Notes From the Trail: Elite 11 Scouting Notes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Elite 11 is the premier QB fraternity in the country. Every year, several of the top QBs across the land come to Atlanta to put their talents on display. From top to bottom, this group shined. Every dude could spin it, there wasn't a weak link or a guy there that didn't belong. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of my personal observations. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Central QBs...</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama pumps P4 and D1 caliber athletes to the college ranks every year. Yesterday, they had two impressive signal-callers turning heads in Gainesville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["974922"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='974922' first='Andrew' last='Alford'] is a national sleeper that was deadly for Central during their state championship run last year. His game is better suited for Friday nights than it is for the camp scene, but he held his own and showed plenty to be excited about. He wasn't the biggest QB in attendance nor did he have the strongest arm, but he was finely equipped in both of those categories and played with confidence. He has solid mechanics and a quick release. On tape, he flashes some impressive mobility in the pocket and can make throws off-platform. I am a big fan of Alford and I am an even bigger fan after seeing how confidently he operates.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["708429"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Bobby Coleman Jr, the younger brother of Auburn WR Cam Coleman, was excellent all afternoon and shot up my board as a result. He is still on the smaller side and is growing physically, but there is a lot to be excited about here. Even for a smaller guy, the ball popped off his hand with good spin. Coaches raved about his smooth mechanics and footwork, playing under control and in sync with receivers. Coleman is only going to get bigger and more athletic. His well refined mechanics should only age beautifully going forward. He holds early P4 offers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662fccb6a35fb"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Cali QB Turning Heads...</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401299"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Troy Huhn is a well known name out west, holding several P4 offers. However, he is a new eval to me and was one of the top performers at the event. Huhn is a commanding, muscular 6'4 205. He looks the part of a pocket-passer, but he did flash some twitchy movement patterns in his release and when out on the run. He has a powerful arm, quickly bombing the ball off his hand and frequently putting it in the right spot. As far as the combination of size, arm strength, and accuracy is concerned, Huhn checks all of those boxes.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662fccb6a365a"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Other Spark-Evals</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["190657"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Lockhart wasn't on the initial roster given to media, so he was a bit of a mystery at first. However, as the afternoon progressed, it was clear that Lockhart belonged in the conversation with some of the higher ranked prospects in attendance. Lockhart is a thin, athletic 6'4 195 and showcased arm strength to all levels of the field. He has a long, fluid release, cutting through the ball with plenty of spin. He holds several FBS offers, but his stock might explode over the next few months.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["283826"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"By the time he graduates, Kelly will have several years of varsity experience under his belt. Athletically, there is a lot to like about Kelly. He is listed at 6'2 183, but looks bigger and has room to add. His delivery is smooth and under control, and he put nice touch on several throws to different sections of the field. Kelly has always had some high upside, and he is starting to climb closer to it.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["284134"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"I found my eyes drawn towards Jayvon Gilmore more than any other QB in attendance. He is unofficially listed at 6'6 195 and is an impressive athlete. During the testing portion of camp, he showcased some light-footedness and twitchiness. As far as arm talent is concerned, there is plenty to like. He too possesses a long, cutting style release and has all areas of the field unlocked. Gilmore should be a P4 QB recruit. He checks all of the physical boxes and still has two years of HS development left in the tank.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["638170"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"When I watched Rashad's tape last year, I saw a huge QB that was still refining his delivery and getting a grasp of the position. Now, it looks like he could be starting to turn the corner in his development. He is listed at a massive 6'6 210 and is well filled out. He coils the ball around the ear, which shortened up his previously long delivery. He appears in more control of the football and has the arm strength to power the ball into any tight window. Each throw just had a different sound to it when it got to WRs. Rashad should fully break the varsity seal this fall for Mountain View.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1198739"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"I wasn't able to watch Stanley on the 27th deal at our event. However, he hurled the ball nearly 70 yards in the air and has a stout, muscular 6'2 frame. The best way to describe his game is u0022easyu0022. Everything he does looks under control and collected. He showed some soft, quick footwork and calmly fired the ball across his frame. Not to mention, he has the arm strength to make difficult college-level throws. There is a reason Stanley has picked up a plethora of D1 offers this offseason.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Caden Clay","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Northside","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"When a 6'3, athletic, strong armed QB is one of the more underrated QBs in attendance, you know it's a loaded group. However, Caden Clay drew my eyes and deserves some recognition for his performance. Listed at 6'3 200, he is a commanding presence in the pocket. However, he is also an impressive mover and is athletic. He flashed the suddenness needed to dodge pressure in the pocket. He looked natural with the football, patting and spinning the ball before firing the ball with his tight delivery. His throw just had a different zip on it, especially to the short areas.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662fccb6a380f"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>3 Explosive Frames</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were several QBs there that were sky-scrapers, easily passing the 6'3 mark. However, I want to mention the group of shorter, yet powerful QBs that are built from the ground up. All of these dudes could spin it, but the explosiveness and change of direction they displayed during testing shouldn't go without mention. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li> '25 [player_tooltip player_id='1293257' first='Marcus' last='Romain'], Wheeler (Ga.)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'25 [player_tooltip player_id='411240' first='Austin' last='Guest'], Creekview (Ga.)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'27 Derrick Baker, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fl.)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->