So I found myself in Nashville, Tennessee—this grayish blanket of clouds overhead that gave everything a sort of laid-back vibe, almost like the weather was trying to help these high school quarterbacks chill out a bit—because they had this long day ahead at the Elite 11 Tour. And let me tell you, there were a ton of these young quarterbacks, each trying to outdo the next. It’s like a high-stakes game of backyard football or maybe more like an American Idol for aspiring QBs. I dunno.
Anyway, I was there, trying to look all professional and not like I had no idea what these teenagers were even saying half the time—something about slant routes and blitzes, I think? But hey, I’m here to talk about more than just my own confusion.
So out of all the chaos, two kids got invitations to the Elite 11 Finals, which is a pretty big deal—like getting your Hogwarts letter if you’re a quarterback, I suppose. The interesting bit? They were from the 2026 and 2027 classes. Yeah, I didn’t think kids that young would be on anyone’s radar, but there you go.
What’s wild is how close the competition was. Seriously, on this cooler-than-usual Tennessee day, any one of three or four of these quarterbacks could’ve snagged the top spot. Makes you wonder if the judges had to draw straws or flip coins.
So there you have it. It was one of those days where the tires would make that squishy, awkward sound on the slightly damp ground—like wet cardboard, you know?—and you end up watching these kids and thinking, “Wow, they’re the future, aren’t they?”
Anyway, or wait—where was I? Right. Central Tennessee, overcast skies, young athletes with big dreams. You had to be there, I guess.
