SHSUHorn
Thief
There isn't a more prestigious quarterback camp in the country than the Elite 11, and after day two of the camp in Southern California all 12 of the signal-callers have had a chance get adjusted to the schedule, but as expected several signal callers have seemingly really found their groove.
Texas pledge John Brantley has impressed the first two days at the camp.
Most observers at the camp have pegged John Brantley as the top gun so far, and Elite 11 analyst Brian Stumpf said he can see why after two very solid days of workouts.
"He's showed us a lot of what he did at the NIKE Camp, where he blew everybody away," Stumpf said about the Texas Longhorn pledge.
"He's so smooth and solid. His arm strength would probably be somewhere near the middle of the pack with this group, but he's just so accurate and well schooled.
"We were talking to the kids today about how 70 percent of all quarterbacks that get drafted were either kids that have coaches in their family or their parents were a coach on some sort of level. It's very clear from watching John that he's much further ahead of a lot of the other guys. He wants to redshirt at Texas, but he's easily one of the most college-ready guys here. He's very solid in all the things that you want from a major college-ready quarterback. Throw him in there with all those athletes at Texas, and he should be able to play right away if he wants to."
Rivals.com recruiting analyst Greg Biggins went on even further explains how impressive that Brantley has been.
"Brantley by far has been the best," Biggins said. "He's got it all. He's like the prototype guy. He's got the great frame, and he's so fundamentally sound. He's always on balance. He's great in the chalk talks. He always picks up all the drills right away. He doesn't make the wrong read and he makes such quick decisions.
"That's one of the biggest things we liked about Matthew Stafford last season. Brantley can compare to Stafford in all of those areas. He's a great kid and a great work ethic.
"He's been as close to perfect as you can be in a camp like this."
Stumpf said all of the quarterbacks have had their good moments during the first two days of the workouts, but he's also personally been impressed with the play of Ryan Mallett.
"Physically, Mallet has a certain couple things that help him stand out above the others," Stumpf said. "His statue (6-foot-7, 235 pounds) is obviously a lot bigger than the other guys out here. And it's been said time after time that he's got the biggest arm that's come through here in a few years.
"He's had a couple of really strong days, and it's clear that he's really starting to give his total focus to football. He likes to have fun, chat with everybody and just enjoy everything that goes with being a quarterback. But he's been doing a good job of hitting it hard in the classroom part.
"He's got all the ability, but he just needs to show that ability in the classroom and work hard at the little things that go with being one of the best quarterbacks in the nation."
Biggins said he was also impressed with Mallett's workouts the first two days.
"Mallett has the best arm that we've seen in eight years," Biggins said. "He's off the charts with that. And I agree with Brian that he should get more credit for his complete game."
Stumpf said Mallett's arm is obviously the biggest thing that jumps out about him, but the future Wolverine quarterback has surprised some people with his footwork. That was easily the biggest question mark about the five-star quarterback heading into the event.
"He'll develop physically, and he's got quicker feet than people thing," Stumpf said. "He's been a guy that the counselors and Bob Johnson have been impressed with so far through the first two days. He's really worked on his footwork and you can tell."
Biggins' next best so far after two days would be Willy Korn, the Clemson commitment from Duncan (S.C.) James F. Byrnes.
"Basically everything I said about Brantley, you could say about Willy," Biggins said. "He's an athlete kid that just has this bounce about him. He's almost like a basketball guy with the way he's always so energetic and excited about things.
"He's just got this something special about him. He's got all the tools and should be a great one for Clemson."
Biggins also singled out Jarrett Lee, saying he had the quickest release of any other quarterback in the camp. He also said Lee, an LSU commitment, has impressed in chalk talk by asking all the right questions. He's also been impressed with Georgia commitment Logan Gray of Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge and USC pledge Aaron Corp of Orange (Calif.) Lutheran.
"Logan has really been on his A-game out here," Biggins said.
"His arm has been really live. He knows all the drills, he's smart, he's quick and he's a phenomenal kid. With Aaron, he has everything but the arm. I keep calling him a right-handed Matt Leinart. He's really skinny at this point, like Leinart in high school, but he's smart, accurate and he makes the right decision every time. He's a winder, and a good leader with a quiet confidence. He just doesn't have the same zip as some of the others out here."
To play quarterback, you have to have a great sense of leadership and each one of the 12 quarterbacks at the event have a personality that just makes people want to do great things for them. However, it's becoming clearer and clearer that two guys have that little extra something special when it comes to the personality and leadership department.
"Quarterback is the ultimate leader position, and all of these guys are special in that department," Stumpf said.
"But Willy Korn and Stephen Garcia are guys that always have a crowd around them. I think a lot of guys have really enjoyed getting to know them. Whether if it's just hanging out off the field, watching TV, playing NCAA 2007 or hanging out at the beach, it just seems like everybody gravitates toward Willy and Stephen.
