Odds on Which 2016 QB Recruit Will Win Elite 11 Competition

College football's next crop of star quarterbacks embark on an annual mission for Elite 11 national MVP honors next month in Beaverton, Oregon.

The competition, featuring 18 rising high school seniors from across America, commences July 5 at Nike's world headquarters. A few days of highly concentrated positional drills and fundamental studies are followed by team-oriented activities at The Opening, a star-studded showcase that features more than 160 of the nation's premier prospects.

A whirlwind spring of individual assessment and the inaugural Elite 11 semifinals—held June 5-7 in Los Angeles—helped event coaches whittle down a large collection of talent. It surely wasn't an easy decision for those in charge, but Penn State commit Jake Zembiec rounded out the list of finalists June 15:

The group of golden-armed athletes includes 16 competitors committed to programs in Power Five conferences, along with two quarterbacks who remain uncommitted. They represent 12 states and could eventually challenge each other for championships and awards at the collegiate level.

Elite 11 alumni include Heisman Trophy winners (Jameis Winston, Tim Tebow, Troy Smith and Matt Leinart) and No. 1 overall NFL draft picks (Winston, JaMarcus Russell, Matthew Stafford and Andrew Luck).

While patience is required to see how this class' quarterbacks turn out, the event includes plenty of promising passers.

Name	High School	Ranking	Star Rating	Commitment Status
Shane Buechele	Arlington Lamar (Texas)	No. 5 dual-threat QB (No. 205 overall)	4-star	Texas
K.J. Costello	Santa Margarita (California)	No. 4 pro-style QB (No. 36 overall)	4-star	Stanford
Messiah deWeaver	Wayne (Ohio)	No. 12 pro-style QB (No. 329 overall)	3-star	Michigan State
Jett Duffey	Lake Ridge (Texas)	No. 34 dual-threat QB (No. 1,322 overall)	3-star	Texas Tech
Jacob Eason	Lake Stevens (Washington)	No. 1 pro-style quarterback (No. 3 overall)	5-star	Georgia
Feleipe Franks	Wakulla (Florida)	No. 1 dual-threat QB (No. 44 overall)	4-star	LSU
Jarrett Guarantano	Bergen Catholic (New Jersey)	No. 6 pro-style QB (No. 101 overall)	4-star	Tennessee
Dwayne Haskins	The Bullis School (Maryland)	No. 5 pro-style QB (No. 63 overall)	4-star	Maryland
Malik Henry	In the process of transferring.	No. 3 pro-style QB (No. 28 overall)	5-star	Florida State
Brandon McIlwain	Council Rock North (Pennsylvania)	No. 8 dual-threat QB (No. 261 overall)	4-star	South Carolina
Patrick O'Brien	San Juan Hills (California)	No. 16 pro-style QB (No. 446 overall)	3-star	Nebraska
Jawon Pass	Carver (Georgia)	No. 3 dual-threat QB (No. 152 overall)	4-star	Uncommitted
Shea Patterson	Calvary Baptist (Louisiana)	No. 2 pro-style QB (No. 8 overall)	5-star	Ole Miss
Brandon Peters	Avon (Indiana)	No. 9 pro-style QB (No. 179 overall)	4-star	Michigan
Anthony Russo	Archbishop Wood (Pennsylvania)	No. 73 pro-style QB (No. 1,483 overall)	3-star	Rutgers
Nick Starkel	Liberty Christian (Texas)	No. 22 pro-style QB (No. 573 overall)	3-star	Oklahoma State
Dillon Sterling-Cole	Westfield (Texas)	No. 10 pro-style QB (No. 281 overall)	4-star	Uncommitted
Jake Zembiec	Aquinas Institute (New York)	No. 14 pro-style QB (No. 352 overall)	3-star	Penn State

Elite 11 finals test several traits that ultimately add up to create a quarterback who can lead his team on and off the field. Players are pushed to improve—physically and mentally—throughout the week, while exhibiting quality decision-making habits and a desire to be coached.

Last summer, we witnessed California product Blake Barnett take top honors in Oregon. He is now approaching his first season at Alabama.

Based on what this latest crop of quarterback has accomplished in game action and camp settings, here's a look at how we believe the contenders stack up, with odds for each prospect claiming top honors in Beaverton.

The Favorites

Jacob Eason: 3-to-1

The 6'5", 205-pound passer continues to maintain his spot atop positional composite rankings for a reason. We compare him favorably to top-rated 2015 quarterback Josh Rosen, and he continues to validate the hype in Elite 11 settings.

Eason, who has thrown for 6,228 yards and 59 touchdowns through 25 high school games, per MaxPreps, displays outstanding precision. His detailed footwork and effortless release is exactly what coaches want to see from a top college prospect.

Shea Patterson: 7-to-2

Patterson separated himself from the pack—and just about everyone not named Jacob Eason—during a dominant junior campaign. He completed 65 percent of passes for 2,428 yards and 38 touchdowns, adding another three scores on the ground.

