Elite 11 Atlanta Caps with Big Honor for QB Aaron McLaughlin
CARROLLTON, Ga. -- There's hype and there's living up to it.
As he's become accustomed to while competing in-season and out over his prep career, plenty of eyes were on Aaron McLaughlin during the Elite 11's first camp stop of 2020 in the Atlanta area.
Coaches, onlookers and fellow prospects had his name on their breath before, during and especially to wrap the Saturday showcase of top quarterbacks from all over the country. The Alpharetta (Ga.) Denmark rising senior spun it with the best of the bunch all afternoon long and the consistency -- combined with a stunning run through athletic tests to begin the day -- led to the staff extending its first invitation to the prestigious Elite 11 Finals to the 6-foot-5, 219-pounder.
"I could have done better and I've got a lot to work on," he told SI All-American following the effort. "But I made the throws I needed to make and I did what I had to do to get the invite."
[Related: The Class of 2021 SI All-American Quarterback Watch List]
At the conclusion of the camp, Elite 11 head Brian Stumpf added that McLaughlin's Football Rating of 119.19 was among the best the group has logged for a passer during the 20-year history of the camp circuit. Making up the mark was a 4.71-second 40-yard dash, 4.33 shuttle, 43-foot power ball toss and 36.4 inches on the vertical leap.
While one goal was accomplished as February comes to a close, one of the Peach State's top class of 2021 prospects is looking towards taking the next step as a quarterback.
"I can throw a football and I can run really fast but obviously I can improve on that and keep improving myself physically," McLaughlin said. "But I just want to hone in on the mental aspect of the game and learn more football than what I have learned. I want to be a sponge and soak in everything that I can."
As for the next step as a recruit, the former Auburn commitment has a bevy of options old and new. With the NCAA dead period now in the rearview mirror, the right-hander will hit the visit trail in the coming weeks still in search of his collegiate home.
"I'm going to Louisville tomorrow (Sunday)," he said. "NC State probably Thursday or Friday, Arizona some time down the line and I'm trying to get to Maryland, Miami and a few schools.
"Those are the ones who are recruiting me the hardest."
McLaughlin, who threw for more than 2,000 yards and totaled 26 touchdowns (nine rushing) as a junior, has no clear timetable for a decision.
Brooks Austin contributed to this report. Read his work at BulldogMaven.com.
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