was one of three finalists for the National Player of the Year award. A reclassification from the 2026 class, he has been named the MaxPreps Freshman and Sophomore of the Year.
As a sophomore, Lewis threw for 3,094 yards and 48 scores, making good on more than 66% of his attempts. He took Carrollton to the state title game as a freshman in the Peach State’s largest class, while completing more than 65% of his passes for 4,118 yards and 48 touchdowns.