7-on-7 Talk: How is Carroll's Hill not at Elite 11?

Southlake Carroll QB Kenny Hill was by far the most polished thrower at the Fox Sports Southwest 7-on-7 State Tournament. And Hill has been busy this week. His summer DBAT team is playing in a Connie Mack qualifier this week at TCU and trying to get to Farmington, N.M. for national tourney as a 17U qualifier. The Farmington field is usually stocked with 18U teams.

The question must be asked: Why did Hill not get an invite to Elite 11 in Southern California this weekend? The Elite is the ESPN-owned reality TV format which selects top QBs from across the countr. In a Bachelorette-clone of a program, ESPN puts together a behind-the-scenes look into selecting a final Elite 11 and then a top QB for the camp. Trent Dilfer is very good as the camp director. But it is TV and don't believe everything you see on TV.

Of course, Texas is well represented with Colleyville Heritage Oklahoma commit CodyThomas, Prosper TCU commits Davis Webb, Wichita Falls Rider Ohio State commit J.T. Barrett, Skyline's Mississippi commit Devante Kincaid, Temple's Syracuse commit Zach Allen (no problems there) and Texas' Whitewright's Tyrone Swoopes (problem there.)

A Texas A&M commit for the 2013 class, Hill has looked terrific this spring at camps after leading Carroll to the 2011 Class 5A Division I state title. Swoopes is undoubtedly a great prospect. But the strong-armed, 6-5 Swoopes is two years behind most QBs in accuracy, footwork, timely releases and reads right now with his experience primarily as a running quarterback at 2A Whitewright.

Former Texas Rangers pitcher Ken Hill was on the sideline for Carroll's first-round Championship Bracket game against Wylie East. Always a man of few words, Hill said: "It's motivation."

One Red Hot Opinion: The 6-1 1/2 Hill isn't the ideal 6-4 height and there are very limited spots available throughout national regions. But after Hill was a top performer at the Elite 11 competition at Cowboys Stadium and Swoopes was clearly not a top performer,  the ESPN-based, Elite 11 show got a “highly recommended” suggestion in the following week that Texas commit Swoopes of Whitewright should be invited despite poor showings spring camps. Oh yeah, that Longhorn Network thing again.

No news here, but Wylie East receiver Marcell Ateman is awesome. The Oklahoma State commit could be OSU’s next first-round NFL draft pick. The 6-4 Ateman can’t be covered in 7-on-7. East has a solid QB in lefty Garrett McCain and other impressive skill positions with Baylor commit Vequan Jones, Kevon Mack, Mitchell Clark and Tevaun Scallion.

Arlington Bowie quarterback Keaton Perry is fast, scrappy and accurate. He led Bowie to a surprising showing. Keaton is the son of Bowie head coach Kenny Perry. Until Keaton got hurt in a physical game with Arlington Martin last year, he was playing well as a freshman. TCU DE signee Devonte Fields injured three Bowie QBs that game. Kenny Perry, by the way, wasn’t a QB but a DB at Arlington Lamar or the University Houston. But he did learn a thing or two about passing during the Andre Ware and David Klingler years at UH under coaches Jack Pardee and John Jenkins. By the way, Luke Klingler (son of David.. that sounds Biblical) is a rising sophomore at Cinco Ranch and could be starting by end of season.

Big Time Bowie DB to watch: Edwin Freeman ('14.)

Odessa Permian showed well with John Wilkins as coach. Fiesty senior Jack Wilkins is Permian’s starting quarterback. Jack Wilkins is the grandson of The John Wilkins _ inconic past Mojo coach… Mojo could advance a couple rounds in the playoffs with running back Jorrian Wilson looking full speed after struggling with knee injuries last year. The Permian QB of the future could be promising ’15 passer Heath Wood….Belton TE Durham Smythe gets well-deserved attention as Texas commit but QB Pete Shelburne the key to season. Watching 7-on-7, the shotgun center for Belton was ’15 QB Shane Stafford, the strong-armed son of former Texas quarterback Bret Stafford of the mid-1980s.