Elite 11 Finals 2026: Live Updates from Day 1

Rivals’ Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power has named Nebraska four-star commit Trae Taylor as the Rivals MVP for day one of the Elite 11 Finals.

“Taylor put together a great workout on day one at the Elite 11 Finals,” Power wrote. “The Nebraska commit was impressive from start to finish. He was at extreme ease in this setting and just looked natural throughout every drill. He was in rythym, throwing with velocity and quality accuracy. We were very impressed with his quick, whippy release.”

Ole Miss commit Keegan Croucher, Kentucky commit Jake Nawrot, Clemson commit Kharim Hughley and Oregon commit Will Mencl round out the top five.

Day 2 will feature a simulated pro day that will have each quarterback going through the same 20 throw script.

Three-star Ryan Rakowski outlasts Oregon five-star commit Will Mencl to win the rail shot challenge. Rakowski, who comes out of Palos Verdes High (Calif.), enters this weekend as the lowest-ranked passer among the group, checking in as the No. 53 QB in the Rivals Industry Ranking.

Often the main event of night one of the Elite 11 Finals, the rail shot challenge is underway. Oregon five-star commit Will Mencl let’s it rip down the sideline, hitting his man with ease:

Cal four-star commit Dane Weber followed suit. The Chaparral (Calif.) standout pledged to the Golden Bears earlier this week.

“Watching a group with Keegan Croucher, Jake Nawrot, Braylen Warren and Trent Seaborn. All are doing well. Croucher has arguably the most pure talent here. Nawrot has been pinpoint with accuracy and ball location. Warren throws an extremely tight spiral. Seaborn has been accurate with good timing.” — Charles Power

“The night is not over yet, but top three for me, no order: Keegan Croucher, Trae Taylor and Jake Nawrot. Like Kharim Hughley a lot as well.” — Greg Biggins

Four-star Peyton Houston made the trip from Louisiana to California this weekend and he’s making some nice throws on the run as night one of the event keeps rolling:

Houston, an LSU commit, is the No. 9 QB in the Rivals Industry Ranking. He’s coming off a record-setting junior year at Evangel Christian Academy (La.) and also had a nice showing at the New Orleans Elite 11 regional this spring.

“Houston showed some of the better footwork of the Elite 11 Finalists, with quick, coordinated movements,” Charles Power wrote. “The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder pairs the crisp footwork with the ability to generate torque through his core in order to summon good velocity on short and intermediate passes.”

“Texas commit Ty Knutson has looked the most at ease of his group throwing an over route in the end zone. Good zip and quick release.” — Charles Power

Knutson enters this weekend as one of the passers looking to obtain blue-chip status ahead of his senior season at Smithson Valley (Texas). Currently the No. 34 QB in the nation, the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder committed to Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns on Feb. 7.

“I’m super excited,” Knutson said when speaking with Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong earlier this week. “My favorite part is the competition and trusting what’s got me here and knowing I can be the best, and if I work hard I can be the best and I will be.”

Coming out of Huntington Beach, Ohio State four-star commit Brady Edmunds is one of the local passers in this year’s event. It’s been nearly 18 months since the 6-foot-5 passer committed to the Buckeyes.

“Brady Edmunds throwing so hard in short yardage throws that some receivers having a hard time catching them.” — Adam Gorney

Edmunds is entering this weekend ready to remind everyone why he’s been a blue-chip prospect for some time:

“I feel like I have a lot to prove,” Edmunds told Rivals’ Greg Biggins this week. “My goal is to show I’m the best quarterback in the country. Over the last year or so, I feel like my stock has dropped a little for various reasons but I still feel like I’m on of the most complete quarterbacks in the country. 

Eight of the 20 passers in attendance this year are currently committed to SEC programs. That includes Alabama five-star pledge Elijah Haven, the No. 1 QB in the Rivals Industry Ranking:

Florida four-star commit Davin Davidson is another gunslinger that’s been frequently mentioned on Friday evening as he works through drills.

“Nebraska commit Trae Taylor and Michigan commit Kamden Lopati impressed in the group that just came through this station. Taylor showing off a bunch of velocity and a quick release. It looks easy for him out here, as we expected. Lopati spun it well, a very tight spiral.” — Charles Power

Lopati was committed to Illinois for some time, but an offer from the Wolverines quickly made an impact on his process. The No. 10 QB in the Rivals Industry Ranking flipped to Kyle Whittingham and Co. on April 14.

Ole Miss four-star commit Keegan Croucher and Miami four-star commit Israel Abrams are both looking the part early on Friday evening. Abrams, who pledged to the Hurricanes last month, is the No. 2 QB in the Rivals Industry Ranking.

“Abrams has one of the quickest releases at the Elite 11 Finals. Gets it out and up in a flash. Has some urgency in his workout.” — Charles Power

Jake Nawrot, who plays for John Hersey (Ill.) in the Chicago area, continues to turn heads on night one. New UK head coach Will Stein and OC Joe Sloan won out for Nawrot’s pledge last month on April 12.

“Nawrot is a smooth, instinctive passer with natural lower-body mechanics and innate timing. He’s in rhythm from the ground up, which leads to high-level accuracy,” Charles Power wrote this week.

