Texas Tech football: QB commit Behren Morton invited to Elite 11 finals

The Texas Tech football program’s 2021 QB commit, Behren Morton, has been invited to participate in the finals of the Elite 11 QB skills event.

In case some don’t quite grasp just how highly-regarded the Texas Tech football program’s 2021 QB commit, Behren Morton, is, the fact that he is now set to participate in the finals of the nation’s top high school QB competition is all the proof needed.

Friday, the Eastland, Texas product who grew up in Lubbock revealed that he had earned an invitation to the finals of the Elite 11 QB skills competition, thus cementing his place as one of the most talented passers in his class.  What’s more, this news came on the heels of an 87-spot jump in the latest 247Sports player rankings, which saw Moreton sit just outside the top 100 of all players nationally at No. 104.

In all, 20 players will be competing for the honor of being named one of the Elite 11 QBs in the class of 2021.  That list includes six players from the state of Texas but only two who are headed to Big 12 schools.  Aside from Morton, the only other Big 12 representative at this time is Kyron Jones from Shallow Creek, who is headed to Baylor.

When it comes to what they will be looking for in this competition, 247Sports lists Morton as one of the players they will be watching closely.  That’s because they want to see if he looks as good in person as he has looked on video.

"“Morton has been a revelation for us in watching film relative to the rest of the class and we’ve bumped him 101 spots since last June,” writes Steve Wiltfong. “Does that carry over to this setting and does that rise continue?”More from Wreck'Em RedTexas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these MountaineersTexas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 titleTexas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives"

This three-day event was at one time in doubt because of the coronavirus pandemic.  But it is set to take place beginning on June 29 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Washington D.C. product Caleb Williams will be the headliner.  He’s the only five-star QB in the 247Sports rankings and the No. 7 player overall.  Tech fans may want to get a close look at him because he could wind up in the Big 12 as OU is one of his three top schools along with LSU and Maryland.  His decision is set to be announced on July 4th, which comes just after the Elite 11 wraps up.

The Elite 11 is part of a larger event called The Opening, which includes players of all positions.  But does inclusion in this prestigious club mean all that much when the players step on campus?

According to a 2017 study by 247Sports.com’s Chris Hummer, not necessarily.  At the time that Hummer penned his piece, there had been 210 Elite 11 QBs from 1999-2013 to complete their college careers.  Of that group, the exact same number (57) reached the NFL as those that became college starters and those who proved to be college busts.

Hummer notes that four Elite 11 QBs, (Matt Leinart, Troy Smith, Tim Tebow, and Jameis Winston) have gone on to win the Heisman Trophy.  Meanwhile, only five more even went on to become NCAA All-Americans while only 34 became all-conference honorees.

However, this event can only measure a player’s ability to throw the football.  That doesn’t take into account such factors as maturity, football IQ, leadership, or dedication, all of which play massive roles in determining a QB’s fate in the NCAA.

So for now, Texas Tech football fans should temper any potential projections about what Morton might become in Lubbock.  But what this news does reveal is the fact that the rising prospect has as much talent as just about anyone in his class and that’s reason to be hopeful about the future of Texas Tech football.