Elite 11

24 of the top high school quarterbacks will be in Redondo, California this weekend competing to be among 12 of the top high school quarterbacks by Sunday. This event is called the Elite 11 Finals but it really isn't the finals. It's more like a semi-finals as it's for a shot to be one of the 12 quarterbacks invited to The Opening Finals in Dallas June 29-July 3. The Elite 11 is a misnomer since 12 quarterbacks actually make the grade. Despite all that it's a fun, prestigious event and Trent Dilfer and his team of terrific football coaches do a fantastic job with it. The quarterbacking fun has been going on for the past few months at regionals to get to this point but it really heats up this weekend and later this summer in Dallas.

2018 Elite 11 Roster

Zach Calzada, Lanier High (Georgia), 6-3 193
Uncommitted

Brendon Clark, Manchester (Virginia) 6-2 213
Wake Forest

Jacob Conover, Chandler (Arizona) 6-0.5 194
BYU

Jayden Daniels, Cajon (California) 6-3 190
Uncommitted

Max Duggan, Lewis Central (Iowa) 6-1.5 189
TCU

Ty Evans, Palmer Ridge (Colorado), 6-2 185
Colorado

Grant Gunnell, St. Pius X (Texas), 6-5.5 213
Uncommitted

Ryan Hilinski, Orange Lutheran (California) 6-4 222
South Carolina

Sam Howell, Sun Valley (N.C.), 6-1.5 225
Florida State

Roschon Johnson, Port Neches-Grove (Texas), 6-1 203
Texas

Michael Johnson Jr., Sheldon (Oregon), 6-2.5 192
Uncommitted

Dwan Mathis, Oak Park (Michigan), 6-4 197
Michigan State

Brian Maurer, West Port (Florida), 6-2.5 180
Uncommitted

Cade McNamara, Damonte Ranch (Nevada), 6-1 202
Michigan

Graham Mertz, Blue Valley North (Kansas), 6-3 205
Wisconsin

Cale Millen, Mount Si (Washington), 6-3.5 192
Oregon

Dylan Morris, Graham-Kapowsin (Washington) 6-0 192
Washington

Bo Nix, Pinson Valley (Alabama), 6-3 204
Auburn

Spencer Rattler, Pinnacle (Arizona), 6-1 173
Oklahoma

Shae Suiaunoa, Clear Lake (Texas), 6-2 185
Uncommitted

Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson (Alabama), 5-11.5 202
Alabama

Paul Tyson, Hewitt-Tressville (Alabama), 6-4.5 213
Alabama

Isaiah Williams, Trinity Catholic (Missouri), 5-9.5 170
Illinois

Jacob Zeno, John Jay (Texas), 6-2.5 188
Baylor

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Two of the more interesting quarterbacks competing this weekend are the two Alabama commits. Taulia Tagovailoa and Paul Tyson. The brother of Tagovailoa is Elite 11 veteran and current Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tyson has an even stronger tie to Alabama. He's the great grandson of Bear Bryant.

Six of the 24 quarterbacks have yet to commit to a college.
Zach Calzada
Jayden Daniels

Grant Gunnell
Michael Johnson Jr.
Brian Maurer
Shae Suiaunoa
Cal is in Grant Gunnell's final four with Arizona, Ohio State, and UCLA. Cal is also recruiting Jayden Daniels but he's reportedly leaning towards UCLA. If one of these top quarterbacks does commit to Cal it'd be nice to see it stick. It was frustrating last year to see JT Shrout all-Golden Bear for several months only to see him flip to Tennessee as soon as they came calling.

Past Elite 11 MVPs

1999  Brock Berlin, Florida/Miami

2000  Brodie Croyle, Alabama

2001  Ben Olson, BYU/UCLA

2002  Kyle Wright, Miami

2003  Rhett Bromar, Oklahoma/Sam Houston State

          Matt Tuiasosopo, Washington-played baseball instead

2004  Mark Sanchez, USC

2005  Matthew Stafford, Georgia

2006  John Brantley, Florida

2007  Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

2008  Aaron Murray, Georgia

2009  Jake Heaps, BYU/Kansas/Miami

2010  Jeff Driskel, Florida/Louisiana Tech

2011  Neal Burcham, SMU

          Jameis Winston, Florida State

2012  Asiantii Woulard, UCLA/South Florida/Clarion University

2013  Sean White, Auburn

2014  Blake Barnett, Alabama/Palomar College/Arizona State

2015  Shea Patterson, Mississippi/Michigan

2016  Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

2017  Justin Fields, Georgia