Miami QB commit Luke Nickel earns Elite 11 Finals invite: "It was a special moment for me"
Miami four-star quarterback Luke Nickel, the No. 146 overall prospect in the On300 and Miami’s first commitment in the 2025 recruiting class, has earned an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles this summer and will compete in arguably the country’s most prestigious quarterback competition.
2024 Elite 11 Finals: Complete quarterback roster
The Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton blue-chip prospect’s invitation comes several weeks after a strong performance at the Elite 11 Regional camp in Atlanta. The camp will take place June 18-20, one day before Nickel’s scheduled official visit to Miami, and “include on-field drills, competition, classroom instruction and off-field development,” according to Elite 11’s website. More than a dozen of the top 20 quarterbacks in the On3 Industry Ranking competed in the Elite 11 finals last year.
“It was a special moment for me because it’s been something I’ve always wanted to be a part of,” Nickel said. “I’m super excited get out and work with all the coaches and be with all the best of the best. I’m hoping to show everyone my skills and how they match up vs. anyone in the country.”
Nickel, the No. 13 quarterback in the class, was one of On3’s biggest recruiting rankings risers this spring following a stellar junior season that included 3,900 passing yards, 39 touchdowns and a Georgia state championship in the state’s highest high school football classification. He was previously a three-star quarterback outside of the top 300 before skyrocketing to No. 152 overall in On3’s first rankings update of the spring. He has since climbed six additional places.
Nickel joins an event that will also feature five-star quarterbacks Julian Lewis, George MacIntyre, Tavien St. Clair and Husan Longstreet and four-star quarterbacks Matt Zollers, Deuce Knight, Keelon Russell, K.J. Lacey, Ty Hawkins, Ryan Montgomery, KaMario Taylor, Kevin Sperry, Malik Washington, Bryce Baker and TJ Lateef. Three-star quarterbacks Alex Manske and Tramell Jones also earned invitations.
Washington is the only uncommitted quarterback competing at the event. The 2024 Elite 11 and Elite 11 MVP will be announced after the event.
Nickel is Miami’s first quarterback to be invited to the Elite 11 Finals since Tyler Van Dyke in 2019. He will have the opportunity to become Miami’s first Elite 11 MVP.
CaneSport’s Take
Nickel landing an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals — and becoming Miami’s first representation in the competition in five years — isn’t something to be overlooked, especially considering the Hurricanes haven’t traditionally recruited the quarterback position consistently well. Nickel was initially questioned by some as a recruit Miami took his commitment as a little-known unranked quarterback, but nine months after accepting his pledge, Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson looks like he may have found a gem well before other programs.
