Where are they now? 2009 Elite 11 QBs including Gardner, Bolden & Boisture

1 out of 11 worked out, not a good stat

down year for QBs. After taking a quick look at the 2010 Rivals 250 list the #1 QB is Heaps at 63. Couple that with it takes a few years to become a competent college QB and it doesn't bode well for that crop to have produced much at this point in time. I don't think that should discount the acceptance to any QBs that get an Elite 11 invite. They just take whom they believe are the 11 best QB recruits that year.

Does this list offer some insight into star QB's needing to play or else they transfer for playing time?  5 of 11 have transferred, 1 more left the program to parts unknown, 1 retired, and 1 isn't on the 2-deep in his third year with the program.  The transfer number is astounding to me.  You recruit an Elite-11 guy and think your program is going to be in good hands only to see him transfer? 

I wonder if you look at historical Elite-11 lists (or maybe just top recruiting lists for QB) and see the transfer rates versus other positions what it would say.

Him being your success story is seriously alarming. Just shows the randomness of recruiting. Have there been any big QB successes from that class? It would be fascinating to know why they weren't considered elite.

These guys have only had two years to make an impact.  Many of the class of 2010 quarterbacks redshirted, and many would still be behind upperclassmen.  It might have been a down year, but it might not have been.  There have been plenty of Michigan quarterbacks not to make an impact until late in their careers, such as Tom Brady and Brian Griese.  It's too early to make any judgments about the class as a whole.

in each class. 

It looks like both JC and Kansas should be loaded at QB!

seems to be a take-away if you are not ready to say it's a pretty much 1 out of 11.  Elite 11 doesn't guarantee you will walk into a major program and blow it up, let alone start your first year....  It also speaks to ye old recruiting hype and highlight / 7v7 reference points.

The historical statistics are a sobering reminder of how difficult it is to project future success. Of the 95 "Elite 11" QBs between 1999 and 2006 (every year since 1999 has had 12 QBs - go figure), only 14 went on to be picked in the first 4 rounds in the NFL draft. More than half (52) never even got a sniff of the pros. 35 wound up transfering.

Of the three Michigan commits, two transfered (Gutierrez, Mallet) and one (Clayton Richard) never got significant playing time.

At least Mallett and Gutierrez made the NFL.  In Clayton Richard's defense, he quit the football team after his RS Freshman year to play baseball. Mallett transfer more to do with coaching change than Michigan as he had significant playing time as a true freshman and would have been a 3 year starter if Carr had not retired. Gutierrez transfer was part injury and bad timing.  If he doesn't hurt his shoulder during camp, Henne probably doesn't take his starting job.

I think this speaks to how fateful is the decision that elite QBs have to make.  Elite teams ideal scenario is to to take exactly one blue chip QB every year.  Where that is the case, there will inevitably be kids that either never get to play or have to transfer, sit out and hope to play somewhere else.

Just look at Michigan over the last several years:

The ins: Brady, Henson, Navarre, Henne, Sherideathreet, Tate Forcier, Robinson, ???

The outs: Gonzales, Mignery, Guiterrez, Jason Forcier, Brinton, Mallett, Threet, Tate Forcier, ???

What's cool is guys like Gonzales or Mignery who figure out how to stay and be meaningful contributors.  Having said that, I don't necessarily hold it against any of the above for leaving either.  (I just don't happen to like Ryan Mallett.)

I'm surpised. I remember their recruitments were pretty intense, especially with how badly Washington wanted Montana.

Brady Hoke and Al Borges identified and recruited Tyler Bray before he blew up that summer.  He committed early to San Diego State but decommitted later in the year after big time programs started to call and Tennessee offered.

Jake Heaps (the #1 QB from that class) started most of the season for BYU in each of his first two years, but pretty much sucked. He finally lost the starting job toward the end of last year to a guy who isn't a good passer but is their version of Zack Novak (Gritty McGritsalot). The coaches asked Heaps to redshirt for Gritty's senior year and come back to start his last two seasons, but he decided if he's going to redshirt he might as well do it elsewhere.

Kid's got a rocket arm but is really inconsistent and generally doesn't have the demeanor of a football player, let alone a QB. Despite his talent, I'll be surprised if he ever surpasses mediocrity.

I think this demonstrates one of the biggest flaws with the Elite 11 and other camps. Heaps was a 7-on-7 demon, but the first time he took a big hit he got really scared and played accordingly. It's a whole different game with pads on.

I think this speaks more to the recruiting process being faulty than the kids abilities. Look at the RB we are recruiting, Auburn has told him he is the best RB they have seen in years and garaunteed he will be on the field in the 1st quarter of the 1st game. Maybe he will, but to pander to a kids interests like that is ugly. His most recent interview I've seen didn't say a word about the actual school. Priorities of many schools are messed and kids are kids. Hopefully he has someone looking out for his best interests. I wish him the best wherever he decides to go but it's up to him to beat the process because it isn't looking out for him.

I remember seeing Jake Heaps in his freshman year and thinking man if this guy improves like he should he's going to be amazing in 2 years. He was interception and mistake prone but could make a lot of good throws.

Then....I saw his sophomore season. Huge disappointment for BYU who thought they had a big time recruit coming in.

What is the deal with the Joe Boisture kid at MSU? This piece of Spartan history seems to have alluded me.