Link: 2008 ELITE 11 (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron was impressive

Crimson Surfer

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I have to say I am a little surprised that Auburn's Raymond Cotton made the field.

ESPN RISE Announces 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field
ESPN RISE announced today the selections for The Elite 11 quarterback event. The event, celebrating its 10th anniversary, provides the nation's top high school quarterbacks with high-level instruction by the best in the business, making it the nation's premier quarterback camp for prep athletes. The Elite 11 will be held in Southern California July 21-24.

The high school quarterbacks were selected through an exhaustive evaluation process, which includes film research and in-person and telephone interviews. More than 1,000 quarterbacks are evaluated annually between ESPN RISE's NIKE Camp and EA SPORTS Elite 11 regional camps.

The 2008 Elite 11 selections are: Tajh Boyd (Phoebus High School  Hampton, Va.), Richard Brehaut (Los Osos High School - Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Allan Bridgford (Mission High School  Viejo, Calif.), Raymond Cotton (Meade High School - Fort Meade, Md.), Garrett Gilbert (Lake Travis High School  Austin, Texas), Andrew Maxwell (Midland High School - Midland, Mich.), A.J. McCarron (St. Paul's High School  Mobile, Ala.), Zach Mettenberger (Oconee County High School  Watkinsville, Ga.), Aaron Murray (Plant High School  Tampa, Fla.), Bryn Renner (West Springfield High School - Lorton, Va.), Tom Savage (Cardinal O'Hara High School - Springfield, Pa.), Eugene Smith (Miramar High School - Miramar, Fla.)
 

BamaBowtie

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

This list loses credibilty with me with the exclusion of Matt Barkley. Did he choose not to participate or was he simply left out:conf2:
 

BleedCrimson7

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

Raymond Cotton? Have they looked at the guys numbers? He's a good athlete, but he's proven nothing at QB. I'll bet that within two years at AU he's moved to WR, safety or some other position just like DeRon Furr was this spring. No way he's one of the top 11, or even 20 QB's in the nation. They lose all credibility for including him.
 

tidefanblake

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

Raymond Cotton? Really?....wow...

Guess I missed his stock going up that much.

(Great minds think alike, BleedCrimson..)
 

runtheoption22

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

Apparently, several much better prospects missed qualifying events. The 12th best dual threat (that may not even play QB in college) does not belong in this event.
 

Crimson Surfer

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

This list loses credibilty with me with the exclusion of Matt Barkley. Did he choose not to participate or was he simply left out:conf2:
Matt Barkley was the first QB selected to attend the Elite 11. He turned down the offer and he has been replaced by Garrett Gilbert from Austin, Texas. Barkley turned down the Elite 11 because of his strong loyalty to his private QB coach Steve Clarkson. Apparently there is some sort of rivalry or differences in training between Steve Clarkson and coach Bob Johnson who runs the Elite 11 camp.

Coveted Quarterback Looks to Thrive on Next Level
Steve Clarkson, Barkley’s private quarterback coach, said Barkley’s faith was evident in his work ethic and leadership.

Clarkson, who has worked with Barkley since he was a freshman entering Mater Dei, projects him as a future first-round pick in the N.F.L. draft.

Clarkson has worked with numerous N.F.L. quarterbacks, including the first-round selections Leinart, Ben Roethlisberger and J. P. Losman, and said Barkley had the potential to be the best quarterback he had ever tutored.

“He’s certainly well on his way,” Clarkson said. “His skills are off the charts.”
Here is a previous Tide Fans thread with the initial Elite 11 discussion, including some additional info on Barkley and A. J. McCarron if anyone is interested.

[ame=http://tidefans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72587]2008 Elite 11 QB: A. J. McCarran officially selected/ Seven set for Elite 11[/ame]
 

GrandBayTider

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

Wow :eek2: so two small private schools in Mobile AL had two of the top 11 QBs in the entire USA out of the more than 1000 evaluated! Talk about a hotbed of talent. Looks like the Iron Bowl might be the place to see future NFL QBs going head to head in the future.
 

BEATtutorsee

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

Apparently, several much better prospects missed qualifying events. The 12th best dual threat (that may not even play QB in college) does not belong in this event.
I agree. Heck there are a few QBs around the region that I would send before Cotton.
 

BigEasyTider

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

My question is where in the hell is Russell Shepard?

I'm not trying to be the LSU apologist here -- and granted I don't think he'll ever play a down of quarterback in Baton Rouge -- but if you're going to invite a "quarterback" who will end up at a different position faster than you can say Jimmy Johns, at least get the best of the best, and that's Shepard.

Personally, I think that considering a kid who will ultimately play either linebacker or safety, and had offers from only Auburn and Kentucky, an Elite 11 quarterback is completely absurd, and only strips away the accomplishment of being an Elite 11 QB.
 

derek4tide

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

Wow :eek2: so two small private schools in Mobile AL had two of the top 11 QBs in the entire USA out of the more than 1000 evaluated! Talk about a hotbed of talent. Looks like the Iron Bowl might be the place to see future NFL QBs going head to head in the future.
Mobile's always had the talent. Now, with St Paul and other private schools growing due to the poor Mobile public school system, it's no wonder they are getting the best talent as well.
 

crimson_blood

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced

While Cotton's a GREAT athlete, his arm is nowhere near what you would classify as Elite 11 material (at least from the film I saw on him last year). I think he'll be a really good player, but I doubt he's even a QB at the next level.
 

