Breaking down the top 2021 quarterback recruits from Elite 11 camp

As it stands now, all but one of the ESPN 300 quarterbacks in the 2021 recruiting class have made their commitment, including Sam Huard, the highest-ranked pocket-passing quarterback in the ESPN 300 (No. 14 overall), who committed to Washington. Further than that, there are only two uncommitted four-star quarterbacks, including Ty Keyes and Kaden McMullen.

In total, there are 13 four- and three-star quarterbacks who are uncommitted, which means there aren't many recruits for teams that still have a need under center.

For those that have found their guy, though, there are some excellent quarterbacks in the class. The Elite 11, a high school quarterback competition, recently released its final roster of quarterbacks, and the list has potential for some future stars.

Here is a look at the quarterbacks who made the list, which college quarterbacks they compare to and what situation they're stepping into at their respective schools.

Caleb Williams
6-foot-2, 210 pounds
Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.)
ESPN 300 rank: 15

Commitment: Oklahoma Sooners

There's no shortage to the success head coach Lincoln Riley has had with quarterbacks in the past. He has more recently done it with transfers (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts), but that trend probably will end for the near future.

Oklahoma signed the No. 1-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 class in Spencer Rattler and also added ESPN 300 QB Chandler Morris in 2020. Now, the coaches have the top-ranked dual-threat QB in 2021 with Williams.

There's a good chance Rattler takes over as starting quarterback as a redshirt freshman even with Tanner Mordecai still on the roster. Rattler will be a redshirt sophomore by the time Williams arrives on campus, and while Williams will compete for the starting spot right away, if he doesn't get the job, there is plenty of spacing and he won't have to sit long to take over.

Luginbill's scouting report: Williams has really good awareness and can make plays both with his live arm and on the run. He can be a little tense at times, but he has the ability to drive the ball with power. He is an accurate passer and possesses the ability to change arm angles as well.

Player comparison: Jamie Newman

J.J. McCarthy
6-foot-2, 190 pounds
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
ESPN 300 rank: 24

Commitment: Michigan Wolverines

McCarthy is exactly what Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis wants in his offense: a quarterback who can extend plays and is an accurate thrower. The quarterback position is one area Michigan has been lacking and a big piece of its offense that has been missing.

McCarthy could be that missing piece for the Wolverines' future offense. Michigan has junior Dylan McCaffrey, sophomore Joe Milton, redshirt freshman Cade McNamara and 2020 signee Dan Villari on the roster right now, but the starting job is technically open.

It's very likely McCaffrey or Milton takes that job in 2020. Both have experience, but neither has separated himself as the clear-cut starter. Having more options at quarterback is only a good thing, and McCaffrey coming in with competition will only help make him better and prepare him for later in his career.

Luginbill's scouting report: McCarthy has good poise, good feet and good vision. He might not have an elite arm, but he throws a catchable ball with his high over-the-top release. He has a strong ability to navigate the pocket and keep plays alive.

Player comparison: Tanner Morgan

Kyle McCord
6-foot-3, 205 pounds
St. Joseph's Prep School (Philadelphia)
ESPN 300 rank: 30

Commitment: Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes have an interesting quarterback situation right now. Justin Fields is the starter, but he is heading into his third season and could leave for the NFL after 2020. He has eligibility remaining, so he certainly could return to Ohio State, but if he has a similar season to 2019, he will be projected as one of the top picks in the NFL draft.

Gunnar Hoak is a graduate transfer and won't have eligibility after this season, which leaves 2020 signees C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller, both of whom probably will be redshirt freshmen once McCord gets to campus.

What happens if Fields decides to leave is yet to be seen, but McCord could very well be in the mix to earn that starting spot depending on the development of Stroud and Miller.

Luginbill's scouting report: McCord's release has pop. He has the ability to fit the ball into tight spots and drive the ball into deeper areas of the field. The ball comes out of his hand quickly. Although he appears to be risk averse at times, he does tend to make good decisions.

Player comparison: K.J. Costello

Brock Vandagriff
6-foot-3, 200 pounds
Prince Avenue Christian School (Bogart, Georgia)
ESPN 300 rank: 35

Commitment: Georgia Bulldogs

Vandagriff flipped his commitment from Oklahoma to Georgia in January, and now he'll have a chance to earn the starting job right away.

Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman is expected to start this season but will exhaust his eligibility after 2020.

When Vandagriff steps onto campus, though, there will be competition for the starting spot. The staff took on USC transfer JT Daniels, who was granted immediate eligibility and could play in 2020 as well.

The Bulldogs also have D'Wan Mathis, a four-star recruit from the 2019 class who is now medically cleared to play after having emergency brain surgery on a cyst last May. Mathis is a redshirt freshman this season and is joined by junior quarterback Stetson Bennett and freshman Carson Beck, who was an ESPN 300 recruit in the 2020 class.

