7 takeaways from the Elite 11 and OT7 Finals
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Two of the summer’s biggest events took place out on the West Coast last week as the Elite 11 Finals celebrated their 25th anniversary and the OT7 Finals brought even more talent to the Los Angeles area.
On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman dives into some of the biggest takeaways from the two events, including thoughts on the group of quarterbacks and some notable skill position players as well.
Sayin headlines deep, talented group at Elite 11 in 2023
Five-star Alabama QB commitment Julian Sayin captured MVP honors and was consistently great over the course of the week in Redondo Beach. The California-based passer has a smooth, effortless release and is a rhythmic thrower. At his best, Sayin was clicking — during the different drills and workouts, as well as later in the 7-on-7 portion of the Elite 11 and upon arrival at the OT7 Finals down the road.
Sayin sees the field well and thrives with his timing and accuracy hitting his receivers in stride. With a talented surrounding cast in both 7-on-7 settings, he was brilliant. That should certainly be the case when he arrives in Tuscaloosa.
Five-Star Plus+ QB Dylan Raiola also made a compelling case for the MVP. After a slow start on Day 1, the Georgia-bound passer put together arguably the best performance during the Pro Day workout and again during the 7-on-7 portion. Raiola has a big arm and was very precise throwing at all different levels of the field.
Seven different quarterbacks scored north of 42 on their Pro Day workouts with Sayin and Texas Tech commitment Will Hammond leading the way. Raiola and CJ Carr (Notre Dame) also fit that bill. Ohio State-committed Air Noland, Penn State-bound Ethan Grunkemeyer and Isaac Wilson (Utah) also were among On3’s top performers on the second night.
Elite 11 founder Andy Bark called this year’s crop of quarterbacks the most “connected” of any he’s had in the competition since he founded it a quarter-century ago. We also might look back on it as one of the deepest and most talented groups of quarterbacks, too.
The SEC is loaded for the next few years at QB
As we just touched on, Sayin came away with MVP honors from the 2023 Elite 11 Finals and Raiola was equally as impressive, in this analyst’s option. You can also throw three more SEC-bound signal-callers into the conversation after turning heads over the week in California.
Fellow Georgia commit Ryan Puglisi, LSU-bound Colin Hurley and five-star Florida commit DJ Lagway are just a few of the talented quarterbacks en route to the the Southeastern Conference. Depending on your preferred traits under center, there were many spectators and coaches raving about Raiola as much as his 2024 classmate Puglisi. The Connecticut QB showed superb zip on his passes and was very comfortable in this setting from the jump, and put together a strong week overall.
Hurley was also on his game throughout the Elite 11 Finals. The Jacksonville-based quarterback committed to the Tigers was the youngest player competing, but it hardly showed in terms of frame and arm talent. Hurley was at his best during the 7-on-7 showings on Friday with an efficient 13-of-17 mark with 4 touchdowns. He also sparked the SFE offense at OT7 soon after with great touch on deep balls and fitting throws into tight windows by the end zone.
Lagway has strong moments day to day showing off his live arm and showcasing the torque to throw strikes anywhere on the field from various angles. The Florida-committed five-star turned heads during different portions of the week and is coming off a strong spring at Willis (Texas) High, where Lagway orchestrates one of the most potent offenses in the Greater Houston Area. Lagway’s arm talent puts him in a tier of his own — the type that generates buzz in NFL front offices — and he’s at his best on Friday nights where his off-scheduled playmaking is more of a factor.
Arrow up for Texas Tech-bound Hammond
Joey McGuire’s Red Raiders are on pace to set all types of records in Lubbock this season — possibly on the field and almost certainly when it comes to their approach on the recruiting trail. Texas Tech currently holds the top 2024 recruiting class in the Big 12, a group that sits inside the top 20 of the On3 Industry Team Rankings.
The face of the class is none other than Hutto (Texas) QB Will Hammond, who has been committed to McGuire and Zack Kittley dating back to last December. The staff in Lubbock has made early — and accurate — evaluations and that includes Hammond, who was excellent day in and day out during the Elite 11 Finals.
The Central Texas three-star is undoubtedly a stock-up candidate after thriving in various settings from the Pro Day workout (Score: 45, No. 2 behind MVP Sayin), Panini Accuracy Challenge (Score: 42, No. 6 overall), and during 7-on-7 action. Hammond showed off outstanding accuracy and timing with his different pass-catchers and the ability to deliver throws to different layers of the field. He should thrive in West Texas with the wealth of talent heading that way.
Brian Hartline could be assembling another elite WR haul
Brian Hartline is entering his sixth season in Columbus, his first juggling the responsibilities of calling plays along with coaching receivers. Since his arrival at Ohio State, Hartline has thrived not only developing the talent on the roster but also in uncovering and recruiting the nation’s best.
When Hartline returned to Ohio State in 2018 he helped mold Chris Olave into an event first-round pick and more recently, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. His next cycle included eventful first-rounders Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams and the 2020 class was lauded as Hartline’s most star-studded haul.
Highlighting the 2020 class were five-stars Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming. Smith-Njigba was just picked in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks and figures to be another immediate contributor on Sundays, while Fleming is one of several former blue-chip recruits poised for a major role on offense this upcoming season.
Hartline also inked the nation’s current best receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr., along with five-star Emeka Egbuka a year later. Last year, he inked a quartet — highlighted by five-star Noah Rogers — that figures to contend with the 2020 group as the Buckeyes’ best. That may hinge on how Hartline wraps up this current group.
