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Conference realignment means we live in even tougher times for the numerically inclined in regards to conference names. So no one should pull a double take at 12 high school quarterbacks taking part in the "EA Sports Elite 11" exhibition and camp for the top quarterbacks across the country, which also hosted 12 for the past two summers.But Big 12 fans -- specifically those in Oklahoma -- might want to keep an eye on the proceedings out in Aliso Viejo, Calif., where three future Big 12 quarterbacks are among the nation's top recruits.
Oklahoma has a pair of 2011 quarterback commits taking part: Archie Bradley of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Kendal Thompson from a few miles up the road in Moore, Okla. Oklahoma State commit J.W. Walsh, a Denton, Texas, native you heard a bit about last week, is also showcasing himself at the camp.
The camp finishes with little consequence other than relationships built and young quarterbacks learning from their older counterparts, but the list of alumni -- even just in recent years -- is impressive.
Oklahoma was the only Big 12 school with a 2010 signee at last year's camp in Blake Bell. Texas' Garrett Gilbert, who you may have heard of recently, attended the 2008 camp.
Other notable alums include current Big 12 quarterbacks Landry Jones and Blaine Gabbert, who is back out in California this week as a college quarterback helping run the camp. So is another Big 12er who never took part in the camp as a high schooler.
JerrodJohnson1 Just had a good day out here in cali, elite 11 is the real deal for quarterbacks 20 Jul 2010 from TweetCaster
Side note: Jerrod Johnson should have more than 358 followers on Twitter.
A few other Elite 11 members you might recognize: Texas' Vince Young, Missouri's Chase Daniel, Kansas State's Josh Freeman and Colorado's Cody Hawkins.
Here's a few notes on all the quarterbacks on the West coast this week. Additionally, colleague Bruce Feldman is providing periodic updates from the site via Twitter. His blog from earlier today is all about his experiences on Day 1.
Writes Feldman:
Truth be told, [Jerrod] Johnson speaks better than almost every college guy I've ever covered; he is a better speaker than most of the coaches and most of us who cover them, too. Listening to him talk about how he had to mature after his father, a former Aggies' receiver-turned-school principal, died, you find yourself thinking about how proud his family must be about how he's turned out. He walked back to his seat to applause. I felt bad for the guys who had to speak after him.
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