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Elite 11 Finals 2024: Overall Top Performers

charles power hsby:Charles Power06/20/24

CharlesPower

LOS ANGELES — The 2024 Elite 11 Finals are wrapped after three days of drill work and competitions amongst the nation’s top 2025 quarterbacks. Following a pro-day style event on Wednesday night and drills on Tuesday, Friday’s session featured each of the quarterbacks competing in 7-on-7 with local California high school programs as their teammates.

Each quarterback had 15 straight minutes to showcase their short, intermediate and deep passing game.

We charted each session live, noting total completions and attempts, touchdowns and interceptions, as well as drops, off-target passes and timed sacks.

For the purposes of this top performers, we are looking at the overall body of work over the course of three days — drills on air, pro day performance and Friday’s 7-on-7 event.

Complete Elite 11 Finals Roster | Day 1 Top Performers | Day 2 Top Performers 

On3 MVP: Deuce Knight – Notre Dame

Deuce Knight gets the nod in a very tight four man race for the On3 MVP after turning in a consistent three days of performances with the most legitimate ‘wow’ moments of any Elite 11 finalist. He showcased his physical upside and high-end arm talent on Day 1 and was the On3 MVP on Day 2 with the best pro day of the group. There were several eye-raising moments from his workout on Day 2 that were among the top highlights from the week. Knight backed that up with a good showing during Thursday’s 7-on-7 portion. His arm talent was among the best on hand and he was able to operate well within the structure of this camp setting. We were also impressed with Knight’s movement skills over the course of the week. The speed and depth of his drops were among the best on hand.

As we noted after Day 2, this is the best we’ve seen the Notre Dame pledge look to this point. At 6-foot-4.5, 210 pounds with elite athleticism, his physical upside is as high as any quarterback in the cycle. Based on his improvement over the past several months and his performance at the Elite 11 Finals, Knight is ascending as a player as he enters his senior season at Lucedale (Miss.) George County.

2. Keelon Russell – Alabama

Keelon Russell made a big statement on Day 3, turning in arguably the cleanest 7-on-7 session of the day. The Alabama pledge made good decisions and diced up the defense, as we charted him on target on 19 of 25 passes (including dropped passes) for five touchdowns. Russell did a great job taking what the defense gave him and was highly effective at working underneath and over the middle of the field, delivering with velocity and accuracy. The 6-foot-3, 181-pounder showed a live arm and bouncy movement skills throughout the week. He was very steady on Day 1, had a solid pro day workout on Day 2 and was hyper efficient on Day 3. Similar to Deuce Knight, Russell is a prospect who has shown continual improvement over the offseason. A one-time SMU commit who recently flipped to the Crimson Tide, Russell has a well-rounded skill set and finished with a strong showing at the Elite 11 Finals.

3. Husan Longstreet – Texas A&M

Husan Longstreet had the strongest arm at the Elite 11 Finals. The Texas A&M commit has a rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder. No quarterback on hand consistently threw with more velocity. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder was the On3 MVP on Day 1 and was near the top again on Day 2. He had multiple highlight throws including an absolute rope down the seam that went for a touchdown. Longstreet is a juiced up athlete with considerable twitch to his game. While the arm talent was well established coming in, he showed improved accuracy and ability to layer his throws, as well.

4. Tavien St. Clair – Ohio State

At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds with a live arm and strong mechanics, Tavien St. Clair showed translatable skills at the Elite 11 Finals. The Ohio State pledge was among the best on hand during the first two days. He was highly accurate throwing routes on air on Tuesday and backed that up by running away with the accuracy competition on Wednesday. His play dipped a bit during 7-on-7 on Thursday, as he was on target on 11 of 19 passes for two touchdowns. St. Clair isn’t quite as experienced as most others in 7-on-7. With that said, the Bellefontaine (Ohio) High standout still turned in an overall impressive showing and looks to be among the better quarterback prospects in the cycle heading into his senior season.

5. Matt Zollers – Missouri

Matt Zollers flashed high-end arm strength and plus movement skills at the Elite 11 Finals. He had his best day on Day 3, finishing on target on 18 of 27 passes for six touchdowns and two interceptions. No quarterback pushed the ball downfield more. Zollers displayed a gunslinger mentality and was not shy about letting it fly, finishing with the most touchdown drives of the day. While he can continue to improve his consistency and polish up some things mechanically, the Missouri commit showed the top shelf physical tools and playmaking attitude that have made him a highly-ranked prospect.

6. Julian Lewis – USC

Julian Lewis was steady and accurate over the course of the Elite 11 Finals, particularly on the the final two days of the competition. The 6-foot, 186-pounder consistently delivered well placed passes and was effective at distributing to the short and intermediate areas. Lewis was on target on 14 of 18 passes for three touchdowns during Thursday’s 7-on-7 session and showed the ability to find open receivers. While the pure arm talent may not be as overwhelming as others on hand, Lewis was able to play with a consistency level that led to being a Top Performer on each day.