What happens once Vandagriff gets to campus isn't known, but he will have quite a bit of experience in front of him.

Luginbill's scouting report: Vandagriff is physically gifted and has terrific arm strength but is still raw to some degree. He isn't always polished or consistent in his methods and can lose patience at times, but he has a good feel for the pocket and can be productive both with his arm and his feet. He can make the throws to all three levels and outside the numbers.

Player comparison: Myles Brennan

Miller Moss
6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)
ESPN 300 rank: 37

Commitment: USC Trojans

Moss committed to USC at the beginning of June, and he did so knowing fellow ESPN 300 quarterback Jake Garcia (No. 19 overall) was committed to the Trojans as well. Moss said he wasn't afraid of competition when he committed, and he knows only one will get a chance to start.

That mindset will only add to the level of competition at the position for the Trojans in the future. The quarterback room is improving even though former starter Daniels transferred to Georgia.

Kedon Slovis is the returning starter and is only a sophomore in 2020, so he should have a grasp on the starting spot for the next few seasons. Matt Fink is a senior this coming season, so he will be gone by the time Moss and Garcia arrive on campus.

What happens after this season will be interesting -- if Garcia and Moss both stay on the roster to compete for the starting job once Slovis is gone, or if one transfers before then. For USC, it's a good problem to have a lot of potential options for the future.

Luginbill's scouting report: Moss is a confident gunslinger with a quick, live arm. He has adequate measurables and upside to get bigger. The ball jumps off his hand, and he can fit the ball into tight spots. What's more, he can improvise and make plays when things break down.

Player comparison: Sean Clifford

Tyler Buchner
6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Helix High School (La Mesa, California)
ESPN 300 rank: 39

Commitment: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Buchner has an excellent opportunity in front of him at Notre Dame with Ian Book entering his final season with the Irish.

Notre Dame signed ESPN 300 quarterback Drew Pyne in 2020, the No. 13-ranked pocket-passing quarterback, and three-star Brendon Clark in 2019. The staff also signed ESPN 300 quarterback Phil Jurkovec in the 2018 class, but Jurkovec transferred to Boston College this offseason.

If Pyne redshirts this season with Book as the starter, Buchner will come in with a clean slate at quarterback and a fresh competition in front of him for the starting spot. Pyne will have a year of experience ahead of him, but Buchner is a talented prospect who fits with what Notre Dame wants on offense.

Luginbill's scouting report: Buchner has good size and a high skill set. He can navigate the pocket, keep his eyes downfield and work through progressions. For a younger player, he is an advanced passer with a lot of poise.

Player comparison: Brady White

Drake Maye
6-foot-4, 205 pounds
Myers Park High School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
ESPN 300 rank: 46

Commitment: North Carolina Tar Heels

Maye had been committed to Alabama but flipped to North Carolina in July 2019. Coach Mack Brown has said he wants to keep the top in-state prospects home and has done that with his first three recruiting classes.

Brown and his staff flipped quarterback Sam Howell from Florida State in 2019, and all Howell did was put together one of the best freshman seasons with 3,641 yards and 38 touchdowns. It's no secret Howell is the starter going forward, and Maye knows that.

North Carolina also signed ESPN 300 quarterback Jacolby Criswell in the 2020 class, so there is going to be competition once Maye gets to campus. He's not afraid of that, however, and he has the talent to compete for a starting spot once Howell is off the roster. That time sitting behind Howell could benefit him, though, and give him a chance to hone his skills.

Luginbill's scouting report: Maye is a bit of a late bloomer but is physically gifted. He has a strong arm and a whip-like release but needs drill work from the feet up. With proper ball carriage and release mechanics, he can quicken up his release. Those things are definitely coachable.

Player comparison: Kyle Trask

Garrett Nussmeier
6-foot-2, 185 pounds
Marcus High School (Flower Mound, Texas)
ESPN 300 rank: 63

Commitment: LSU Tigers

Nussmeier is the son of Dallas Cowboys quarterback coach Doug Nussmeier, who was previously a collegiate offensive coordinator at multiple schools. He has football in his blood and is headed to Baton Rouge to compete for a spot at quarterback.

LSU's quarterback room has a new offensive coordinator as Joe Brady left for the Carolina Panthers. Joe Burrow is also in the NFL, leaving Myles Brennan as the likely starter, competing with 2020 signees Max Johnson and T.J. Finley.

Johnson was an ESPN 300 quarterback in his class and Finley was a four-star prospect. The staff signed ESPN 300 Peter Parrish in 2019, but he was suspended indefinitely in March, and the coaches did not sign in a quarterback in 2018.

Brennan will be a junior in 2020, which means if he takes over as starter for the next two seasons, it will be an open competition for that starting spot between Johnson, Finley and Nussmeier.

