Today in Beaverton, the home of Nike, the Elite 11 quarterback competition got underway this morning and a number of former Buckeye targets are on hand and competing. Penn State commitment Brandon Wimbush, Fort Lauderdale standout athlete Torrance Gibson, Anaheim prospect and University of Oregon commitment Travis Waller are a few of the big names vying for the Elite 11 "Golden Gun" victory.
A total of 18 of the country's top signal callers are in attendance and each of them come in with something to prove. The competition provides them with personalized and professional teaching from a number of football's brightest minds and quarterback coaches, including George Whitfield, renowned "quarterback whisperer" and teacher to players across the country, including Ohio State's Braxton Miller.
The 2014 @Elite11 Finalists #KeepClimbing pic.twitter.com/UDEh1XtTlb
— Elite11 (@Elite11) June 11, 2014
Today's first session was highlighted by a number of players that we've discussed here at Eleven Warriors over the last year, but none stood out to me more than New Jersey's Wimbush. There may not be a more complete quarterback in the country and this morning the 6-foot-2, 205 pounder had the look and the performance of a player out to prove just that. James Franklin's biggest catch of his inaugural class at Penn State, Wimbush has a powerful right arm, excellent feet and above all else, he listens to instruction and immediately makes corrections. Ohio State was in it to the last moment with Wimbush, and Penn State is getting a very good player. He's my pick to win the event overall.
Brandon Wimbush, first HS QB that actually did this drill right. https://t.co/eVtDGVDfBl
— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) July 6, 2014
Another pair of Big Ten commitments, Michigan State's Brian Lewerke and Michigan's Alex Malzone, each had excellent morning sessions as well. Malzone, who earned his trip to the Elite 11 after a strong showing at the Columbus, Ohio regional event, continues to get better each time I've seen him. His strength is his decision making and an ability to get the ball where it needs to be quickly, and when he lets the ball go it gets there in a hurry.
Lewerke, from Phoenix, Arizona, has a good frame and quick release which was highlighted today during the quick dropback drills. He's a player with a chance to really help himself rankings-wise this week, if you're into that sort of thing. Coincidentally for Lewerke, his collegiate counselor is Michigan State's Connor Cook, who spent a lot of time with Lewerke, as you'd expect.
Torrance Gibson is the proverbial "what if..." prospect and today showed both his strengths and his areas of opportunity at quarterback. He's got the frame, the size, the speed and the release to be a dangerous player in a short-passing attack offense or a spread-option set that utilizes his athleticism.
Unfortunately for Gibson, as the day went on and the routes required a more polished passer, his inconsistency throwing the football became more and more evident. If he puts things together and focuses on being a quarterback, he can be a good one. Time will tell if Ohio State gets back into the race for his commitment, but where ever the nation's top-ranked athlete ends up, coaches will undoubtedly have a tough time keeping his talent off the field.
Other players that stood out this morning were Air Force commitment Ryan Brand, who continues to try and garner some respect nationally and Alabama commitment Blake Barnett. Barnett is effortless and his game requires no major adjustments; he's savvy and decisive and has the ideal size for the position.
