Morgan County quarterback Davis Strickland recently took part in the Elite 11 camp at Gainesville High School.
The Elite 11 is the top quarterback camp in the country, attracting the best signal-callers who come to compete.
Strickland vied with many of the best quarterbacks in the Southeast for a spot at the national camp. He competed in passing drills and also took part in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and 20-yard shuttle.
“I felt I competed very well and held my own,” Strickland said. “Being around the best quarterbacks in my class only motivates me to improve.”
Strickland mentioned that the coaches at the camp praised his game, emphasizing that it gave him a confidence boost. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder said he received compliments about his arm strength and accuracy.
However, Strickland also identified some areas where he needed to improve. The Morgan County rising senior acknowledged that he also made a few friends at the Elite 11 camp.
“The coaches focused more on what we need to continue to do as quarterbacks for our teams. It was a great opportunity to be with guys who are in the same position as you,” Strickland said.“We’re all working towards the same goal of winning with our teams. It was nice to make connections with these guys so we can support each other for the rest of high school and hopefully at the next level.”
Strickland’s performance at the camp should help him get noticed by colleges. He already has offers from Wofford, Cornell, Eastern Kentucky, and East Tennessee State.
Morgan County offensive coordinator Brett Bell nominated Strickland to attend the camp. After, he received positive feedback from the Elite 11 coaches about his quarterback.
“When it comes to throwing the football, I felt that Davis is as good or better than any quarterback in the state of Georgia,” Bell said. “So, after a discussion with Davis in December, I sent in a coach submission form that included his measurables, statistics, film, and intangibles. His play and hard work speak for itself, so he was selected. All the feedback that I got on Davis was that he had a great day. He threw the ball with accuracy and competed with some of the best in the Southeast.”
Strickland threw for 3,164 yards and 40 touchdowns during his first full season as a starter at the varsity level. He also guided the Dogs to an 11-2 record and a spot in the Class AA quarterfinals, completing 72% of his passes in 2025. Strickland earned All-Region and All-State recognition after his standout junior season.
Morgan County head coach Clint Jenkins noticed Strickland's potential early on, noting that he has grown significantly since that time.
“We actually had Davis as an eighth grader due to some JV injuries. I can usually tell what kind of QB they are going to be by the type of scout team QB they are when they’re young,” Jenkins said. “The scout team QB has to run the cards for the opposing team for our defense to practice against. What we saw in Davis early on was obvious arm talent, a really good football IQ, and some leadership qualities. He has continued to develop in all these areas, and the proof was in his play last year. We are not satisfied, and I know Davis isn’t, so we want to continue to improve in everything we do every day. I’m excited to see him play this year.”
Strickland will begin his final spring football camp when the Dogs start practice in early May.
“I couldn’t be more excited, with a lot of great people returning, and we all have one goal,” Strickland said.