Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has emerged as the Florida epicenter of high school football’s best prospects, and on this frigid Sunday (frigid for us is 50) more than fifty of the Southeast’s best QBs of 2010 and 2011 competed in drills at the EA Sports / Nike Elite 11 Regional Football Camp. The final Elite 11 gathers the Top 11 QB scores from the regionals for a focused event that always showcases the best and brightest of future college football seasons.

Clint Trickett wins Orlando Regional Elite 11 CaDmp

Jason Roberts and I ate some Disney breakfast around 0745, went over some notes and some business and then on to the field. Weather was particularly nasty – rain dotted the morning session and my guess was a solid 20 mph wind and gusts to 30 and temps in the 40s – not ideal at all. Fifty yard streaks were blown 10+ yards off target. If anything, this shows which of the youngsters can take mental account of themselves and persevere. Remember, these are 16 and 17 year old kids who feel like their futures are at stake.

Clint Trickett (right, courtesy Jason Roberts), son of Florida State o-line coach Rick Tricett, came away with the yellow leader jersey (HT: Tour de France) after defeating everyone in an accuracy competition.

Brion Carnes of Bradenton Manatee is for real, and a nice kid to boot. He was actively seeking input from guys like Chris Leak (Florida) and John Brantley (Florida) and they were happy to provide it due to his personality. When the seniors-to-be split off for competition you could tell he really wanted to be in their group.

Data was the only thing scarce for the few intrepid media there – kids were being coached relentlessly on footwork, arm mechanics and even posture by a bevy of coaches. There was accuracy drills, throwing on the run and moving pockets, passing against air and against standing defenders and finally to live receivers running routes.

If there was anything that stood out to me on the negative side for the entire event, it was the utter paucity of talented pass catchers. Many of the players from the earlier days Nike SPARQ training day stayed over to help with the QB camp, but darned if maybe five kids would have made my list if I were a college coach – forget the 40 times and the physical specimens, the inability to display simple pass catching mechanics and gracefully adjust to a ball in the air surprised me, even with the weather.

For some third party insight, catch Tom Luginbill’s wrap-up (ESPN)

Related posts:

1. An interview with Chris Leak
2. Media Alert: ESPN 1080 AM in Orlando
3. Under Armour Interviews: Matt Barkley
4. Your College Football Recruiting reading list
5. Freshman Fifteen, Part Three: Top New QBs in College Football

Tags: Elite 11, recruiting