5 Top Performing Quarterback Recruits from 2016 Miami Elite 11 Regional

PLANTATION, Fla. — The Miami Elite 11 regional mostly featured passers from the talent-laden territories in Dade and Broward counties in South Florida.

However, a handful of passers from central Florida and even a few out-of-state signal-callers made their way to American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida, with eyes on clinching a spot in the Elite 11 semifinals later in the summer.

Two passers who already competed in the Orlando Elite 11 Regional—4-star Jake Allen and 3-star Cade Weldon—came to South Florida for another chance to impress the Elite 11 coaching staff.

Additionally, one out-of-state prospect with some flair and an underclassmen who made it to the climactic pressure-chamber event highlighted the field-general segment.

Elite 11 quarterback coaches Craig Nall and Paul Troth shared a few things that stood out about the group as a whole.

“I think first and foremost, they had a great attitude. The quarterbacks, as a group, it seems like they came out here eager to learn—which is encouraging from a coaching standpoint. You don’t have to coach them so hard,” Nall told Bleacher Report. “We just gave them what they need, and I thought they responded well and competed hard. A couple of guys showed out, and I thought you saw that towards the end there.”

Troth echoed those sentiments.

“I think [the quarterbacks] came out strong in the beginning. There was a lot of energy,” Troth said. “I think they were very attentive to the finer details in the beginning with things such as drop progression and tying your feet to your eyes. The little things that we want to see that they should go home and practice on their own.”

Which quarterbacks stood out the most among the group?

Let’s take a look at the five top-performing quarterback recruits from the 2016 Miami Elite 11 regional.

5. T.J. Smith

For the second straight regional event, an underclassmen was among the final five competitors in the "Pressure Chamber" event that closes out the competition. 

T.J. Smith, a 2019 quarterback from South Broward High School in Plantation, Florida, used a steady showing in the early portion of drills to earn a spot among four other rising seniors at the end of the camp.

However, Smith looked to be antsy during the Pressure Chamber, with a number of his passes sailing high.

Still, he possessed a strong arm and consistently showed nice touch and accuracy on short and intermediate routes. 

Troth’s Take: "He was solid all day. I had him in my group in seven-on-seven. He was very attentive. I think he pressed a bit in the Pressure Chamber. But it shows where he has room to grow. I think he needs to understand that there’s no reason to flinch. He just has to get in there and let it rip. The last five throws were not evident of his day. His whole day was a great progression from start to finish. He absorbed information very well."

4. Stetson Bennett IV

One player who immediately stood out in the group of quarterbacks was Pierce County (Georgia) High School product Stetson Bennett IV.

The reason for that wasn’t because of his height or gaudy profile entering the event. Instead Bennett drew looks, and a few laughs, for one accessory to his wardrobe: a United States Postal Service hat.

According to MaxPreps, the 6’0” 175-pounder threw for 2,924 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.

Bennett—whose quirky accessory choice made him quickly become a favorite among his peers and the coaching staff—was the consummate field general on Sunday as he brought a ton of energy and a live, but accurate, arm from start to finish.

Nall’s Take: "He is feisty. He stood out from the beginning with the mailman hat because he looked 30 years old. It really sticks in your mind and you start to pay attention to him more. He was another one of those guys who kind of started really good and just continued to improve throughout the whole day. I’m glad he got a chance to compete in the Pressure Chamber toward the end. He’s a little undersized, but he was out competing with the big dogs, and he had a really good showing."

3. 3-Star Todd Centeio

One of the top local prospects in attendance was 3-star quarterback Todd Centeio.

The 5’11”, 193-pounder out of Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, won’t wow anyone with his measurables.

However, he was one of the more consistent arms in attendance on Sunday in terms of accuracy and ball placement. 

Schools such as Indiana, Miami—where he was once committed before reopening his recruitment—and NC State are among those who have already offered Centeio. 

According to MaxPreps, in six games last season, Centeio passed for 898 yards and nine scores.

Troth’s Take: "I really enjoyed him. In my drill, he performed the best in the conflict climb from start to finish. His start was so-so, his middle got better and toward the end, he was almost mastering the drill. So he’s very coachable, and that’s great to see."

2. 3-Star Cade Weldon

As he continues to recover from a torn ACL that cost him a majority of his junior season, 3-star quarterback Cade Weldon has continued to make progress in his recovery.

The 6’0”, 185-pounder was one of the few passers who consistently threw strikes with great anticipation.

He was particularly sharp in the red-zone portion of drills, as he fired back-to-back lasers that resulted in touchdowns.

While he didn’t earn an invite to the Elite 11 semifinals, it appears as if there’s a chance he could be a late add after the regional circuit is completed.

Nall’s Take: "He kind of cups the ball at times. He was still locating the ball, and he competed really well in the skelly challenge at the end. I think he’s coming off a knee injury. He’s another big kid whom I think has a chance as we continue to go through this process. He just needs to hone his craft and continue to get better."

1. 4-Star Jake Allen

After a solid showing in Orlando, Allen admits he went back to the drawing board in anticipation of having a better showing in an area close to his home turf.

“It feels good. [Getting an Elite 11 semifinals invite is] a goal I’ve been working for in the offseason and to have it come true, it’s a cool feeling,” Allen said.

Allen appeared to be more loose this go-around, and he sharpened up his delivery—which led to a quick release and more completions.

“I started off a little slow and then picked it up a little bit. It’s about how you finish,” Allen remarked. “I just wanted to come out during one-on-ones and during skelly and make sure I threw the ball well.”

The main difference with Allen came down to the Pressure Chamber event. The future Florida Gator made a simple adjustment to his strategy that paid off with a trip to Los Angeles in June.

“In Orlando, I only completed two of the five passes [during the Pressure Chamber]. Whereas here, I completed all of them,” Allen said. “I just took what I had and in Orlando I was trying to go for the big ball. Here, I took what the defense gave me and that made all the difference.”

Troth’s Take: "I think he’s a completion junkie. He wasn’t tired of taking completions. I think he didn’t press in the final Pressure Chamber. He did a good job with that. He did well after going first to Orlando. He came back to his hometown and really put together a solid day."

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani