Ranking the Top 10 Elite 11 Alumni of Last Decade

The annual Elite 11 national finals takes center stage July 5-10 at Nike's World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. The event features 18 golden-armed high school stars from across the country, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1999.

Elite 11 alumni continue to make a major impact on the global football landscape. It's a group that includes Heisman Trophy winners, national champions and No. 1 draft picks. 

We reviewed competitors from the past 10 years, ranking them based on their accomplishments at quarterback.

10. Landry Jones, Class of 2007

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He never quite matched the hype that surrounded Oklahoma predecessor Sam Bradford, but Landry Jones was among the most effective quarterbacks in college football during a four-year stretch as the Sooners starter. He led the FBS in passing yards (4,718) as a sophomore in 2010, posting a total that fell two yards shy of Bradford's school record.

Jones finished his career in Norman with 16,646 passing yards and 126 total touchdowns. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked him in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft, and he remains with the team.

9. Josh Freeman, Class of 2005

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Josh Freeman once looked like the second coming of Ben Roethlisberger and a franchise savior for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who selected him 17th overall in the 2009 NFL draft. He set the team record for career touchdown passes during less than five seasons in Tampa. 

However, his career derailed in 2013 when the Buccaneers released him, and he recently landed at his fourth NFL stop with the Miami Dolphins. In college, Freeman became the second Kansas State quarterback to account for more than 60 career scores and throw for more than 8,000 yards.

8. Tajh Boyd, Class of 2008

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The 2012 ACC Football Player of the Year holds conference records for career passing yards (11,904) and touchdowns tosses (107). Tajh Boyd started three seasons, leading the Clemson Tigers to a 32-8 record and a 2014 Orange Bowl victory.

He capped off his career with a virtuoso performance in the Orange Bowl, thrashing Ohio State for 505 offensive yards and six scores. The New York Jets selected Boyd in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft, and he currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

7. Geno Smith, Class of 2008

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Geno Smith produced at a prolific rate during three seasons as West Virginia's starting quarterback, completing 67 percent of pass attempts for 11,662 yards and 98 touchdowns. He led the Mountaineers to an annihilation of Clemson in the 2012 Orange Bowl, setting a game record with 401 passing yards in a 70-33 win.

His junior year set West Virginia's single-season records for pass completions (291) and yards (3,741). The New York Jets took him 39th overall in the 2013 NFL draft, and he started 30 games during his first two professional seasons, throwing 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. 

6. AJ McCarron, Class of 2008

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AJ McCarron may have been occasionally overshadowed by Alabama's dominant defense and a deep stable of star running backs, but he was the only quarterback to lead his team to back-to-back national titles during the BCS era. He took home Offensive MVP honors in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game vs. LSU.

McCarron threw 77 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions in 53 games with the Crimson Tide, finishing second in the 2013 Heisman Trophy vote. The Cincinnati Bengals made him a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft, and he appears entrenched as Andy Dalton's top backup.

5. Teddy Bridgewater, Class of 2010

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Teddy Bridgewater quickly became the Big East's top offensive weapon at Louisville, claiming conference honors for Freshman of the Year (2011) and Player of the Year (2012). His sophomore season featured an MVP award in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, in which he threw two touchdowns in an upset victory over Florida.

Bridgewater punished opponents as the Louisville quarterback, completing 68 percent of his passes for 9,817 yards and 72 touchdowns in three seasons. The Minnesota Vikings took him 32nd overall in the 2014 NFL draft and he won the 2014 Rookie of the Year award after throwing for 2,919 yards and 14 scores.

4. Tim Tebow, Class of 2005

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Tim Tebow didn't take the NFL by storm, but he does go down as one of the greatest playmakers in college football history. He won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore in 2007 and helped Florida win two national championships under head coach Urban Meyer.

His collegiate statistics are amazing, as Tebow amassed 12,232 total offensive yards and 145 touchdowns. He was a first-round draft selection by the Denver Broncos, leading the team to a 2012 playoff victory before taking on backup roles elsewhere. He is currently on the Philadelphia Eagles roster.

3. Jameis Winston, Class of 2011

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Jameis Winston is one of three Elite 11 alumni on this list to work his way to the top of the NFL draft. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tied franchise fortunes to the former Florida State star in April after two sensational seasons with the Seminoles. 

Winston won the Heisman Trophy in 2013, capping off his redshirt freshman season with Offensive MVP honors in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game. He completed 66 percent of collegiate passes, resulting in 7,964 yards and 65 scores.

2. Matthew Stafford, Class of 2005

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Postseason success still eludes Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions, but he is exactly what the franchise hoped he would become when they selected him first overall in the 2009 draft. He reached 20,000 passing yards faster than any quarterback in NFL history, accomplishing the feat in 71 games.

Stafford claimed Pro Bowl Offensive MVP honors last winter and is one of five NFL quarterbacks to collect 5,000 passing yards in a single season. He threw for 7,731 yards and 51 touchdowns in three college seasons at Georgia.

1. Andrew Luck, Class of 2007

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Andrew Luck is arguably one of the premier passers in professional football right now, living up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his NFL arrival. He bested legendary Indianapolis Colts predecessor Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in the playoffs last season, continuing to grow his own legend.

Luck has thrown for 12,957 yards and 86 touchdowns though three NFL seasons. He was a two-time Heisman runner-up at Stanford, where he earned 2011 Orange Bowl MVP honors.