"They're definitely the life of the party."
Texas pledge John Brantley has impressed the first two days at the camp.
Most observers at the camp have pegged John Brantley as the top gun so far, and Elite 11 analyst Brian Stumpf said he can see why after two very solid days of workouts.
"He's showed us a lot of what he did at the NIKE Camp, where he blew everybody away," Stumpf said about the Texas Longhorn pledge.
"He's so smooth and solid. His arm strength would probably be somewhere near the middle of the pack with this group, but he's just so accurate and well schooled.
"We were talking to the kids today about how 70 percent of all quarterbacks that get drafted were either kids that have coaches in their family or their parents were a coach on some sort of level. It's very clear from watching John that he's much further ahead of a lot of the other guys. He wants to redshirt at Texas, but he's easily one of the most college-ready guys here. He's very solid in all the things that you want from a major college-ready quarterback. Throw him in there with all those athletes at Texas, and he should be able to play right away if he wants to."
Rivals.com recruiting analyst Greg Biggins went on even further explains how impressive that Brantley has been.
"Brantley by far has been the best," Biggins said. "He's got it all. He's like the prototype guy. He's got the great frame, and he's so fundamentally sound. He's always on balance. He's great in the chalk talks. He always picks up all the drills right away. He doesn't make the wrong read and he makes such quick decisions.
"That's one of the biggest things we liked about Matthew Stafford last season. Brantley can compare to Stafford in all of those areas. He's a great kid and a great work ethic.
"He's been as close to perfect as you can be in a camp like this."
Stumpf said all of the quarterbacks have had their good moments during the first two days of the workouts, but he's also personally been impressed with the play of Ryan Mallett.
"Physically, Mallet has a certain couple things that help him stand out above the others," Stumpf said. "His statue (6-foot-7, 235 pounds) is obviously a lot bigger than the other guys out here. And it's been said time after time that he's got the biggest arm that's come through here in a few years.
"He's had a couple of really strong days, and it's clear that he's really starting to give his total focus to football. He likes to have fun, chat with everybody and just enjoy everything that goes with being a quarterback. But he's been doing a good job of hitting it hard in the classroom part.
"He's got all the ability, but he just needs to show that ability in the classroom and work hard at the little things that go with being one of the best quarterbacks in the nation."
Biggins said he was also impressed with Mallett's workouts the first two days.
"Mallett has the best arm that we've seen in eight years," Biggins said. "He's off the charts with that. And I agree with Brian that he should get more credit for his complete game."
Stumpf said Mallett's arm is obviously the biggest thing that jumps out about him, but the future Wolverine quarterback has surprised some people with his footwork. That was easily the biggest question mark about the five-star quarterback heading into the event.
"He'll develop physically, and he's got quicker feet than people thing," Stumpf said. "He's been a guy that the counselors and Bob Johnson have been impressed with so far through the first two days. He's really worked on his footwork and you can tell."
Biggins' next best so far after two days would be Willy Korn, the Clemson commitment from Duncan (S.C.) James F. Byrnes.
"Basically everything I said about Brantley, you could say about Willy," Biggins said. "He's an athlete kid that just has this bounce about him. He's almost like a basketball guy with the way he's always so energetic and excited about things.
"He's just got this something special about him. He's got all the tools and should be a great one for Clemson."
Biggins also singled out Jarrett Lee, saying he had the quickest release of any other quarterback in the camp. He also said Lee, an LSU commitment, has impressed in chalk talk by asking all the right questions. He's also been impressed with Georgia commitment Logan Gray of Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge and USC pledge Aaron Corp of Orange (Calif.) Lutheran.
"Logan has really been on his A-game out here," Biggins said.
"His arm has been really live. He knows all the drills, he's smart, he's quick and he's a phenomenal kid. With Aaron, he has everything but the arm. I keep calling him a right-handed Matt Leinart. He's really skinny at this point, like Leinart in high school, but he's smart, accurate and he makes the right decision every time. He's a winder, and a good leader with a quiet confidence. He just doesn't have the same zip as some of the others out here."
To play quarterback, you have to have a great sense of leadership and each one of the 12 quarterbacks at the event have a personality that just makes people want to do great things for them. However, it's becoming clearer and clearer that two guys have that little extra something special when it comes to the personality and leadership department.
"Quarterback is the ultimate leader position, and all of these guys are special in that department," Stumpf said.
"But Willy Korn and Stephen Garcia are guys that always have a crowd around them. I think a lot of guys have really enjoyed getting to know them. Whether if it's just hanging out off the field, watching TV, playing NCAA 2007 or hanging out at the beach, it just seems like everybody gravitates toward Willy and Stephen.
"They're definitely the life of the party."
