Every year, the best high school quarterbacks gather in Los Angeles for a three-day competition otherwise known as The Elite 11. For the 2023 showcase, an Alabama commit didn’t have to travel too far to continue to make a name for himself.

Julian Sayin, a Carlsbad, Calif., native and one of the first commitments of the Tide’s upcoming recruiting class, put together a strong opening to the competition. On Thursday, Sayin was named the winner of the “Pro Day” event which scored 20 throws on accuracy and rhythm. Sayin finished with 49 points, four ahead of second-place and Texas Tech commit Will Hammond.

Sayin earned rave reviews from the analysts in attendance. 247 Sports’ Andrew Ivins tabbed Sayin as the “Alpha Dog” among the 20 throwers. On3′s Charles Power ranked Sayin second behind Georgia commit Dylan Raiola and applauded Sayin’s footwork.

“Sayin has looked the sharpest and most consistent of the bunch. He might not have had his best stuff during Wednesday’s three-hour workout, but he brought it Thursday under the lights,” Ivins wrote. ” … We came into the event wondering who the top quarterback in the state of California is for this cycle and Sayin is making it clear that he’s the guy heading into his senior season.”

Sayin verbally committed to the Tide on Nov. 2. He started 12 games for the Carlsbad Lancers last fall, completing 163 of 245 passes for 2,708 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions (he also added three rushing scores).

Last year, Eli Holstein one of the Tide’s two quarterbacks competed in the finals. In 2021, a current contender for the Tide’s starting job Ty Simpson performed at the Elite 11. Notre Dame commit and eventual Alabama transfer Tyler Buchner participated in 2020 as did Bryce Young in 2019.

Sayin rode a strong junior campaign and summer workout circuit to rise up recruiting boards. He’s a 247Sports Composite five-star ranked 13th of all prospects and the No. 2 quarterback behind Raiola in the upcoming class.

The 2023 Elite 11 finals will end Friday and could come down to Sayin and Raiola for overall MVP.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected]