The 2024 Elite 11 is underway on the West coast, offering high school quarterbacks the chance to showcase their skills in search of a rankings bump from the evaluators. But a handful of college quarterbacks are also at the event, serving as counselors.
And the counselors have gotten into the action over the last two days, throwing a little bit in front of the onlookers as they show what they can do.
On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power was on hand to take in the various workouts and provide some feedback on how this year’s crop of college quarterbacks performed. Among the participants this year were Oregon‘s Dillon Gabriel, USC‘s Miller Moss, Clemson‘s Cade Klubnik and Liberty‘s Kaidon Salter.
Here’s how Power evaluated each.
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
The headline name in the group at the Elite 11, Gabriel will be one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy in 2024 after transferring from Oklahoma to Oregon. He should help ease the transition from Bo Nix, who was himself a Heisman finalist last year.
After throwing for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, while also rushing for 373 yards and 12 scores, Gabriel will be looking to do it again on a playoff contender.
He impressed out West this week.
“I think from watching this group, though he wasn’t able to go through the Pro Day, I think Dillon Gabriel was clearly the best of the college quarterbacks that we saw out here,” Power said. “He went through Day 1, going through drills with the high school quarterbacks, then the rail shot challenge. I thought what we saw from Dillon Gabriel during the rail shot challenge was the best glimpse that we saw from the college quarterbacks.
“He was really impressive just getting the ball up and out, was able to drop it into small windows consistently, generated good velocity. And you can tell Gabriel is dialed in with his mechanics. I was impressed.
“He’s obviously not the biggest, but he has maximized his physical ability and he was impressive throwing that rail shot challenge. We’ve seen a lot of top quarterbacks throw that, and it’s not an easy throw. You have around a 5-yard kind of window to drop the ball in, and the speeds of the receivers vary out here, and Gabriel was able to throw with velocity and touch and location. I thought from what we saw of each college quarterback he was the top arm out here.”
Cade Klubnik, Clemson
A former five-star prospect and high school Elite 11 MVP, Klubnik hasn’t quite lived up to the billing at Clemson, though coach Dabo Swinney remains in full support behind him.
The 6-foot-2 quarterback is coming off a year in which he threw for 19 touchdowns with nine interceptions, a ratio that must improve going forward if Clemson hopes to make some bigger-picture noise.
Still, there’s a lot to like about Klubnik. Notes Power:
“We got to see Cade Klubnik a lot as a high school prospect, and I think he’s filled out a good bit at Clemson. He was always kind of on the leaner side as a high school prospect, so I think he’s added some good size.
“Klubnik is really kind of known as a competitor, high-energy quarterback and leader. I think his arm talent probably isn’t going to blow you away, stacks up in the middle of his peers and that was really the case out here. I would maybe give him the edge on the best Pro Day of the group, but none of the three that we saw between Klubnik and Miller Moss and Kaidon Salter really blew the top off kind of relative to what we’ve seen from guys like Bryce Young, CJ Stroud out here in the past.”
Miller Moss, USC
Moss, a former four-star prospect, got some light work in last season in relief of Caleb Williams. But the first real look at him came in the Holiday Bowl against Louisville, where he thrived.
In that game, Moss threw for six touchdowns with one interception, racking up 372 yards passing. He wasn’t quite as sharp at the Elite 11, according to Power.
“I think Miller Moss kind of came out cold, so it’s a little hard to judge him,” Power said. “He wasn’t out out here the first day. I think he’s certainly more of a cerebral quarterback. He’s probably not going to blow you away from an arm talent or physical traits perspective. He’s really at his best when he’s able to run an offense and make good decisions and distribute the football.”
Kaidon Salter, Liberty
One of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, Salter has things rolling at Liberty. The Flames got him to stick around for another season, too, so they could be in for a big year.
Salter threw for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns with only six interceptions, while also rushing for 1,089 yards and 12 scores.
He’s also got the physical tools to deliver, something that immediately stood out at the Elite 11.
“And Kaidon Salter, I think of the group, probably has the best arm,” Power said. “His consistency, I would say Kaidon Salter probably had the best arm of the three that we saw at Pro Day, but there were some ebbs and flows to that consistency.
“But overall it’s an informative look to see all these college quarterbacks amid these top high school prospects. While this was certainly not one of the best groups we’ve seen as counselors, I think some of these guys could be primed, I think they have the opportunity to make a statement as players this coming fall. And I would stack Dillon Gabriel as clearly the most impressive of the four.”
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