USC 5-star QB commit Julian Lewis excited to return to L.A. for Elite 11 Finals

Five-star Carrollton (Ga.) quarterback Julian Lewis has been a frequent visitor to L.A. over the past year as the centerpiece of USC’s top-five recruiting class. But this weekend, he’ll be in California for a different reason: competing in the Elite 11 Finals.

Lewis was selected as one of 20 passer to participate in the nation’s top quarterback camp, and it’s not something he takes lightly, he told On3’s Steve Wiltfong.

“Elite 11 is the type of thing that every QB thinks about growing up,” Lewis said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

Lewis has watched the event on different occasions, going back to when fellow Georgians Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence competed. The event has hosted some of the best prep quarterback prospects over the past two-plus decades, including numerous first-round NFL Draft Picks. And that means a great deal to him.

“The thing that stands out the most are all the guys who have done it,” he added.

As for expectations of the event, Lewis said: “I’m not sure what to expect. I know there’s more to it than just what you do on the field. My plan is to be myself and treat every rep like training.”

One more official visit on the docket for Lewis

The nation’s No. 10 overall prospect and No. 2 QB in the On3 Industry Ranking has been committed to the Trojans since August 2023, but other programs have continued taking swings to flip him.

Indiana, USC and Auburn have already hosted him for official visits in June, and Colorado is his next destination following his time in L.A.

When speaking with On3 at the On3 Elite Series last month, Lewis maintained that he is fully locked in with Lincoln Riley and the Trojans.

“I’m still locked in with USC,” Lewis told Wiltfong. “That’s my spot, that’s where I’m at. I’m just running through the experience because you only get to do this one time, and everybody’s like — just enjoy what you have, enjoy the process. I’m going to go around and see how I feel with everything, but right now I’m 100 percent with USC.”