2016 QB Jett Duffey had “Great Experience” at Elite 11

America’s premier high school football summer camp, The Opening (which also encompasses the high school quarterback competition call the Elite 11) has come to an end in at Nike world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Though not named to the final list of the top or “Elite” 11 quarterbacks, Texas Tech verbal commit Jett Duffey had a great experience and impressed many that saw him compete.

Duffey came into the summer as an unheralded prospect but as he participated in local and regional camps he began to see his profile rise. With each impressive camp performance Duffey earned the right to move on in the nation-wide competition until he found himself in the final round in Oregon.

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"“It was pretty amazing. I loved everything about it. I’m thankful I was chosen to go, and I learned a lot from it. It was overall just a blessing and a great experience,” the Lake Ridge, TX quarterback told Will McKay of Rivals.com."

The fact that Duffey learned from coaches that played professional football and some of the top collegiate quarterbacks in the nation that as counselors is more important than any final ranking on a list that will not matter once Duffey begins the upcoming 2015 season. Second most important is that Duffey spent time building relationships with many of the top recruits in the nation, trying to sell them on Texas Tech.

"“It was really just everyone. I was telling everyone that they needed to come to Tech, telling them this was the place that they needed to be at. I wasn’t really talking to anyone in specific about it,” Duffey said to McKay. “But, every time I got to camps, I make sure to throw in Texas Tech when I can here and there.”"

One expert Duffey impressed was ESPN’s Tom Luginbill, who is also the national recruiting director for the website ScoutsInc.com.

"“I think the number one thing that stands out about him is his delivery and ability to get the ball out of his hand quickly,” Luginbill told Brian Holland of EverythingLubbock.com."

Being only 6’0” tall has caused many people to overlook Duffey, which seems to have made him more dedicated than ever to succeed at Texas Tech. “I think he has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder,” said Luginbill.

In an interview from the Elite 11 camp, Duffey said, “The recruiting process has been a blessing and a curse at the same time…But in the end I came out with a school I’m really happy with, and it was a great decision [to commit to Texas Tech].”

Duffey was not Texas Tech’s first quarterback offer. In fact, many quarterbacks with higher national profiles such as Tristen Wallace of DeSoto, Texas (who originally committed to Tech before switching his commitment to Ohio State), Jalen Hurts from Channelview, TX (who recently gave his pledge to Alabama), Ole Miss commit and Elite 11 MVP Shea Patterson from Louisiana, and Arlington, Texas’ Shane Buchele who chose the University of Texas all received offers from the Red Raiders before Duffy.

“The first thing that you will love about Duffey’s game is his attitude and desire. He has an infectiously positive attitude and he carries that with him wherever he goes.”

However, the relationship between Duffey and Tech seems to be solid at this point.

Duffy said of Texas Tech in the Elite 11 interview, “Whenever I go the call it was an amazing feeling. It was like ‘finally, you know, a great school that fits me all around…It’s a great environment, the fan base is amazing…”

Texas Tech was spurned by another Elite 11 quarterback participant who changed his commitment to a conference rival in December of 2014 leaving Tech coaches with virtually no time to add a quarterback to last year’s class. Therefore, it is important that Duffey be able to produce for Kliff Kingsbury in Lubbock.

According to Scout.com’s Greg Powers, Duffey’s immeasurable traits stand out immediately.

"“The first thing that you will love about Duffey’s game is his attitude and desire. He has an infectiously positive attitude and he carries that with him wherever he goes.At the check-in Scout has video stations set up where players check in to give more in-depth reports about their game and the producers were glowing about the way that Duffey is able to wok on camera.But that is is just him. He is like that everywhere.”"

Duffey is a dual-threat quarterback who struggled at times to move his team’s offense during the 7-on-7 passing portion of the camp. This was likely due to his inability to use his legs in this style of competition.

However, putting the young player in positions where he is uncomfortable and must rely on his reads of the defense and his arm to make plays is a tremendous learning opportunity that will benefit him in the future.

As a junior in 2014, Duffey threw for 2,259-yards on 162 of 298 passing posting 20 scores through the air, according to MaxPreps.com. He ran the ball 171 times for 1,103-yards and 19 more touchdowns.

Duffey is set for a big senior season, and the confidence he gained last week when he competed with the best athletes in his class will make him a stronger player in his senior year and hopefully beyond at Texas Tech.