7. Luke Nickel – Miami

Luke Nickel showed off smooth passing skills and impressive mechanics at the Elite 11 Finals. The 6-foot-1.5, 215-pounder had one of the more consistent and replicable throwing motions over the course of the week. Nickel showed solid arm strength and good functional movement skills within his drops, despite playing with an ankle injury. He was technically clean on each day, culminating with a 7-on-7 session that saw him deliver 15 of 23 on target passes for 3 touchdowns. A productive passer and state champion at Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton, Nickel showed that his passing skill stacks up well within the group of Elite 11 Finalists this week.

8. Bryce Baker – North Carolina

Bryce Baker turned in one of the better 7-on-7 showings on Day 3 at the Elite 11 Finals, as we charted him on target on 19 of 25 passes for five touchdowns. The North Carolina pledge did a great job of finding open receivers and delivering catchable passes that allowed for maximum yards after catch. Baker also was a Top Performer on Day 1, showing a strong downfield arm. Baker’s combination of physical tools and multiple strong showings this off-season have him looking like an ascending prospect entering his senior season at Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth.

9. Tramell Jones – Florida State

Tramell Jones showcased one of the tightest releases at the Elite 11 Finals. The Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin signal caller has a clean stroke and got the ball out of his hand as quickly as any quarterback in attendance. Jones was a Top Performer on each day. His skill set as a mechanically sound pocket passer is well suited for the setting. He was precise on each day, concluding by being on target on 15 of 18 passes for three touchdowns and two interceptions in 7-on-7 on Thursday.

10. Robert McDaniel – Arizona

Robert McDaniel was a late invite to the Elite 11 following an injury to Tennessee commit George MacIntyre. The prospect from central California made the most of the opportunity. McDaniel was particularly good on the final two days. He had a strong pro day on Wednesday night and backed that up by throwing for four touchdowns during 7-on-7 on Thursday. McDaniel flashed a quick, pliable arm and was able to to stick throws on receivers and generate good velocity.

11. Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele

Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele displayed easy arm strength at the Elite 11 Finals. The Hawaii native was able to drive throws downfield with little to strain all week. Sagapolutele won the Rail Shot challenge on Day 1 and had two more solid showings on the final two days. He was accurate throughout his 7-on-7 workout and was on target on 16 of 20 passes for three touchdowns despite multiple drops from his wide receivers. Just one of two uncommitted quarterbacks at the Elite 11 Finals, Sagapolutele effectively raised his stock with his week in Los Angeles.

Additional notes from the Elite 11 Finals

+ Mississippi State commit KaMario Taylor had the field buzzing with his 7-on-7 session late in the workout on Thursday. Taylor had some struggles during the first two days, but was certainly at his best during the live, 7-on-7 setting. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder played without hesitation and showed off the high-end physical traits that make him one of the more physically-gifted signal callers in the cycle. He finished his 7-on-7 session on target on 13 of 18 passes for five touchdowns, with several of the scores coming on impressive throws.

+ Malik Washington more than held his own at the Elite 11 Finals. The athletic signal caller turned in a strong pro day workout on Wednesday and threw for four touchdowns in 7-on-7. The week in Los Angeles provides a nice springboard into his senior season.

+ Texas commit K.J. Lacey spun the ball very consistently during the first two days at the Elite 11 Finals. He showed good feet and accuracy during his pro day on Wednesday. Lacey wasn’t quite as productive during 7-on-7, but showed a high level of polish throughout the week.

+ Georgia commit Ryan Montgomery had some positive moments over the course of the final two days at the Elite 11 Finals. He operated with nice timing during his pro day and delivered some good throws during 7-on-7. Montgomery was comfortable playing with pace from under center.

+ TCU commit Ty Hawkins

+ Iowa State pledge Alex Manske‘s arm talent and functional athleticism stood out on Day 1. He showed a whippy arm and loose, fluid movements. He was a bit uncomfortable in the structure of the event over the final two days, likely due to a steeper learning curve as a five-sport athlete who isn’t training on quarterbacking all year. Regardless, the pure talent was evident early on.

+ Oregon commit Akili Smith Jr. and Nebraska pledge TJ Lateef were at their best during 7-on-7 on Day 3. We charted Smith on target on 16 of 22 for four touchdowns and an interception, while Lateef was on target on 17 of 23 passes for four touchdowns, doing a nice job of throwing catchable passes.

+ Oklahoma commit Kevin Sperry showed an easy natural throwing motion and good footwork over the three days.