Elite 11 Finals: Latest quarterback recruiting intel
In six days, nearly all of the country’s top quarterback prospects will arrive in Los Angeles for the Elite 11 Finals competition. The event puts passers through a series of tests and competitions to showcase the best of the best in the 2023 cycle.
While the competition there will be nothing to sneeze it, the recruiting battles for their services are growing more intense as we get further into the summer.
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Four of the top 10 quarterbacks in this class still remain uncommitted, and two — five-star Dante Moore and coveted four-star Jaden Rashada — will be in L.A. The latter is expected to come off the board this weekend. And On3 compiled the latest intel on his recruitment, as well as that of other top signal-callers who will be there.
A Sunshine State showdown is shaping up for Jaden Rashada
The No. 42 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus has led a wild recruitment, punctuated by the fact that he was supposed to commit last weekend. He instead postponed a week, and in the process set up an official visit to Miami that started yesterday.
He cut his list to five: Florida, LSU, Miami, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. But it looks to be a battle between two in-state rivals with everyone else on the outside looking in.
On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons: “From everything I hear, this is a race with Florida and Miami battling it out at the top. I still give Florida the edge based on what I’m hearing heading into a weekend decision. But Miami will get its shot this week, and the Hurricanes are charging hard to land him. Texas A&M is still in communication as well, but LSU and Ole Miss aren’t in the picture.”
Dante Moore is in no rush
The Aggies’ focus has also been on Moore. He tripped to College Station over the weekend, and he told Simmons that it was a “phenomenal trip.” Pulling him out of the Upper Midwest would be no small feat, especially given the programs Fisher and Co. are battling right now.
Simmons: “Texas A&M has to be considered a school to watch after a very good visit, but even after that trip, I still hear more about LSU and Oregon. Moore’s relationship with Kenny Dillingham is arguably the strongest he has with any offensive coordinator. But Michigan shouldn’t be slept on either, both being the local school and the first program to offer him four years ago. Notre Dame is a school Moore still lists as well, though the Irish did just land elite 2024 passer CJ Carr.
Kansas State hoping to lock in Avery Johnson
Sitting just outside the top 10 of the On3 Consensus quarterback rankings is Maize (Kan.) four-star Avery Johnson. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder has been priority No. 1 for Kansas State going on two years. And the Wildcats currently hold the lead in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).
Johnson said previously that he would like to have his commitment done before he heads to Los Angeles. So he could come off the board any time in the next week. The main competition for K-State is Oregon and Washington, both of whom hosted him for official visits this month.
Simmons: “Kansas State is the local school, and remains the program I hear the most buzz around. They have made him a major target from the start. Oregon and Washington are in this too, and he’s had great visits to both. But right now, the Wildcats look to be in good position.”
Can Ohio State close on a 2023 quarterback?
Once the Buckeyes were out of the picture with their top quarterback targets, the focus shifted to 2024 five-star Dylan Raiola. Ohio State didn’t look like it was going to end up taking someone at the position this fall, potentially waiting for the transfer portal or waiting for the coaching carousel to shake things up. But in recent weeks, Ryan Day and Co. have focused their attention on Memphis (Tenn.) four-star Brock Glenn and Baylor commit Austin Novosad.
The former is considered an Auburn lean. But he took an official visit to Columbus over the weekend, while Novosad was in town June 10. Considering Day’s pedigree for quarterback development, it’s hard to see one of the two not going to the Buckeyes.
Simmons: “I think one of the two ends up at Ohio State. I’m hearing it’s essentially first come, first serve, and both are takes for the Buckeyes. Does Novasad flip from Baylor or does Glenn head north? I lean more toward Novasad at this time, but both are worth watching closely. Glenn is an Auburn legacy and has strong connections to the school and coaching staff.”