For years, the Elite 11 quarterback camp has been the premier destination for high school signal-callers hoping to refine their skills and catch the attention of college coaches.
But in recent years, the event has also become a pipeline for NFL talent. Quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Justin Herbert all honed their skills at Elite 11 before going on to successful college careers and, eventually, becoming first-round draft picks.
As the 2023 NFL Draft approaches, there are several Elite 11 alumni expected to hear their names called in Kansas City. From Bryce Young to Max Duggan, these young passers have been groomed for success and are poised to continue the Elite 11's tradition of producing top-tier NFL talent.
As the league increasingly prioritizes the quarterback position, the impact of Elite 11 on the NFL landscape is more important than ever.
Will this year's class of Elite 11 alumni continue the tradition of success, or will they fall short of expectations? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the eyes of the football world will be watching some exciting names be called this weekend.
Here's a breakdown of each Elite 11 Alumni that could be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft:
Bryce Young - 2019 Elite 11 Winner
- College: Ohio State Buckeyes
Former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is a highly skilled and intelligent passer, impressing scouts with his advanced instincts, excellent feel, and ability to work all levels of the field.
In 2022, he completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding four rushing touchdowns. Despite falling short of a National Championship, Young's impressive performance earned him the Heisman Trophy.
Despite his shorter stature, Young compensates with his accuracy, consistently placing the ball well and threading tight windows with ease. His timing and precision when hitting receivers on the run help create big plays after the catch.
Additionally, Young's mobility and escapability make him a dual-threat quarterback capable of scrambling and throwing on the run. However, his size remains a concern for some NFL team sources who worry about his ability to hold up against pro defenders. Nonetheless, Young's talent and skill set have drawn comparisons to Kyler Murray, and he has been praised as a potentially better college quarterback than Tua Tagovailoa or Mac Jones.
C. J. Stroud - 2019 Elite 11 Finalist
- College: Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud impressed at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, displaying remarkable arm talent and accuracy.
In the 2022 season, he completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions, showcasing his polished skill set and strong arm. In his final game against Georgia, Stroud displayed impressive footwork and playmaking abilities.
Stroud's precision with ball placement and ability to hit receivers on the run make him an excellent passer. He is composed and stands tall in the pocket, delivering the ball even when under pressure. While Stroud has some functional mobility, he does not rely on his running abilities and could be more aggressive on third-and-manageable situations.
The biggest concern for NFL teams is that he does not utilize his feet enough to make plays. He is a highly talented dual-threat quarterback with the potential to be a first-round pick, perhaps even at the top of Round 1.
Anthony Richardson - 2019 Elite 11 Finalist
- College: Florida Gators
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson impressed at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine with his fast 40-time and powerful arm.
While he had some standout performances during the 2022 season, such as leading the Gators to an upset over Utah and throwing for 453 yards against Tennessee, Richardson also struggled with accuracy and inconsistency, costing his team in games against Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida State. He completed just 54 percent of his passes for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, but was a strong runner with 629 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Despite his flaws, Richardson's physical talent and upside make him a highly sought-after prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, with some sources comparing another former Elite 11 Finalist - Cam Newton. However, he has been criticized for his inaccurate passing and needs to improve his decision-making and field reading skills.
Richardson's current consensus ranking is third among quarterbacks, but he has the potential to rise even higher in the draft due to high demand for quarterback talent.
Dorian Thompson Robinson - 2017 Elite 11 Finalist
- College: UCLA Bruins
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the quarterback from UCLA, had a successful season in 2022, completing 70 percent of his passes for 3,154 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Additionally, he scored 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Although he has potential as a backup, Thompson-Robinson must improve his pocket-passing skills to achieve success at the professional level. Despite this, he had an impressive performance at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, particularly during his throwing session.
Thompson-Robinson has started for five years and demonstrated improvement over time, including a better understanding of how to read the field. Although he is mobile, his success comes from throwing on time and utilizing possession throws as his foundation. He has some weaknesses, including lapses in vision and judgment against zones and when under pressure.
Thompson-Robinson could find a spot in the NFL as a QB3, but he has a ceiling as a QB2. He has shown improvement under head coach Chip Kelly, gets through his progressions with good timing, and has the ability to make plays when the pocket breaks down. However, he needs to improve his delivery operation, decision-making, and accuracy on deep-ball passes.
Tanner Mckee - 2017 Elite 11 Finalist
- College: Standford Cardinal
Tanner McKee, the Stanford quarterback, has caught the eye of some NFL evaluators despite his team's struggles in 2022.
