Latest news with #Elite11
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UNC football commit shoots up 247Sports rankings
The future of the quarterback position for the North Carolina Tar Heels looks bright. After some struggles with consistency last year, the Tar Heels upgraded the room with the addition of Gio Lopez through the transfer portal as well as four-star recruit Bryce Baker. But the 2026 recruiting class also has a player at the position who is making a lot of noise. UNC football commit Travis Burgess continues to impress analysts after committing to the Tar Heels earlier in 2025 including a good performance at the Elite 11 event. Now, his improvements are paying off in a big way as he was the biggest riser in 247Sports' updated recruiting rankings for the 2026 class. Burgess jumped 200 spots to No. 65 overall and went from the No. 24 quarterback to the No. 7 player at his position in this update. He also moved to a high four-star recruit and is the Tar Heels' highest-ranked recruit in the 2026 class. Scouts noticed Burgess' performance at the Elite 11 event, helping improve is ranking: "Burgess simply exceeded our expectations at the Elite 11 Finals," director of scouting Andrew Ivins said after the rankings update. "We were big fans of what he put on tape towards the tail end of his junior year, but we still had some questions about the arm. Both his velocity and accuracy really flashed over the course of the three days, which says a lot because he's also a dynamic runner." The Georgia native is the key piece in UNC's recruiting class for 2026, which ranks No. 17 overall as it stands right now. He's also the second Top 100 player at the quarterback position to commit to UNC, joining Drake Maye. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football commit Travis Burgess earned a big boost on 247Sports
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Oklahoma quarterback speaks about his time at OU during SEC media days
Former Oklahoma starting quarterback was back at SEC Media Days on Tuesday, this time as the starter under center for the Auburn Tigers. The player who was once thought to be the next great Sooners QB played just two seasons in Norman, managed only 10 starts, and went 5-5. Arnold hit the transfer portal after the regular season ended, eventually landing with Auburn. The former consensus five-star plus prospect in the 2023 recruiting class out of Denton Guyer High School in Texas will be trying to regain the form that made him the Gatorade National Player of the Year, the Elite 11 winner, and one of the most sought-after high school quarterbacks in his class. Naturally, questions on Tuesday were going to come up about his time at Oklahoma, and Arnold answered them with grace and poise. His pairing with former offensive coordinator Seth Littrell didn't work out as a myriad of injuries at wide receiver and along the offensive line derailed his development in 2024. However, specific performances in losses against Tennessee and Missouri in 2024, among others, stand out as games where Arnold really hurt Oklahoma's chances of walking away with a victory. Arnold is trying to use that disappointing 2024 season, one in which he went from projected savior to benched to shaky starter to outgoing transfer, all in a span of three months, as a learning experience in his new home. "It was tough, but it was a pivotal point in my life where you flip a switch and something wakes up inside you that makes you push and work a little harder," Arnold said to ESPN's David Hale. "It was a combination of a bunch of things. Everything that could go wrong went wrong last year. It's just part of the journey and something that had to happen to get me on this track now .. I'm not going to blame anything on my play last year, but I feel like now I'm in a situation where I can go out and thrive." Arnold's performance was a big issue for Oklahoma last year. But, those are far from the only issues the Sooner offense had to deal with. A porous offensive line that was dealing with injuries couldn't protect the QB and couldn't open up holes in the running game. Wholesale injuries at wide receiver meant the passing game was stuck in the mud as well, and to top it all off, the Littrell promotion to play-caller didn't work out, one that head coach Brent Venables admitted to during the season. By the time Arnold was re-inserted as the starter, Littrell had been fired, and Joe Jon Finley had assumed play-calling duties in the interim. Oklahoma's offensive turmoil and Arnold's performance had the former five-star quarterback looking for a new destination in the transfer portal. He believes he's a perfect fit in Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze's RPO-heavy scheme, and his head coach agrees. "I thought he was the best player coming out [of high school], but so did everybody else," Freeze told Hale. "So you have to ask, what happened ... But, you combine all that (Arnold's high-level physical traits) with what I knew from high school and that he fits my ball-in-the-belly system and his mechanics and flipping his hips and getting the ball out fast, Jackson's really good at that." On the flip side, it would have been easy for Arnold to come out on Tuesday and bash the program that is at least somewhat responsible for getting his career off track. However, Arnold didn't do that, demonstrating yet again the maturity and accountability that Venables and his staff admired about him coming out of high school. It's the same maturity he showed when, instead of pouting or shutting things down after being benched last season, Arnold kept working and eventually became OU's starter again later in the year. He burned through another year of eligibility to try and help the Sooners stack up some wins, and was the starter for the upset victory over Alabama. Most players wouldn't have done that, and most wouldn't have refused the opportunity to go in on their former team with the cameras rolling. However Arnold's career went in Norman, he deserves credit for handling things the right way off the field. Hopefully, both parties will benefit from the breakup. Oklahoma's new offensive duo of John Mateer and Ben Arbuckle figures to be a heavy improvement over the Arnold-Littrell pairing we all were excited about this time last year. Additionally, Arnold should benefit from having better weapons and playing in a clearer scheme with the Tigers. After all, plenty of QBs have had success after leaving Oklahoma for other schools. Trevor Knight (Texas A&M), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina), Caleb Williams (Southern California), and Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) all had their best individual statistical seasons after transferring away from Norman. Arnold is hoping to join those ranks at Auburn and get his once-promising career back on track. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arch Manning heir apparent, Texas QB commit Dia Bell named MVP of entire Elite 11 event
