Alabama Football: Julian Sayin and 19 other QBs to highlight Elite 11 Finals
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football fans are looking forward to this year’s Elite 11 Finals. The complete list of 20 quarterbacks has been announced for the three-day event in Los Angeles on June 14-16.
Not every great college football QB gets chosen and attends the Elite 11 Finals. The Elite 11 program was founded in 1999. Participants in the Finals are selected from several regional competitions.
Two of the biggest names on past Elite Finals staff are former NFL quarterback, Trent Dilfer and well-known QB-Guru, George Whitfield Jr.
According to the Elite 11 website, many Finals and Regionals QB participants have become college football’s best quarterbacks.
"12 of the past 13 quarterbacks to have won the Heisman Trophy attended the Elite 11 Finals or an Elite 11 Regional.15 of the top 20 NFL passers in 2019 attended the Elite 11 Finals or an Elite 11 Regional."
Alumni of the Elite 11 Finals include Alabama Football’s Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields, Tua Tagovailoa, Deshaun Watson, A.J. McCarron, Andrew Luck, Tim Tebow, Matthew Stafford, Vince Young and Matt Leinart. Other Alabama Football quarterbacks who have participated are Brodie Croyle, Star Jackson, Phillip Sims, Phillip Ely, Blake Barnett and Taulia Tagovailoa.
Current Alabama Football quarterback, Tyler Buchner was in the 2020 Elite 11 Finals. Ty Simpson and Eli Holstein made Elite 11 Finals in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Alabama Football and 2023 Elite 11 Finals
Based on On3’s player rankings, Alabama Crimson Tide commit, Julian Sayin is one of three 5-Star recruits who will participate this June. The other two are Georgia commit, Dylan Raiola and Florida commit, DJ Lagway. Among the other 17 participants are 11, 4-Star QB recruits.
2023 Elite 11 Finals Roster
- 5-Star, Dylan Raiola – Georgia Bulldogs
- 5-Star, Julian Sayin – Alabama Crimson Tide
- 5-Star, DJ Lagway – Florida Gators
- 4-Star, Jadyn Davis – Michigan Wolverines
- 4-Star, CJ Starr – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- 4-Star, Air Noland – Ohio State Buckeyes
- 4-Star, Elijah Brown – uncommitted
- 4-Star, Luke Kromenhoek – Florida State Seminoles
- 4-Star, Ryan Puglisi – Georgia Bulldogs
- 4-Star, Colin Hurley – LSU Bengal Tigers
- 4-Star, Demond Williams Jr. – Ole Miss Rebels
- 4-Star, Dante Reno – South Carolina Gamecocks
- 4-Star, Michael Hawkins – Oklahoma Sooners
- 4-Star, Issac Wilson – Utah Utes
- 3-Star, Will Hammond – Texas Tech Red Raiders
- 3-Star, Daniel Kaelin – Nebraska Cornhuskers
- 3-Star, Hauss Hejny – Texas Christian Horned Frogs
- 3-Star, Trever Jackson – uncommitted
- 3-Star, Danny O’Neil – Colorado Buffaloes
- 3-Star, Ethan Grunkemeyer – Penn State Nittany Lions
Alabama football fans will enjoy what 247Sports wrote about Julian Sayin.
"He’s a pure thrower and might be the most ready to step in and play early of all the signal callers in the ’24 class. His football IQ is very high and he has an advanced feel for the position and understands how to throw with timing and anticipation. He has excellent pocket mobility and short area quickness. He can elude pressure and either buy time outside the pocket or take off and run when he needs to."
Next. Crimson Tide long-term Quarterback outlook.. dark
Along with Sayin, Alabama Football could have six QBs slated for Tuscaloosa in the 2024 season. Of course, the final number is expected to be three or four.