“Clemson commit Kharim Hughley and Missouri commit Braylen Warren have impressed with their velocity at this station. Both are spinning it well. Warren probably a little more on target so far, haven’t seen an errant throw from him at this station.” — Charles Power

“Watching a group of Elijah Haven, Davin Davidson, Brady Edmunds, Keegan Croucher, and Peter Bourque. Maybe the tallest group I’ve seen at the Elite 11. Bourque looks short and is 6-foot-4 plus.” — Power

“Croucher has been impressive at this station. Hitting 15-yard outs with ease. Looks like one of the top arm talents on hand so far. Easy arm strength. Ohio State commit Brady Edmunds has shown a bunch of velocity. He has a pronounced over the top release. Alabama commit Elijah Haven has been a little up and down but looked to get more comfortable and had some nice throws towards the end.”

“During a drill where the quarterbacks had to move in the pocket and then throw a slant into the end zone, Alabama commit Trent Seaborn and Nebraska commit Trae Taylor looked best. Easy movement, most accurate.” — Adam Gorney

“Nebraska commit Trae Taylor looks at ease early on at the Elite 11 Finals, flashing a whippy release and velocity.” — Charles Power

Taylor is transferring from Carmel Catholic (Ill.) to Millard South (Neb.) for his senior season this fall. The four-star has been a vocal recruiter and is helping the Cornhuskers build what currently ranks as the best class of the Matt Rhule era. Nebraska has the No. 15 haul in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

“Miami commit Israel Abrams has one of the quicker releases I’ve seen come through this station. Gets it up and out really quickly. I also like Kentucky commit Jake Nawrot’s footwork. They are taking drops on some of these throws and he’s coordinated and under control.” — Charles Power

“Michigan commit Kamden Lopati solid workout so far, smooth, easy delivery, plenty of arm. Deep balls had a ton of air, maybe little too much but good start.” — Greg Biggins

Four-star Keegan Croucher is another blue-chipper looking to make a splash in the Golden State this weekend. The longtime Ole Miss commit is the No. 13 QB in the cycle.

“It’s truly a childhood dream coming true,” Croucher told Rivals’ Chad Simmons about competing in the event. “I grew up watching Elite 11 videos featuring Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and guys like that, so from a young age, I have been dreaming of this opportunity.”

“Croucher has what you call ‘easy arm strength’ like how the ball jumps out his hand, with little to no windup needed.” — Greg Biggins

Four-star Peter Bourque is one of the latest passers to come off the board. The former Michigan pledge committed to James Franklin and Virginia Tech earlier this month on May 14. A top-100 recruit and now the No. 7 QB in the cycle, Bourque wants to take home MVP honors this weekend.

“I’m going there to win it,” Bourque told Rivals’ Chad Simmons this week. “I grew up watching the documentary series and guys like Trevor Lawrence go through it. It’s always been a dream of mine for as long as I’ve been a quarterback. I am excited to get out there and compete.”

“Quarterbacks are doing some slow-paced throws to stationary receivers. It’s a far hash throw that can show off arm strength. Impressed with Nebraska commit Trae Taylor’s velocity and whippy release.”

“Indiana commit Jameson Purcell spun it well in this drill. Can tell he’s refined and well trained. One of two lefty’s here along with Colton Nussmeier.” — Charles Power

“Clemson four-star commit Kharim Hughley is not the tallest quarterback but he’s filled out and the ball pops. His deep balls early on have been very impressive and on time.” — Adam Gorney

Hughley, the No. 208 overall prospect and No. 17 QB in the Rivals Industry Ranking, was one of the first blue-chip passers to come off the board. He’s been pledged to the Tigers since July 10 of last summer.

“This is a business trip,” Hughley told Rivals’ Chad Simmons ahead of this week’s event. “This has been something I have wanted to compete in for a long time, and I want to go in there and win it.”

Nebraska four-star commit Trae Taylor enters this week as the nation’s No. 6 quarterback. He discussed his recruitment with Rivals’ Greg Smith earlier this week after he was recently visited by Ohio State.

“It was just warmups but Trae Taylor can spin it. Effortless throws. We’ll see how the rest of the night goes.” — Adam Gorney

Haven is the No. 12 overall prospect and No. 1 QB in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He committed to Alabama last month.

The Crimson Tide are the only team to have multiple representatives this weekend. Four-star Trent Seaborn has been committed to Bama since October. He and Haven are warming up together.

All 20 quarterbacks invited to this year’s event are in attendance. Florida four-star QB commit Davin Davidson, the nation’s No. 9 passer, is among those in the field:

“Davin Davidson is the most physically imposing finalist here, as expected. Looks all of 6’6, 215 and has room to continue filling out.” — Charles Power

Sagapolutele notably came to the 2024 Elite 11 Finals from Hawaii as an unranked prospect and left with his stock soaring after an impressive showing. He ended the 2025 recruiting cycle as the No. 20 overall prospect and No. 4 QB in the Rivals300.

“Watching the college counselors warm up. Sagapolutele has such effortless arm strength, doesn’t have to strain to generate RPMs. Demond Williams has added significant mass in his lower body since high school. Byrum Brown is an imposing physical presence, looks like he’s working on tightening his release with QB coach Jordan Palmer.” — Charles Power

Kentucky four-star commit Jake Nawrot headlined the list thanks to his big showing at the Indianapolis regional. Nawrot is the No. 2 QB in the updated Rivals300 rankings.

“Nawrot put together the most consistent regional workout from start to finish,” Power wrote.

“Ultimately, the Elite 11 Finals is just a piece of what is a multi-year evaluation process,” Power wrote. “The event is naturally highly subjective, due to the format. For Rivals, we factor in the high-level ability and consistency of the performance shown over the three days when formulating our Top Performers.”

Of the top 20 quarterbacks in the Rivals Industry Ranking this cycle, 15 are in Los Angeles this weekend. Just two passers — Colton Nussmeier and Ryan Rakowski — are currently uncommitted.