ATHENS, Ga. -- Cleveland (Tenn.) High School QB Chad Voytik was excited to get the opportunity to participate and compete against some of the top quarterbacks in the Elite 11 regional QB camp at the University of Georgia.
He didn't disappoint.
"I thought I did well and felt really good in how I performed," Voytik said. "I did my very best and gave it my all. I did all I could. The best part about something like this is taking drills home, like some roll out stuff for me. It's also great to see the guys around me and compete against them. It was very exciting."
Voytik, who has eight scholarship offers, made all the throws despite it being windy and raining for for most of the night.
"I thought he was one of the top guys," said former NFL quarterback Browning Nagle, one of the Elite 11 quarterback coaches. "I think with a lot of these kids they have one thing and need to add another element. When you try that here something suffers but that is part of being young. These kids are talented, they have the arms, they have athleticism but they are missing something else. That's where coaching comes in. Some have a benefit in that. Some have those resources to help them out. Those that don't need it and need to check out what the big boys are doing. Man, the game has transformed since I played it."
For now, Voytik favors a trio of schools -- Mississippi State, Pitt and Vanderbilt.
"I went and saw all three teams recently this spring. My latest visit was Clemson and to get an offer from them was great," he said. "I feel really blessed right now and very happy with the schools I am choosing from.
"I take grades seriously so I am looking for a school that can give me a degree to be proud of," Voytik said. "I want to play in an offense that fits my skills and pick a place where I am comfortable for the next four to five years. I do not have a timetable but I need to start talking with my family and coaches. Mississippi State, Vandy and Pitt are my top three but doesn't mean the others are out. I'll start deciding and talking it over with everyone and coming to a decision."
Other quarterbacks that stood out were Reese Hannon (Greer, S.C./Greer), Chris Moody (McDonough, Ga./Henry County), Nick Patti (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips), Tyler Cameron (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter Community), Todd Mayes (Olive Branch), Colin McElroy (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton), and Anfornee Stewart (Duluth, Ga./Duluth). Some signal caller in the Class of 2013 that impressed were Jonathan McCrary (Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove), Eddie Printz (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter), Riley Ferguson (Butler, N.C./Butler), Tyler Dominy (Dawson County, Ga.), and Alton Meeks (Orlando, Fla./Boone).
"I am not sure if there was one guy that stood out above the crowd," Nagle said. "But I can flat out tell you that there were 10-12 D-I kids here right now."
Florida signal caller with seven offers
Tyler Cameron (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter Community) claims seven scholarship offers at this time.
"Rutgers, Louisville, Illinois, FAU, USF, and Marshall have offered me," Cameron said. "I can't think of the seventh offer. So far, I have seen Florida, FSU and Miami. Right now I am open."
Cameron was happy with his performance.
"I thought I did all right," Cameron said. "There are places for improvement, things I lack in. I have technique to work on. I am the type of quarterback that has the ability to get out of trouble. I stay level headed with team and I am always able to run the ball and get team going. I don't let them down."
Patti set to visit the Broncos
Nick Patti (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips) has been a regular at the Nike camps and Elite 11s. He performed well on Friday, but was not as sharp as he's been in other events.
"The conditions were tough and you had to compensate," Patti said. "The targets were tough so you had to tweak here and there with everything."
Patti, who now has scholarship offers from Indiana, UCF and Louisiana Tech, is set to visit Boise State next week.
"Of all the trips I have taken this is the one that I am most excited about," Patti said. "I want to see what they have to say and see where it goes."
So could Patti see himself playing on the famous Bronco blue field?
"Oh yeah.," he said. "Definitely."
Patti's most recent offer was from Indiana.
"That was great to get that one," Patti said. "I know [offensive coordinator] Rod Smith from when he was at Michigan. We have talked a lot. So that was an easy transition with him. I went up there and that's when they offered and that was a real surprise to me. It's a college town and I love the facilities. [Coach] Kevin Wilson seems like an awesome guy. It took about 10 minutes and then they offered."
Patti is also hopefully that another in-state offer could be on the way very soon.
"USF is coming to watch to watch me when we start up practice," Patti said. "They could be offer. Things are starting to pick up."
Mays day
At 5-11 and 205 pounds, Taylor Mays looks more like a powerful running back rather than a quarterback. He has tree trucks for quads and squats 515 pounds. He also throws with a ton of velocity and had arguably the strongest arm at the camp. Both Louisville and Southern Miss have offered him a scholarship.
Jamie Newberg has been covering recruiting in the Southeast and nationally for 19 years. He can be reached at jamienewbergbw@yahoo.com.