Dia Bell will probably be the heir apparent to Arch Manning in a couple of years. The five-star has been committed to Texas for over a year. Now, the 2026 blue chip quarterback has a major feather in his cap. Bell has been named the overall MVP of the prestigious Elite 11 QB event in Los Angeles. Bell was the MVP of Day 1 of the event and had a strong showing on Day 2. His performance on Day 3 clinched the title, something Elite 11 attendee Vince Young couldn't do. Of the eleven Texas quarterbacks to be invited to the event, Bell is the first to win the overall MVP. Bell is also the son of former NBA star Raja Bell. The event, which includes quarterbacks committed to the likes of Tennessee, Florida, Penn State, Texas A&M and Washington, is the biggest camp of the recruiting season for quarterbacks. Past MVPs include Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields, Tua Tagovailoa, Matthew Stafford. According to On3, Bell finished 18 of 23 passing for four touchdowns during the 7v7 portion of Day 3 on Thursday. 'Dia Bell lived up to his status as On3's highest rated Elite 11 Finalist, stacking three impressive days of work in Los Angeles. The Texas commit showed the most refined and consistent mechanics we saw throughout the week. Bell was the On3 MVP on Day 1, standing out during drill work. He was a Top Performer on Day 2, flashing excellent footwork in his drops from under center. On Day 3, Bell pitched a clean sheet in 7-on-7, going 18 of 23 for 4 touchdowns, with zero interceptions or sacks. The South Florida native's arm talent, level of refined skill, and track record against top competition give him the highest floor of any quarterback in the 2026 cycle.' — Charles Power, On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Bell, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, had his 2024 season cut short due to a serious leg injury in Florida's state playoffs. But his performance at Elite 11 should put to rest any fears that the injury would impact Bell's longterm outlook. During his junior year at American Heritage High School, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 70.6% of his passes. Bell is the No. 2 ranked QB in the 2026 recruiting class according to On3's Industry Composite Rankings. 'The Elite 11 is a huge thing for quarterbacks, so it is an honor for me to be in the Finals this week. I have been going to camps since I was in middle school, trying to get my name out there and being in this event was always a goal for me. Being invited and being able to compete means a lot. You want to be a top guy, and this is where you show it.' - Bell told On3's Chad Simmons Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire. Advertisement This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Arch Manning heir apparent Dia Bell named MVP of entire Elite 11 event
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New No. 1! Texas commit Dia Bell now top QB in 2026 recruiting class
There's a new No. 1 QB in the 2026 recruiting class and it is none other than Texas Longhorns commit Dia Bell. The probable Arch Manning heir apparent has moved up the rankings thanks to a stellar summer highlighted by being named MVP of the Elite 11 camp. Rivals has gone through a complete re-ranking of the top 300 2026 prospects. The Fort Lauderdale, FL signal caller is now the No. 2 player overall in class behind Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle commit Jackson Cantwell. Bell jumped Georgia Bulldogs QB commit Jared Curtis in the QB Rankings. 'From an arm talent perspective, Texas commit Dia Bell is as good as anyone in the 2026 cycle. He's the definition of a natural thrower. His ability to manipulate the football and throw consistently catchable footballs from multiple arm angles is a treat to watch. He can dice up defenses on Friday evenings and makes special throws. He's someone that has tons of upside especially as he develops and fills out his frame down the line.' -- Rivals scout Keegan Pope The five-star has been committed to Texas for over a year. He becomes the fourth Longhorns QB commit since the mid 1990s to be ranked as either the No. 1 or No. 2 overall prospect in the nation. The others were Chris Simms (1999), Vince Young (2002) and Arch Manning (2023). Bell, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, had his 2024 season cut short due to a serious leg injury in Florida's state playoffs. But his performance at Elite 11 should put to rest any fears that the injury would impact Bell's longterm outlook. Advertisement During his junior year at American Heritage High School, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 70.6% of his passes. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire. This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns commit Dia Bell now ranked as No. 1 QB in 2026 class
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New No. 1! Texas commit Dia Bell now top QB in 2026 recruiting class
There's a new No. 1 QB in the 2026 recruiting class and it is none other than Texas Longhorns commit Dia Bell. The probable Arch Manning heir apparent has moved up the rankings thanks to a stellar summer highlighted by being named MVP of the Elite 11 camp. Rivals has gone through a complete re-ranking of the top 300 2026 prospects. The Fort Lauderdale, FL signal caller is now the No. 2 player overall in class behind Miami Hurricanes offensive tackle commit Jackson Cantwell. Bell jumped Georgia Bulldogs QB commit Jared Curtis in the QB Rankings. 'From an arm talent perspective, Texas commit Dia Bell is as good as anyone in the 2026 cycle. He's the definition of a natural thrower. His ability to manipulate the football and throw consistently catchable footballs from multiple arm angles is a treat to watch. He can dice up defenses on Friday evenings and makes special throws. He's someone that has tons of upside especially as he develops and fills out his frame down the line.' -- Rivals scout Keegan Pope The five-star has been committed to Texas for over a year. He becomes the fourth Longhorns QB commit since the mid 1990s to be ranked as either the No. 1 or No. 2 overall prospect in the nation. The others were Chris Simms (1999), Vince Young (2002) and Arch Manning (2023). Bell, who was named the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, had his 2024 season cut short due to a serious leg injury in Florida's state playoffs. But his performance at Elite 11 should put to rest any fears that the injury would impact Bell's longterm outlook. During his junior year at American Heritage High School, the 6-foot-2 QB threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns, completing 70.6% of his passes. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