Standing tall with excellent size, McKee boasts a strong arm that allows him to throw the ball downfield with a nice loft on touch passes. He completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,947 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 2022, and 65 percent of his passes for 2,327 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven picks in 2021.
However, McKee's unorthodox delivery becomes even more irregular when he feels rushed. He can make all the NFL throws with a tight spiral and good velocity on intermediate and deep throws to the field side. Still, his clunky feet and lack of agility limit his effectiveness outside of the pocket and make him vulnerable to pass rushers when protection is spotty.
While McKee improved his throwing process in 2022, his decision-making and mobility may hinder his chances in today's NFL. McKee's TD-INT ratio of 3:3 over his final seven games and struggles with ball placement and aiming short throws could be areas he needs to work on.
Jake Haener - 2017 Elite 11 Finalist
- College: Fresno State Bulldogs
In the 2022 season, quarterback Jake Haener completed an impressive 72-percent of his passes for 2,896 yards, 20 touchdowns, and three interceptions, despite missing most of October due to an injury. He showcased his potential at the Senior Bowl and could serve as a reliable backup for an NFL team.
In 2021, Haener played for the Bulldogs and threw for 4,096 yards, 33 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while in 2020, he had a respectable debut with 2,021 yards, 14 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Despite his below-average size and arm talent, Haener possesses an above-average football IQ and plays with a pre-snap plan, quickly getting the ball out against the blitz. He can sense edge pressure and slide to find a new location to throw from.
However, his lack of arm strength may limit his ability to make window throws, and he needs to improve his consistency with ball placement. Moreover, his limited mobility outside the pocket makes it difficult for him to elude sacks.
Max Duggan - 2018 Elite 11 Finalist
- College: TCU Horned Frogs
Max Duggan had a productive 2022 season, completing 64 percent of his passes for 3,698 yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 423 yards and nine touchdowns. However, his performance at the Senior Bowl was not impressive. Despite lacking an elite trait, Duggan has above-average athleticism, toughness, and processing speed. He surprised scouts with his sub-4.6 40-yard dash time at the combine. He is particularly dangerous in the red zone, where he can use his legs to make plays. However, some evaluators see him as a backup quarterback with a skill set similar to that of Sam Ehlinger or Tim Tebow. Duggan's strengths include his toughness, leadership, and ability to find a rhythm from RPOs. He is also an improvisational thrower with good pocket awareness. However, he struggles with deep-ball power and placement and often forces receivers to break stride. His intangibles give him a chance to succeed as an NFL backup, but his limitations as a passer may limit his ceiling.
Myles Brennan - 2016 Elite 11 Finalist
- College: LSU Tigers
Myles Brennan, a former Elite-11 quarterback from St. Stanislaus High School, joined LSU in 2017. In his freshman year, he played in only one game and threw for 65 yards with a completion rate of 66.7 percent and no touchdowns.
During his sophomore year, he played in eight games and passed for 352 yards on 40 attempts, with a completion rate of 60 percent and one touchdown. Brennan's junior year saw him play in three games, passing for 1,112 yards on 131 attempts with a completion rate of 60.3 percent, 11 touchdowns, and nine sacks.
According to scouting reports, Brennan has a strong arm and can throw the ball accurately downfield. He is a tall and confident passer who can make good reads and has a good touch on the ball.
Brennan is also an excellent deep ball thrower and can get the ball there with proper touch down the sideline. However, his inconsistent mechanics, stride, and accuracy when throwing into tight windows are areas that need improvement.
Overall, Brennan has the potential to develop into a pocket passer with his arm talent, but he needs to work on his technique and consistency.
Sean Clifford - 2016 Elite 11 Finalist
- College: Penn State Nittany Lions
Sean Clifford, the former Penn State quarterback, has been a visible passer on the current draft circuit due to his four years of starting experience.
Although Clifford had some quality receiving talent at Penn State, he struggled to develop as a pocket passer, and his accuracy was especially bad in 2021, limiting the production of receiver Jahan Dotson.
Clifford showed some improvement in 2022, where he connected on 64 percent of his passes for 2,822 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. However, his NFL draft prospects are limited, and he is seen as a third-string caliber quarterback.
Clifford began his Penn State career as a redshirt in 2017, backed up Trace McSorley in 2018, and became the starter in 2019. Across his five seasons, Clifford completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 10,382 yards, 84 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions. Clifford's future in the pros remains uncertain.
