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Buchner, Moss Punch Tickets to the Elite 11 Finals

The second stop of the 2020 Elite 11 tour took the competition to Los Angeles, where big names entering the event backed up the hype en route to a pair of Elite 11 Finals tickets being punched.

John Garcia, Jr.

Buchner, Moss Punch Tickets to the Elite 11 Finals
Buchner, Moss Punch Tickets to the Elite 11 Finals /

Two more spots for the prestigious Elite 11 Finals competition have been filled. 

As top prep quarterbacks from the West Coast gathered to compete at Cerritos College on Saturday, there was no shortage of future college signal callers vying for the next spots in the annual quarterback showcase. 

After a clear, ideal day for workouts, a pair of well-known prep passers got the good news. 

Tyler Buchner, the Notre Dame commitment out of La Jolla (Calif.) The Bishop's School, was "dominant" en route to earning his invitation per the on-site staff at Spots Illustrated. Known as a dual-threat coming off of a gaudy 2019 season in which he threw for 53 touchdowns and ran for 28 more, Saturday was all about his passing ability and he showed enough to get the nod. 

"This whole Elite 11 thing is a dream come true," Buchner said. 

Miller Moss, an uncommitted rising senior out of Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Academy, was perhaps the most tracked passer entering the event and he lived up to the billing. Considering offers from USC, UCLA, Alabama, LSU and many others, Moss was arguably the most consistent prospect working throughout the fast-paced circuit. 

"I'm excited but I think I still have a lot to accomplish," Moss said. 

As the Elite 11 finalists were announced at the conclusion of the camp, Buchner and Moss embraced and celebrated the honor that will enable their passing paths to cross in late June when the next Elite 11 crown is to be given. The 2019 MVP, Ohio State rising freshman and California native CJ Stroud, was on hand to offer his advice in the meantime.

Several additional big name arms were able to push for eventual invitations in their own right. 

USC commitment and La Habra (Calif.) standout Jake Garcia pushed Buchner as the event wound down, matching his 20-pound mark in the Golden Gun accuracy challenge. The setting is designed to measure accuracy like NFL teams would at a college pro day type of workout, similar to those going on all over the country ahead of the NFL Draft. 

The class of 2021, the rising juniors, had its own share of big names competing on Saturday and arguably the most well-known early on made an impact. Maalik Murphy, the Gardena (Calif.) Juniperro Serra star with nearly 20 offers to his name already, also hit 20 during the Golden Gun challenge. The 6-foot-4, uncommitted specimen showcased a quick release and very strong arm throughout the afternoon. 

A unique element to the Elite 11 regional events, under a new format in 2020, is the testing component prior to the footballs flying all over the field. The ability for a signal caller to be among the best athletes on the field is more critical than ever before in the current structure of college and NFL football so the data accumulated relative to a prospect's movement skill is all a part of the ongoing evaluation process. 

William Haskell, the Glendale (Ariz.) Ironwood senior to be, turned plenty of heads with his pre-passing workout. He not only took home the top rating among all the competitors on the day, with a 94.65 measure, but he created about as much buzz as one prospect could in any one test after his vertical jump of 40 inches was executed. Haskell also ran a 4.69 40-yard dash, 4.53 short shuttle and threw the power ball 34 feet. Duke, Arizona State and San Diego State are among Haskell's current offers.

Related:

SI All-American 2021 QB Watch List

Looking back at the Elite 11 Atlanta

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John Garcia, Jr.
JOHN GARCIA, JR.

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