Luginbill's scouting report: Nussmeier lacks ideal size but is a crafty, accurate passer with good feet, rhythm and timing. He has a quick release but only adequate arm strength, so he needs to get bigger and stronger to succeed at the next level.

Player comparison: Max Duggan

Ty Thompson
6-foot-4, 200 pounds
Mesquite High School (Gilbert, Arizona)
ESPN 300 rank: 67

Commitment: Oregon Ducks

Justin Herbert is off to the NFL, so Oregon will have a new quarterback for the 2020 season. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Shough, an ESPN 300 quarterback in the 2018 class, will have a good shot at the starting job, though the Ducks also have redshirt freshman Cale Millen, a three-star from the 2019 class, as well as Jay Butterfield, the No. 204-ranked recruit overall in 2020.

Though the program is going to have a new quarterback in 2020, there will be some experienced options once Thompson gets to campus. That said, it is yet to be determined what the landscape will actually look like and if there will be a clear starter when he arrives.

Thompson has the size and ability to play early for the Ducks, but how early will depend on what happens in front of him on the roster.

Luginbill's scouting report: Thompson is a well-built pocket player. He has a fairly strong arm even though the ball doesn't always jump off of his hand. He flashes good rhythm and timing when his feet are set and the read is clear. He is more of a deliberate passer.

Player comparison: Hank Bachmeier

Kyron Drones
6-foot-2, 195 pounds
Shadow Creek High School (Pearland, Texas)
ESPN 300 rank: Four-star

Commitment: Baylor Bears

New coach Dave Aranda and his staff at Baylor extended an offer to Drones shortly after taking over, and Drones committed in April. The staff saw something in Drones that more and more people are now seeing after the Elite 11 competition: He can make big plays.

Drones threw for over 3,300 yards last season for his high school team with 46 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also had 825 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns on the ground, giving the Bears a dual-threat option that should help solidify the quarterback spot for the foreseeable future.

Starter Charlie Brewer is a senior this coming season, so he will be gone when Drones gets to campus. The staff has Gerry Bohanon, who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2020, as well as Jacob Zeno, a redshirt freshman. Bohanon will be a redshirt junior when Drones arrives, and if Bohanon wins out in that competition, Drones will have the chance to sit and learn and still have potentially three to four years to play. That's if he doesn't win the competition earlier than that.

Luginbill's scouting report: Drones is a big, physically advanced, gifted passer who needs to hone his skills. He flashes zip and power and can change arm angles and get the ball out quickly. He can move well in the pocket and can be used as a designated runner. He isn't the most polished quarterback right now, but he has the skills to mold.

Player comparison: Kellen Mond

Kaidon Salter
6-foot-1, 180 pounds
Cedar Hill High School (Cedar Hill, Texas)
ESPN 300 rank: Three-star

Commitment: Tennessee Volunteers

Salter was a three-star prospect who made his way into the Elite 11. He has been committed to Tennessee since May. Salter was able to visit Tennessee before the dead period and felt comfortable enough to commit, giving the staff its quarterback in this class.

Salter is coming into a quarterback room that will have quite a few options one he gets to campus. Jarrett Guarantano is entering his senior season, so he will be off the roster, but the staff added Maryland transfer Kasim Hill, has J.T Shrout from the 2018 class, Brian Maurer from 2019 and Harrison Bailey, the No. 244-ranked recruit in 2020.

Salter is going to have quite a bit of competition once he gets to campus, which is a good thing for Tennessee and its future offense to eventually find its future quarterback.

Luginbill's scouting report: Salter is a lean, wiry athlete. He continues to develop in the passing game with his low release. He is fairly accurate and is developing more poise and feel for coverage. When things break down, he can get creative and make plays. He is a dynamic ball carrier with explosive feet; he moves like a wide receiver.

Player comparison: Desmond Ridder

Tyler Macon
6-feet, 180 pounds
East St. Louis High School (East Saint Louis, Illinois)
ESPN 300 rank: Three-star

Commitment: Missouri Tigers

Macon was one of the more under-ranked prospects heading into the Elite 11, but he showed he belongs on that stage, too.

He has been committed to Missouri since March, and given the quarterback room on the Tigers' roster, he has a positive situation he's walking into. Shawn Robinson is eligible to play after sitting out in 2019 after he transferred from TCU.

Robinson will be a junior this season and very well could win the starting job then have another season of eligibility in 2021, Macon's first season on campus. Connor Bazelak, a redshirt freshman, and redshirt junior Taylor Powell should be in the mix to compete as well.

That brings less pressure for Macon (and freshman Brady Cook), as there are solid options in front of them that won't thrust Macon into the starting spot as soon as he steps on campus.

Luginbill's scouting report: Macon is a bit raw overall. He might not be a pure, natural passer, but the ball comes off his arm with some pop. He throws a good deep ball and can also create plays with his feet thanks to his good speed and ability to change direction.

Player comparison: Micale Cunningham