USC's number one ranked recruiting class is once again in the spotlight this week as four-star QB Jonas Williams (IL) has arrived in Torrance, CA, for the Elite 11 Finals. The elite quarterback competition that was first introduced in 1999 is once again playing host to the top 20 quarterback prospects in the nation at the high school level.
Williams enters the finals as the number eight-ranked quarterback in the finals. It is also important to note that he represents the youngest quarterback remaining in the competition. The future Trojan quarterback leads a trio of Big Ten commits, joined by Penn State’s Troy Huhn and Washington’s Derek Zammit. Williams also represents one of three quarterbacks from the state of California, which is tied for the most with Texas and Florida in this year's competition. Williams ranks second amongst the group of California quarterbacks.
Former USC quarterbacks who also played in the event
Jonas Williams represents another link in a long line of USC quarterbacks to be an Elite 11 finalist. He joins Matt Cassell (99), Billy Hart (00), Matt Leinart (00), John David Booty (03), Mark Sanchez (MVP, 04), Mitch Mustain (05), Aaron Corp (06), Jesse Scroggins (09), Cody Kessler (10), Max Browne (12), Ricky Town, (14), Jack Sears, (16), Caleb Williams (MVP 20), Miller Moss (20), Malachi Nelson (22) and Husan Longstreet (24).
As the competition gets underway, the Illinois product and signal caller for the number one-ranked class in the nation will try to become the third USC prospect to win MVP honors. Williams has drawn comparisons to former Lincoln Riley and Saints QB Spencer Rattler, who won the finals MVP in 2018.