Meet Shea Patterson, the Elite 11 2015 MVP

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Life as a premier college football prospect started early for Shea Patterson, the strong-armed quarterback who claimed MVP honors at the 2015 Elite 11 national finals Friday evening.

The 6'2", 195-pound passer took top honors at the annual event that is held at Nike's world headquarters. He joins a list of Elite 11 alumni that includes eventual No. 1 overall NFL draft picks Matthew Stafford, Jameis Winston and Andrew Luck.

"All those guys have set the path for me. It's amazing to be a part of that group of great players, and it's something I've dreamed of for a long time," Patterson told Bleacher Report. "But I can't stop now. I can't be complacent."

The final round of the nationwide competition included 18 quarterbacks, 16 of whom are currently committed to a Power Five program. Patterson, a rising senior at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana, pledged to Ole Miss in February.

He landed on the national recruiting landscape early, securing collegiate scholarship offers as a freshman. Patterson initially committed to Arizona in December 2012 but backed off that decision last summer.

Years in the limelight helped him prepare for a pivotal week in Oregon.

"It was an awesome experience. I've known some of these quarterbacks since middle school, so it's been an incredible journey," he said. "The 17 other guys competed their butts off, and the competition was unbelievable. Those are the best quarterbacks in the country, and everybody wanted it. I'm fortunate enough to finish on top."

The storybook ending required quite a comeback for Patterson, who entered the final day of action rated sixth on the Elite 11 coaches' list.

Patterson's late surge coincided with the success of his seven-on-seven team in tournament action at The Opening. The squad, named Lunar Beast, lost its first four games of the star-studded football showcase.

He helped get things on track with a triple-overtime victory Friday morning, launching a three-game win streak that ended with a tournament title. In the process, Patterson outdueled Florida State quarterback commit Malik Henry in the championship.

Ultimately, Patterson valued the group accomplishment more than the individual accolades.

"The thing that meant the most to me was winning a championship with my team. We glued up, fed off each other's energy and played with so much togetherness," he said. "The defense was lights out, our receivers made plays, and I'm just fortunate to play on a team like that."

He utilized an impressive group of pass-catchers that included future Rebels teammate DeKaylin Metcalf, USC commit Josh Imatorbhebhe, Ohio State pledge Austin Mack and Texas speedster Tyrie Cleveland.

"He's an unbelievable quarterback and a leader," Cleveland said. "He can throw the deep ball, always puts the ball on receivers with accuracy and really makes things hard on a defense."

Patterson directs an explosive offensive attack at Calvary Baptist Academy, serving as the catalyst for a perennial playoff contender.

He completed 63 percent of pass attempts during the past two seasons, throwing for 5,083 yards, 72 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He is an improvisational playmaker who can also use his feet to produce positive results.

"Shea is an absolute monster," said running back Demario McCall, an Ohio State commit and seven-on-seven teammate.

Patterson's final high school campaign will arrive with the spotlight shining brighter than ever before.

"I feel like I've always had a bulls-eye on my back since I was a freshman. That kind of gives me a chip on my shoulder," Patterson said. "I'm sure this will make opponents come at me harder, and that's even more motivation."

The new Elite 11 champ intends to graduate early and head to Oxford in January. He will arrive on campus with plenty of fanfare—viewed as an accomplished 5-star recruit who can take the Rebels to a new level in the SEC standings.

"My ultimate goal for this senior season is to do as much as I can to prepare myself for college in the spring," Patterson said. "That means working hard every day in an effort to get better. I need to get faster, I need to get stronger, and hopefully everything will pay off at Ole Miss."

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.