Twenty of the top signal-callers from the 2025 cycle were in Manhattan Beach, Calif., this week for the Elite 11 Finals. The three-day event concluded with 7-on-7 play Thursday afternoon.
On3 released our top players of the event on Thursday afternoon, which took into account cumulative performances over the three days of the Elite 11 Finals. The Elite 11 staff releases its own rankings, which consider the projection of camp combined with junior and named film Keelon Russell as their MVP.
Now that the Elite 11 Finals are behind us, it’s time to dole out some superlatives of the week.
Best performers overall | Day 1: the best performers | Day 2, the best performers
Strongest Arm – Husan Longstreet (Texas A&M)
Husan Longstreet clearly touted the strongest arm in attendance at the Elite 11 Finals. The ball comes out of the 6-foot-1, 200-pound hand at a different speed than his peers. Longstreet’s ability to create torque through his core along with his 10.5 inch hands allows him to generate extreme levels of speed on his throws. The Texas A&M commit effortlessly drove the football at all levels of the field during the Elite 11 Finals. Although he showed improved accuracy and an ability to lay up his throws, no hope in the cycle is better at throwing fastballs.
Most positive – Deuce Knight (Notre Dame)
Two knightsThe combination of size, athleticism and arm talent gives him the highest upside among the Elite 11 finalists and one of the highest ceilings in the 2025 cycle. At 6-foot-4.5 and 208 books, Knight is arguably the most athletic quarterback in the cycle. He showed marked improvements in his consistency as a passer after beginning work with a private quarterback coach in recent months. Knight throws with more accuracy and confidence, allowing him to unleash more of his high-end arm strength. He earned two On3 MVP honors at back-to-back national events: the Overtime OT7 Finals and the Elite 11 Finals. Next, we look to see if he can continue his positive momentum into his senior season . Given what we’ve seen over the last month, Knight is showing signs of starting to fulfill his immense potential.
Most Accurate – Julian Lewis (USC)
Julian Lewis living up to his reputation as a very accurate pocket passer during the Elite 11 Finals. The USC commit was the most accurate passer during the week, especially over the last two days. Lewis was on target during his professional session and finished second behind Tavian St-Clair in the challenge of precision. He continued this into day three, where he was able to deliver with touch and location during his 7-on-7 session. The 6-foot, 186-pound player’s high level of development allows him to play with advanced accuracy , thus adding to his skills as a cerebral distributor.
Most Consistent – Keelon Russell (Alabama)
Keelon Russell was the steady hand in the Elite 11 final. The Alabama commit consistently launched with good speed and solid accuracy over the three days. He was particularly effective in attacking the intermediate area of the pitch. We saw him in his 7v7 session – which was among the best of the group. Russell picked apart the opposing defense, throwing 19 of 25 passes for five touchdowns. While others made more jaw-dropping throws, Russell won because of his decision-making and ability to take what was open while delivering with good zip and placement. Outside of comfort and timing in working under center, there weren’t many discernible holes in Duncanville (Texas) High’s game during the week.
College Ready Construction – Tavien St. Clair (Ohio State)
Tavian St-Clair wouldn’t be out of place on a college football field right now. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he was the tallest and most physically developed of the 11 Elite finalists. The Ohio State commit has undergone a physical transformation over the past two years and has filled out his frame to the point where he’s likely close to his long-term playing size. St. Clair showed progress not only in the weight room or at the practice table – he continued to perfect his game and was one of the smoothest and most accurate passers in the Finals Elite 11.
Gunslinger – Matt Zollers (Missouri)
When it came to the 7v7 game of the Elite 11 final, no hopeful was left torn apart more than Matt Zollers. The 6-foot-3.5, 203-pounder repeatedly pushed the ball downfield, finishing with a session-high six touchdowns along with two interceptions. He wasn’t shy about potentially placing his throws in small windows and ended up fitting the football in most of the time. While Zollers can continue to improve his consistency, we got a glimpse of the playmaking instinct that makes him one of the most dynamic signal-callers in the cycle Friday night.
Smoothest outing – Tramell Jones (Florida State)
Tramell Jones showed a silky throwing motion and release during the Elite 11 final. The 6-foot, 195-pounder has a crisp run with no moving parts. Jones’ tight throwing motion allows him to throw catchable footballs consistently and throw with accuracy. The Mandarin from Jacksonville (Fla.) is a pure pocket passer who is at his best when he can sit back and distribute the ball to surrounding playmakers.
KJ Lacey showed some of the quickest and most coordinated feet during the Elite 11 final. The Texas commit managed to get good depth on his drops in addition to moving well in scenarios that required quarterbacks to come out of the pocket. While not an overwhelming threat, Lacey backs up the movement skills we saw in the Elite 11 Finals on Friday night as an improvisational player behind the line of scrimmage.
Best Mechanic – Luke Nickel (Miami)
Luc Nickel displayed sound mechanics from A to Z during the Elite 11 Finals. The Miami commit has a traditional high release point and did a great job getting the ball out throughout the week. He was also very natural and fluid in his falls, showing good coordination and functional mobility when operating from inside the structure. We rarely saw Nickel in a bad mood during the Elite 11 Finals, largely due to his rock-solid mechanical base.
Player – KaMario Taylor (Mississippi State)
Several of the Elite 11 finalists upped their game once things got online in 7-on-7 play on Day 3. Mississippi State commits KaMario Taylor had its ups and downs over the first two days, but really broke through on Thursday, making some outstanding throws 7-on-7 en route to four touchdowns. Taylor wasn’t always comfortable in the highly structured drill work or pro day setup, but he was able to showcase his considerable talent when he was able to not think and just play in a smoother frame.