Earlier today four-star Kentucky quarterback commitment Jarren Williams was selected to the Elite11.
Williams earned his way onto the final board on the basis of his three days of work in Los Angeles, Calif., with former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, a team of coaches and the best high school quarterbacks in the nation.
He's just one of 11 quarterbacks who received the distinguished honor, and the recognition earns Williams a ticket to The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Oreg., for an event that spans the end of July and the beginning of August.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: How does it feel to know you're heading to Oregon?
Jarren Williams: Oh man, it's a big honor. It's always been a dream of mine, ever since I was in middle school when I was looking at it and watching it. I was always pushing myself there but I never really thought I would get the opportunity to be there. It's definitely a big honor and I definitely have to thank the man above for it.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: What was it like being around Trent Dilfer and working with him for the weekend?
Williams: It was probably the best experience of my life, meeting with Coach Dilfer and all the staff and with everything they did for us. They really helped us with the mental aspect of the game more than anything else I learned. They helped us master the mental aspect of the game. They taught us some tricks, like taking deep breaths and thinking positive thoughts."
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: When Drew Barker was at the Elite11 he got tight with Deshaun Watson. Was there any other quarterback you got close with at the event?
Williams: I would say James Foster. He was my roommate. Me and him got really close.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: We know you came in fourth during the Pro Day portion of the event, but how would you assess your play from day to day?
Williams: The first day I did okay. I just know what I'm capable of and I knew what I was capable of. I didn't see my name on the board after the first day and I used that as motivation, so on the second day, the Pro Day, I had an edge and a chip on my shoulders. I got my name on the board and from there I had to keep pushing in the 7-on-7's to stay consistent from the second day through the third day.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: For people who might not know, what did the Pro Day look like?
Williams: It's just a sequence of throws. They're seeing if you can make all the throws, just like a regular Pro Day for NFL quarterbacks. The same throws. If you hit a guy in the face or throw a good ball it's three points. If you hit them in the chest it's two points. If you throw a catchable ball you get one point.
CATSILLUSTRATED.COM: How about the 7-on-7's? How would you say you did in that?
Williams: The 7-on-7's went good for me. We weren't really taking that many shots. Just taking what they gave us. The whole time they were playing Cover 2 and Cover 3, so I was just taking what they gave us. Didn't get too greedy.
CATSILLUSRATED.COM: Since you summer got a little busier with the trip to Oregon coming up, are you still going to Kentucky on the 10th and 11th?
Williams: I just talked to my mom and we said that weekend probably won't be good. I'll probably go up there the 14th.