Ball security is among his most admirable traits, and expect that to shine throughout finals action. Patterson has thrown just seven interceptions on his past 422 attempts.

"Shea I would have invited last year as a sophomore," Elite 11 leader Trent Dilfer told Barton Simmons of 247Sports. "I was trying to break the rules last year and bring him as a sophomore."

Dwayne Haskins: 5-to-1

Some may view this as a slightly high placement for the New Jersey native, but he is tailor-made for this competition. Haskins, who stands 6'3", 198 pounds, is technically sound and maintains consistency in his approach, with little sign of drop-off during a day's work.

He also exudes leadership qualities, which should come in handy when Haskins attempts to lead a seven-on-seven squad of blue-chip recruits. His past two seasons featured 36 touchdown tosses and just 11 interceptions.

"I'm a game-changer whenever I have the ball in my hands, whether it's first down or third down," Haskins told Bleacher Report. "I'm going to get the job done. I don't make too many mistakes, and if I do make a mistake, there won't be one the next play. It's about making sure I capitalize on everything around me."

K.J. Costello: 11-to-2

The Southern California standout handled a significantly expanded role in 2014, when he nearly doubled his sophomore pass attempts. Costello completed 60 percent of his attempts for 3,123 yards (nearly 300 per game) and 23 touchdowns, per MaxPreps.

His ability to read defenses across different levels helps put him in solid position each rep. Costello might throw the prettiest deep ball in this class, and he'll have a chance to prove it in Beaverton.

Malik Henry: 6-to-1

Henry has some doubters to silence in the wake of news that he's transferring schools for the third straight season, especially amid rumors that there may have been some disconnect between him and members of the coaching staff. That's an aspect of the game that means a lot to Dilfer and Elite 11 folks, so you can bet they'll keep a close eye on his "coachability" at every turn.

Putting that aside, Henry has all the physical tools you look for from a stud quarterback recruit. Few can rival his pocket presence, and he grades out among the most accurate passers in this class.

Jarrett Guarantano: 7-to-1

Yet to spend a full high school season behind center, Guarantano lacks the game credibility that many fellow competitors bring into this event. However, a few looks at him provide the impression that this young man is special.

We scouted a 2014 game in which Guarantano was sacked nearly 10 times and under duress throughout, but he managed to keep his composure and make a few highlight plays despite a touch setting. That speaks volumes about his resolve, and Guarantano is a candidate for the strongest arm in camp.

"In terms of impressive workouts we've seen this year, from start to finish, he's probably at the top. He's always had the big arm and the physical build you look for at the position." Elite 11 coach Brian Stumpf told Bleacher Report at the New Jersey/New York Elite 11 regional camp.

Credit: 247Sports

Feleipe Franks: 15-to-2

The 6'5", 220-pound passer was the first player to pick up an invitation to the Elite 11 finals. Franks, who threw for 2,249 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior, is one of the strongest quarterbacks in this class.

His powerful arm is further enhanced by well-timed dimes that he delivers with frequency. Franks relies on his legs quite often against high school competition and is often on the move, so we're curious to see how he handles things in the pocket.

Brandon Peters: 8-to-1

His national recognition has steadily increased since an April pledge to Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. Peters warrants the high profile, as he appears to be the Midwest's top passer in this class. 

He turned a lot of heads in Elite 11 preliminaries and carries some momentum into the finals, where Peters will match up quite well with his contemporaries in most categories. He drew comparisons from Harbaugh to a former Elite 11 finalist.

"He compared me to Andrew Luck," Peters told Bleacher Report. "It's a similar situation to what he had at Stanford, with Luck being the first quarterback recruit he brought in [with a full cycle]. He thinks I'm a really good fit for him at Michigan like Luck was for him there."

Credit: 247Sports

Brandon McIlwain: 9-to-1

McIlwain won't blow people away with his measurables, standing 6'0", but Elite 11 coaches continue to rave about his dedication. He dropped close to 20 pounds of extra weight since last year, transforming his physique in time for a strong 2015 stretch.

McIlwain collected 3,200 total yards and 38 touchdowns last season, and he looks very comfortable in the pocket despite a 2014 campaign that featured 1,100 rushing yards. His attitude could ultimately give him an edge over competitors with more impressive physical traits.

"Every meeting he was so locked in taking copious notes. He was so invested in the process," Dilfer told Simmons after Elite 11 semifinals. "We've had kids do that before and then stink it up on the field. And he was awesome on the field. So the combination of that, he's everything we're looking for in a kid."

Rest of the Pack

Shane Buechele: 10-to-1

Jake Zembiec: 11-to-1

Messiah deWeaver: 13-to-1

Nick Starkel: 14-to-1

Jawon Pass: 15-to-1

Dillon Sterling-Cole: 16-to-1

Patrick O'Brien: 18-to-1

Anthony Russo: 20-to-1

Jett Duffey: 22-to-1

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.