Five-Star Plus+ WR Jeremiah Smith and On3 Industry Ranking five-star WR Mylan Graham are already on board Ohio State’s class. The Buckeyes are trending on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for two more blue-chip receivers: Jeremiah McClellan and Elijah Moore. That includes picks from this week from this analyst.
More on Smith below … Moore is a big-framed pass-catcher that moves well and powers ahead with the ball in his hands and can also play well above the rim and has strong hands and range to make grabs in the middle of the field and outside the numbers. McClellan, too, is thick-framed and equipped with elite hands and showed them off making tough, contested grabs along the sidelines and underneath all week at OT7.
If all goes according to plan, perhaps this 2024 haul could mark Hartline’s best since arriving in Columbus.
Jeremiah Smith has Andre Johnson-like skill-set
It would be impossible to detail the makings of Ohio State’s potential 2024 wide receiver class without mentioning Smith, the No. 1 wide receiver in the country and No. 2 overall recruit behind only EDGE Dylan Stewart. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Smith is a prototype at the position and has been excelling on the field and in various competitive settings for years.
Throughout the week in California at both Elite 11 and OT7, Smith was fantastic. After evaluating him for years, it finally hit — the big-framed pass-catchers remind this analyst of future NFL Hall of Famer Andre Johnson.
Johnson played at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds for the Houston Texans, and like Smith was a massive target on the outside that consistently draws the attention of defensive coordinators. Facing double-teams or elite corners consistently, Smith showed off the full arsenal from Wednesday through Sunday — from combat catches for critical first-down conversions and also explosive plays after the catch. The Ohio State pledge piled up plenty of targets, catches, and yardage after the fact. He was also a menace in the red zone on 50-50 balls, finding holes in coverage and navigating in close quarters routinely.
Chris Henry Jr., Dakorien Moore highlight offensive eye-catchers
There was a surplus of skill talent on hand between the Elite 11 and OT7 Finals. Offensively, that group includes 2026 WR Chris Henry Jr., the son of former great Cincinnati Bengals WR Chris Henry. The younger Henry is a massive target that runs crisp routes and was consistently sure-handed at the Elite 11. That’s another elite pass-catcher Hartline has his eye on.
The same goes for 2026 TE Kendre Harrison, who along Penn State TE commit Luke Reynolds, were to of the top pass-catchers amongst the tight ends in attendance. Harrison could pass as a 2024 recruit and was exceptional working in traffic during the 7-on-7 portion of Friday’s workout. Reynolds was a standout the entire week, too, showing off strong hands and the ability to work different areas on the field and also operate in space.
Arkansas-bound Courtney Crutchfield and On300 TE KJ Duff are two 2024 recruits that turned heads. Crutchfield, a rangy 6-foot-2, 180-pounder committed in-state to the Hogs, was among the most prolific vertical threats at the OT7 Finals and was electric with the ball in his hands. Duff, a hybrid tight end/receiver that’s up to 210 pounds this summer, is a mismatch working the seams and also by the goal line. He’s down to two schools and packs major upside as he continues to dive deeper into football.
There was a deep group of 2025 WR making plays. Katy (Texas) Jordan top-30 WR Andrew Marsh has a major advantage playing above the rim and is one of the most versatile big-framed pass-catchers in his class. Five-star Duncanville (Texas) WR Dakorien Moore had a compelling case as the top receiver over the week at OT7, showcasing his speed to win over the top but also his elite ball skills and coordination. On300 WR Naeshaun Montgomery flashed the jets consistently, too, as one of RAW’s most dynamic game-breakers day in and day out. On300 WR Donovan Olugbode was also stellar making contested grabs all over the field. He has some of the best hands in the country and showed it on various occasions during the week-long tournament with Trillion Boys.
2027 WR Ethan Feaster was also a head-turner competing in both events. The soon-to-be freshman from DeSoto (Texas) also looks the part of an underclassman with a 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame and speed to burn. He is going to be one of the most coveted pass-catchers in his class with USC, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas and more all in the hunt.
Ellis Robinson, Jontae Gilbert among defensive eye-catchers
Along with the offensive standouts, there was also several defensive backs on hand at the Elite 11 and OT7 Finals making plays. That conversation begins with Georgia-committed five-star CB Ellis Robinson, who had a brilliant finish to Friday’s action with two interceptions and some heated battles with the aforementioned Smith.
Robinson was not the only future Dawg who turned heads, though. Demello Jones, who Georgia loves at cornerback, was pesky and covering a ton of real estate at safety and inside at nickel. He’s physical and position-versatile, which was certainly made visible. On300 CB Bryce West also showed very well in coverage during the 7-on-7 portion on Friday’s Elite 11 Finals with multiple pass breakups in coverage on the perimeter.
Class of 2025 defensive backs Jontae Gilbert and Devin Sanchez were also notable top performers. Gilbert, who earned MVP honors at defensive back from the Elite 11 Finals, shined at cornerback but has also been strong in coverage as a safety over the top in these settings as well. Gilbert ran with elite pass-catchers like Smith and was excellent making plays on the back end. Sanchez, who was rarely tested and very impactful at cornerback for Trillion Boys, passed the eye test in a major way at 6-foot-2 and close to 190 pounds. The top CB in next year’s class is reactive with can close in a hurry. His length and explosive first-step were on display throughout the week.