Crimson Surfer

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Field Announced: Camp is July 21-24

The Elite 11 Camp started up today in Southern California. It will take place July 21-24. Hopefully we will get some good reports soon. I did hear that A.J. McCarron and Raymond Cotton are rooming together.
 

Crimson Surfer

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Camp (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1

A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1 and he was considered a standout performer among the Elite 11 QBs. Almost everyone said they had a Brodie Croyle flashback watching him with his quick release and strong arm. That is great to hear for us Bama fans. It is not mentioned in the article but McCarron finished 3rd in round 1 of the Golden Gun accuracy challenge at the end of the first days practice. Allan Bridgford was 1st, Aaron Murray was 2nd, and AJ McCarron was 3rd. He has really looked good to the observers so far.


(photo from ESPN High School Football lead in to the article linked below)

Several quarterbacks have big days to open Elite 11
McCarron, at 6-4, 180 pounds, reminds us a lot of former Elite 11 and Alabama QB Brodie Croyle. Like Croyle, McCarron has that shaggy brown hair and same live arm. He has one of the quickest releases in the camp, is very light on his feet and got a lot better as the day went on.

"I thought he improved more from the start of the workout to the end than anyone else I saw," James said. "He has a lot of physical tools but mentally, you could tell he was starting to understand things more. When the game slows down for him, he's really going to make a big jump."
 
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crimson_blood

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Camp (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1

Good to hear!! Thanks for posting.

His arm is getting stronger every day...this kid's the truth!!
 
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TheDon24

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Oct 16, 2007
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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Camp (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1

I'm really excited about this kid, and i have a few questions about him. Will be any kind of running threat? I hope he doesnt turn out like Croyle in the sense that he's slower than our mascot.
 

BamaFanatJSU

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Camp (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1

I'm really excited about this kid, and i have a few questions about him. Will be any kind of running threat? I hope he doesnt turn out like Croyle in the sense that he's slower than our mascot.
I disagree with you on that point. I played with Brodie in high school (as did recruiting analyst Andrew Bone, and he'll tell you the same thing), and there was never any doubt that Brodie was one of the fastest guys on the field, having once seen him run the 40 in 4.5 seconds barefooted during baseball season. I seriously believe that the UA coaching staff told him NOT to run after that rash of injuries he suffered, especially the torn ACL in that blowout of WCU. I would love to see what he could have done with a better offensive line. Let's hope KC's O-line protects him better than we did.
 

TheDon24

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Camp (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1

I disagree with you on that point. I played with Brodie in high school (as did recruiting analyst Andrew Bone, and he'll tell you the same thing), and there was never any doubt that Brodie was one of the fastest guys on the field, having once seen him run the 40 in 4.5 seconds barefooted during baseball season. I seriously believe that the UA coaching staff told him NOT to run after that rash of injuries he suffered, especially the torn ACL in that blowout of WCU. I would love to see what he could have done with a better offensive line. Let's hope KC's O-line protects him better than we did.
well i respect your opinion. I just dont see how a "fast" player could have negative rushing yards in his career and get sacked so many times. I also cant see a coaching staff saying "Just be still and get sacked, just DO NOT run." If brodie ever had speed, he never showed it. Anyways.... back to the topic at hand. Does McCarron have the ability to be a running threat at all?
 

XXL TideFan

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Camp (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1

McCarron, at 6-4, 180 pounds, reminds us a lot of former Elite 11 and Alabama QB Brodie Croyle. Like Croyle, McCarron has that shaggy brown hair and same live arm. He has one of the quickest releases in the camp, is very light on his feet and got a lot better as the day went on.
I would really like to see him put about 25 lbs of muscle on before he reports to the Capstone.
 

crimson_blood

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Camp (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1

Does McCarron have the ability to be a running threat at all?
I've seen quite a bit of film on him...he's not the fastest guy in the world...but he's not immobile either. A lot of times he's able to get 10-15 yards and get down before getting hit when he chooses to run. McCarron makes really good decisions on the field...and this includes when to tuck it and run...and when to hang in there and sling it. As far as speed, he's not too terribly different from BC. It's scary how similar they look on film.
 

dayhiker

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Re: 2008 ELITE 11 Quarterback Camp (July 21-24)/ A.J. McCarron impressed on Day 1

well i respect your opinion. I just dont see how a "fast" player could have negative rushing yards in his career and get sacked so many times. I also cant see a coaching staff saying "Just be still and get sacked, just DO NOT run." If brodie ever had speed, he never showed it. Anyways.... back to the topic at hand. Does McCarron have the ability to be a running threat at all?
I remember fRan and Tyler Watts both saying that Croyle was faster than Watts.

As far as the negative yardage thing goes....and I'm trying not to be a smart aleck, but did you watch the games?

From Brodie's wiki page, it says 4.92 at draft time, but that's after 2 ACL sugerys


[edit] College
Year Passing Rushing
Comp Att Yards TDs Int Att Yds Avg TD
2002 60 123 1,046 5 5 37 -2 -0.1 3
2003 182 341 2,303 16 13 71 7 0.1 0
2004 44 66 534 6 0 9 -27 -3.0 0
2005 202 339 2,499 14 4 64 -156 -2.4 1
Totals 488 869 6,382 41 22 181 -178 -1.0 4


So, he finished with -178 yards rushing, -156 came in his senior year which was the depths of our offense line "issues." Anyone see a cause and effect here?


/rant off
 

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