5 Top-Performing Quarterback Recruits from 2015 Oakland Elite 11 Regional
SAN LEANDRO, California — Sometimes, the joy of being a quarterback who not only is uncommitted but also without a formal offer is to outshine competition who either are committed to top programs or have multiple offers.
Such was the case for 3-star Kevin Davidson, who took home quarterback MVP honors at Sunday's Elite 11 Oakland regional at the Pacific Athletic Complex-Burrell Field. Davidson won top honors over several committed quarterbacks—including the nation's No. 1 quarterback, Jacob Eason—and he did so with a solid performance in the "Pressure Chamber," the Elite 11's final event to determine the MVP.
Roughly 80 quarterbacks from 10 states as far as Texas and Montana participated in Sunday's event. Here are some of the quarterbacks who put on a show, with additional comments from Brian Stumpf, vice president of football events for Student Sports and one of the leaders of both the Elite 11 and The Opening.
3-Star QB Kevin Davidson
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Hometown (school): Oakland, California (McClymonds)
Size: 6'3", 215 lbs
247Sports national rank: No. 772 (No. 36 PRO)
You want dedication and sacrifice? Kevin Davidson used both to get the recognition he wanted.
Instead of sitting on a beach and relaxing as a part of a family getaway, the 3-star quarterback opted to compete in his second The Opening regional of the spring (he was at the Los Angeles regional in March).
The decision paid off, as he was named the quarterback MVP of the event. He beat out several well-established quarterbacks by starting the camp strong, finishing smooth and staying consistent against stiff competition.
It was a huge win for a quarterback still looking for his first offer.
"I turned down a trip to Hawaii in order to prepare for this," Davidson said. "I've been working extremely hard for this, so it feels great."
San Jose State, UNLV and San Diego State are three schools to keep an eye on, as Davidson feels he is close to an offer from each school. Arizona State, Cal and Colorado are three other schools that have shown interest.
Stumpf's comments
"It's been great seeing him progress. This is probably his fifth camp with us in over three years. He's changed his body around, he looks slim and trim and he's moving well. I think he's going to find that pro-style offense for him. It might be an Ivy [League school], but I think there could be some big people to come along in the next couple of weeks."
5-Star QB Jacob Eason
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Hometown (school): Lake Stevens, Washington (Lake Stevens)
Size: 6'5", 205 lbs
247Sports national rank: No. 3 (No. 1 PRO)
Committed to Georgia
Even though Jacob Eason didn't win MVP honors, he received the ultimate consolation prize. The Georgia commit was invited to the Elite 11 finals based off his efforts from his junior year as well as his performance Sunday.
Eason showed why Georgia—and a host of other programs—is excited for his future. He's a big target with a big arm, and he was one of the most accurate throwers of the day. Eason threw darts to receivers who were covered well, and he did so with confidence.
Stumpf's comments
"This is the first time he's come this year. Obviously, he's a tremendous player on tape, and we love everything he brings to the table. He was a little inconsistent at the beginning of the day, but he had some throws he just ripped, especially in the Pressure Chamber. You could see why he's the top prospect; he's got all the tools. It was fun seeing him in person, and it's always fun to have a guy like him come out, because he sets the bar. The other kids are gunning for him, so it raises the level of competition."
4-Star QB Devon Modster
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Hometown (school): Rancho Santa Margarita (Tesoro)
Size: 6'2", 215 lbs
247Sports national rank: No. 286 (No. 10 PRO)
Originally unscheduled to make the trip to San Leandro, Devon Modster decided last-minute to participate, and he didn't disappoint the Elite 11 coaches. Modster was exciting to watch, showcasing his accuracy, power and overall athleticism throughout the day and, particularly, in the Pressure Chamber.
Modster has been committed to Arizona since April 15, but with Khalil Mack also committed, it's no secret that other teams are still trying to sway him. He still holds offers from Arizona State, UCLA, Cal and a few other schools.
Stumpf's comments
"We didn't have him on the roster at first; he just came up to compete. He had a much better day than he did in L.A. He was coming off basketball then and had a really up-and-down day. He was more consistent [Sunday]. Between him and Khalil [Tate], you've got to like the future Arizona has at quarterback with the variety they can bring."
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3-Star QB Kare' Lyles
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Hometown (school): Scottsdale, Arizona (Saguaro)
Size: 6'1", 215 lbs
247Sports national rank: No. 1,153 (No. 64 PRO)
The first pass Kare' Lyles threw in the Pressure Chamber told the story of who he is. He's a strong-armed prospect who trusts his receivers and isn't afraid to take chances. Lyles had a productive Sunday that seemed to get better as the day went on.
Lyles threw for more than 3,400 yards and 40 touchdowns last season. He picked up a Wisconsin offer—his only reported offer—in March, and three days later, he committed to the Badgers. He'll be a Legacy Badger, as his father, Kevin Lyles, played for Wisconsin in the 1990s.
Stumpf's comments
"He was a guy we were looking forward to seeing. He spun it well. He's compact and athletic within the pocket. I think when he gets to Wisconsin, he will keep moving forward with Coach [Paul] Chryst and those guys and move more into their pro style. He can throw the ball, and he'll be a great fit."
3-Star QB Kahi Neves
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Hometown (school): Salt Lake City (Brighton)
Size: 6'3", 238 lbs
247Sports national rank: No. 1,073 (No. 36 ATH)
From a measurables standpoint, Kahi Neves has everything you want in a quarterback. He's a big, tall athlete with a lot of potential to be a star one day. Neves is versatile enough to play quarterback, linebacker, tight end or even a rush defensive end, but he showed on Sunday that he can handle the duties of quarterback.
Neves' father, Kani, played on the offensive line for Utah in the 1990s. While the idea of being a legacy excites Kahi, other schools are still trying to get him to flip. Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii and Utah State are among the schools hoping to lure him before national signing day.
Stumpf's comments
"There's a raw upside that puts him right up top with anyone. He hasn't played a ton of quarterback outside of camps. He got limited snaps last year, so he's really a raw kid. But when he drops and throws, gets his feet under him and is balanced, he throws it as well as anyone else, especially with the deep and intermediate throws. I think Utah's got a player on its hands, and he could be exciting in a couple of years."
Other QBs to Watch
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Here are three other quarterbacks whom Stumpf spoke highly of following Saturday's competition:
3-star QB Dakota Miller
"We've seen him twice this year and twice last year. The knock on him is always going to be he's in that 5'11" to 6'0" range, but again, he can drop and throw it. Whether it's an Ivy [League] or a smaller Mountain West [Conference] or some other school, they're going to find a great player in him, and he's going to compete."
3-star Arizona QB commit Khail Tate
"We saw Tristen Wallace back in Texas, and Khalil is like a 6'1" version of Tristen. He's a raw athlete with a power arm. He spins it, and when he does, it looks as good as anyone else. I think he's got a decision of whether he wants to stick at quarterback at Arizona or another offer as athlete. Either way, he's a player."
2017 unrated QB Connor Neville
"Connor's got a power arm. He's coachable, and he's passionate about the position. Those are things you really can't find and develop, in terms of tools on the mental side. He's a sponge. He was at two [regionals] last year and three this year. He eats, sleeps and breathes football. He's just got to put it on film. He had a pretty good first year as a starter as a sophomore. Now it'll be a time as a junior where he can explode. He has a chance to be a top-10 or top-15 quarterback recruit in his class."
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
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