Quarterbacks headline Elite Skills Camp

Last spring, 120 athletes participated in front of nearly 100 college coaches in the Elite Skills Camp held at Cleveland Browns Stadium. On Tuesday, May 1, another 120 players get their chance to show coaches what they can do as the 2nd Annual Elite Skills Camp takes place starting at 3:30 p.m.

Headlining this year's camp are 16 quarterbacks considered among the best in the Midwest. According to National High School All-Star Combine president Don Zoloty, the draw of the quarterbacks will help the other players gain more exposure.

"I think the group in general is pretty strong," said Zoloty. "(Quarterback) is one position that is going to touch the ball on every play, so the (college) coaches want to see those guys and that makes it easier for the other guys to get recruited."

Making the trek to Cleveland from his home in Pittsburgh, Pa., is highly touted quarterback Tino Sunseri, a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder from Central Catholic High School. Sunseri, who threw for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior, holds offers from Florida State, Louisville, Southern Miss and several other schools.

Challenging Sunseri for top passing honors at the camp are several Buckeye state prospects that have their own collection of early offers.

Trotwood-Madison's Domonick Britt, a 6-foot-5, 175-pounder, holds offers from Cincinnati, Akron, Kent State and Eastern Michigan and he's drawn interest from several other BCS programs. Ohio Varsity ranks Britt as the top quarterback in the state of Ohio.

Youngstown Rayen (soon to be Youngstown East) quarterback Sal Battles is heading to the camp to prove to college coaches that he belongs behind center, not in the backfield.

"I know I have a lot to prove," Battles said. "Whate I want to play in college is quarterback and a lot of people are telling me that I am too short to play the position. That's why I feel if I do what I'm supposed to do, that will change a lot of people's minds about what I should play in college."

Kent State, Bowling Green and Miami (OH) have all extended scholarship offers to Battles.

Sherwood Fairview's Ryan Radcliff holds an offer from Bowling Green but has drawn plenty of interest from other programs. All he did last fall was throw for 4,600 yards and 57 touchdowns.

Both Zac Dysert and Zack Stoudt have collected at least one scholarship offer.

Dysert, a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder from Ada, picked up offers from Cincinnati and Troy after throwing for 3,800 yards and 31 scores last season. Stoudt, the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Cliff Stoudt, landed his first offer just a week ago when Gardner-Webb pulled the trigger. An injury kept the 6-foot-5, 215-pounder from seeing much action last season, so he's ready to show his stuff on Tuesday.

Bart Tanski, quarterback of the Division I state runner-up Mentor Cardinals, was a late addition to the camp. Tanski, a 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, has drawn plenty of interest from colleges and finally will have the chance to show coaches just how valuable he could be running a college offense.

Vandalia Butler's Jason Albertini has spent the off-season preparing for this event. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is ready to compete against the top quarterbacks and do what he can to force coaches to add him to their offer list.

"I'm hoping to show the coaches that my mechanics are fundamentally sound and that I can make a throw anywhere on the field," he said. "I just want a chance to compete against the best talent around and show my skills."

Completing the field are New Philadelphia's Jordan Miller, Centerville's David Fleming, Painesville Riverside's Mickey Mohner, Hubbard's Mark Kanetsky, Cleveland Heights' Travis Kelce, Strongsville's Tim Kamczyc, Brunswick's Sean Bedevelsky and Rocky River's Andy Breidigam.

Bedevelsky is excited about the opportunity to throw in front of college coaches. He's attended several combines where he's had his speed and strength tested, but throwing the football is where he thinks he excels.

"This is a great opportunity to perform in front of college coaches because I think I can have a better showing with actually throwing the ball and and working hands on rather than running a 40-yard dash," he said. "I'm not the fastest person around so it is better for coaches to see what I can do with the football in my hands."

Zoloty is confident that this group of quarterbacks has the talent to walk away from the event with more interest from colleges and possbily even more offers than what they started with.

"I don't think there's any reason all those kids can't walk away without an offer," he said.

Stay tuned to OhioVarsity.com for more previews of the Elite Skills Camp and a full break-down of the camp later in the week.