Ty Simpson, Maalik Murphy Names to Watch at 2021 Elite 11 Finals
T-minus six days until the kickoff of the 2021 Elite 11 Finals.
Last year’s Elite 11 Finals took place at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tenn., and not Los Angeles, the usual home, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But fear not, the camp for the most elite QB prospects in high school football that includes NFL alumni like Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence, and Justin Fields, will return to Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach from June 30 to July 3.
The number of participants changes depending on the year, but the 2021 class will feature 20 QBs from the Class of 2022.
Time to break down the finalists from each camp of the Elite 11 regionals tour, beginning with Los Angeles and Nashville.
Katin Houser
High School: St. John Bosco (Calif.)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 200 lbs
College Commitment: Boise St.
Between Josh Rosen and D.J. Uiagalelei, the lineage of great quarterbacks to play for St. John Bosco High School runs deep.
Brian Stumpf oversees the regional tours and selection process for the Elite 11 Finals.
Stumpf has observed Houser across three regionals since the spring of 2020, noting significant improvements to his game from camp to camp.
“His ball is finishing much stronger downfield,” Stumpf said. “All the coaches said he looked the most consistent [in Los Angeles].”
Here’s a clip of Houser throwing at the Steve Clarkson QB Retreat in LA:
#BoiseState commit Katin Houser at #TheQBRetreat pic.twitter.com/jhyXENITlO
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) May 29, 2021
Since his first interaction with Stumpf, Houser has grown taller by an inch-and-a-half and put on 11 pounds.
Houser pledged to play for Boise St. in early April; 247 Sports speculates that commitment may waver with interest from programs in the Big 10 and Pac 12.
Maalik Murphy
High School: Junipero Serra High School (Calif.)
Height: 6’5’’
Weight: 231 lbs
College Commitment: Texas
At 6’5’’ and 231 Ibs with what Stumpf described as “big hands” and a “big frame,” Murphy certainly looks the part.
And he has the talent to back it up.
“[Murphy’s] got the arm talent to touch every blade of grass from the pocket,” Stumpf said.
It may be safe to assume that Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian is foaming at the mouth to get his hands on Murphy.
No place like home. 🤘🏾 pic.twitter.com/BHgFpsWejq
— Maalik Murphy (@SmvOperator) June 20, 2021
And Murphy should be excited about playing for the 47-year-old former offensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama.
The following QBs to play under Sarkisian include:
- Tua Tagovailoa
- Mac Jones
- Mark Sanchez
- Jake Locker
All four of those names played extremely well at the college level, good enough to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.
Ty Simpson
High School: Westview High School (Tenn.)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 lbs
College Commitment: Alabama
Of all the regionals, Stumpf’s visit to Nashville blew him away. The number of high school quarterbacks in attendance with at least one college offer exceeded 50.
To earn an invite to the Elite 11 Finals among a group as talented as the athletes competing at the Nashville regional, Ty Simpson looks like one of the favorites to win camp MVP in Manhattan Beach.
Simpson recorded a score of 21, winning the Golden Gun Accuracy Challenge by two points at his regional:
Golden Gun Accuracy Challenge winners from today’s Nashville #Elite11 regional:
— Elite11 (@Elite11) May 16, 2021
🥇’22 - Ty Simpson - 21 pts.
🥇Underclassman - Ryan Damron (‘23) - 19 pts.
🥇 Academy - Kade Wigginton (‘26) - 17 pts. pic.twitter.com/ukb2gtqBJl
“I’m so happy right now,” Simpson told Sports Illustrated in Nashville. “It’s been a dream of mine to go to the Elite 11 Finals since I was a little kid. Winning all this stuff, I’m so happy, I’m just speechless right now.”
It’s remarkable that the Alabama commit spun the football so well at his regional, considering Simpson acknowledged himself that he spent little time preparing for the camp.
In the springtime, Simpson plays baseball:
Elite 11 yesterday, Walk-Off Win for Westview Baseball today! #nottoday @westviewdingers @JSWriterMichael pic.twitter.com/PGpg24Ruh5
— Ty Simpson (@ty_simpson06) May 18, 2021
As 247 Sports’ third-highest-graded QB prospect in the Class of 2022, don’t be surprised if you read Simpson performs very well in camp next week. He’s certainly a front-runner.
Gavin Wimsatt
High School: Owensboro (Ky.)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 200 lbs
College Commitment: Rutgers
According to 247 Sports, Wimsatt rounds out their list of the top 10 QBs for the Class of 2022. Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano must be ecstatic to have Wimsatt, who’s also the No.1 player in the state of Kentucky.
In an era where more young athletes opt to be specialists, it’s refreshing to see people like Simpson and Wimsatt play multiple sports.
Wimsatt placed fifth in the triple jump at a state track and field meet a week ago:
Placed 5th in the State meet with a 42.5 triple jump not so bad for my first year right? Thank you to all the coaches who helped along the way!!! pic.twitter.com/jtUe0QzVoH
— Gavin Wimsatt (@GavinWimsatt) June 18, 2021
I love Wimsatt’s explosiveness as an athlete, but it looks like he approaches the game of football with the right mentality too:
2022 QB @GavinWimsatt putting in work to prepare for the season while social distancing. #OWBStrength pic.twitter.com/37KnxmaAaS
— Owensboro Football (@SrHighFootball) April 29, 2020
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Ty Simpson, Maalik Murphy Names to Watch at 2021 Elite 11 Finals
T-minus six days until the kickoff of the 2021 Elite 11 Finals.
Last year’s Elite 11 Finals took place at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tenn., and not Los Angeles, the usual home, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But fear not, the camp for the most elite QB prospects in high school football that includes NFL alumni like Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence, and Justin Fields, will return to Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach from June 30 to July 3.
The number of participants changes depending on the year, but the 2021 class will feature 20 QBs from the Class of 2022.
Time to break down the finalists from each camp of the Elite 11 regionals tour, beginning with Los Angeles and Nashville.
Katin Houser
High School: St. John Bosco (Calif.)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 200 lbs
College Commitment: Boise St.
Between Josh Rosen and D.J. Uiagalelei, the lineage of great quarterbacks to play for St. John Bosco High School runs deep.
Brian Stumpf oversees the regional tours and selection process for the Elite 11 Finals.
Stumpf has observed Houser across three regionals since the spring of 2020, noting significant improvements to his game from camp to camp.
“His ball is finishing much stronger downfield,” Stumpf said. “All the coaches said he looked the most consistent [in Los Angeles].”
Here’s a clip of Houser throwing at the Steve Clarkson QB Retreat in LA:
#BoiseState commit Katin Houser at #TheQBRetreat pic.twitter.com/jhyXENITlO
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) May 29, 2021
Since his first interaction with Stumpf, Houser has grown taller by an inch-and-a-half and put on 11 pounds.
Houser pledged to play for Boise St. in early April; 247 Sports speculates that commitment may waver with interest from programs in the Big 10 and Pac 12.
Maalik Murphy
High School: Junipero Serra High School (Calif.)
Height: 6’5’’
Weight: 231 lbs
College Commitment: Texas
At 6’5’’ and 231 Ibs with what Stumpf described as “big hands” and a “big frame,” Murphy certainly looks the part.
And he has the talent to back it up.
“[Murphy’s] got the arm talent to touch every blade of grass from the pocket,” Stumpf said.
It may be safe to assume that Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian is foaming at the mouth to get his hands on Murphy.
No place like home. 🤘🏾 pic.twitter.com/BHgFpsWejq
— Maalik Murphy (@SmvOperator) June 20, 2021
And Murphy should be excited about playing for the 47-year-old former offensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama.
The following QBs to play under Sarkisian include:
- Tua Tagovailoa
- Mac Jones
- Mark Sanchez
- Jake Locker
All four of those names played extremely well at the college level, good enough to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.
Ty Simpson
High School: Westview High School (Tenn.)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 lbs
College Commitment: Alabama
Of all the regionals, Stumpf’s visit to Nashville blew him away. The number of high school quarterbacks in attendance with at least one college offer exceeded 50.
To earn an invite to the Elite 11 Finals among a group as talented as the athletes competing at the Nashville regional, Ty Simpson looks like one of the favorites to win camp MVP in Manhattan Beach.
Simpson recorded a score of 21, winning the Golden Gun Accuracy Challenge by two points at his regional:
Golden Gun Accuracy Challenge winners from today’s Nashville #Elite11 regional:
— Elite11 (@Elite11) May 16, 2021
🥇’22 - Ty Simpson - 21 pts.
🥇Underclassman - Ryan Damron (‘23) - 19 pts.
🥇 Academy - Kade Wigginton (‘26) - 17 pts. pic.twitter.com/ukb2gtqBJl
“I’m so happy right now,” Simpson told Sports Illustrated in Nashville. “It’s been a dream of mine to go to the Elite 11 Finals since I was a little kid. Winning all this stuff, I’m so happy, I’m just speechless right now.”
It’s remarkable that the Alabama commit spun the football so well at his regional, considering Simpson acknowledged himself that he spent little time preparing for the camp.
In the springtime, Simpson plays baseball:
Elite 11 yesterday, Walk-Off Win for Westview Baseball today! #nottoday @westviewdingers @JSWriterMichael pic.twitter.com/PGpg24Ruh5
— Ty Simpson (@ty_simpson06) May 18, 2021
As 247 Sports’ third-highest-graded QB prospect in the Class of 2022, don’t be surprised if you read Simpson performs very well in camp next week. He’s certainly a front-runner.
Gavin Wimsatt
High School: Owensboro (Ky.)
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 200 lbs
College Commitment: Rutgers
According to 247 Sports, Wimsatt rounds out their list of the top 10 QBs for the Class of 2022. Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano must be ecstatic to have Wimsatt, who’s also the No.1 player in the state of Kentucky.
In an era where more young athletes opt to be specialists, it’s refreshing to see people like Simpson and Wimsatt play multiple sports.
Wimsatt placed fifth in the triple jump at a state track and field meet a week ago:
Placed 5th in the State meet with a 42.5 triple jump not so bad for my first year right? Thank you to all the coaches who helped along the way!!! pic.twitter.com/jtUe0QzVoH
— Gavin Wimsatt (@GavinWimsatt) June 18, 2021
I love Wimsatt’s explosiveness as an athlete, but it looks like he approaches the game of football with the right mentality too:
2022 QB @GavinWimsatt putting in work to prepare for the season while social distancing. #OWBStrength pic.twitter.com/37KnxmaAaS
— Owensboro Football (@SrHighFootball) April 29, 2020