Peavey helps chances for Elite 11 spot

Rafe Peavey was Arkansas first commitment of the 2014 class.

Elite 11 quarterback coach and ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer yelled his approval of Arkansas quarterback commitment Rafe Peavey during Friday's regional competition in Chicago.

"He would say 'Hey, nice ball' from all the way across the field," Peavey said. "Sometimes I didn't think even think he was watching. I would throw and I would hear 'nice ball'."

Peavey, 6-2, 207, 4.5 seconds in the 40 yard dash, of Bolivar, Missouri also competed at the Dallas Regional 11 Elite competition on April 6. With his showing at both regional sites, he's set himself up for a possible invite to the Elite 11 Finals to take place June 28 – July 3 in Beaverton, Oregon.

While Peavey felt good about his performance, he said Dilfer threw a curve ball his way.

"There was a new route, I'm not sure what it really was," Peavey said. "I'm really not sure how to throw it. I'm probably going to work on a little bit so if I get a chance to go out to Oregon I'll be a little bit more prepared. "

Sixty-four quarterbacks competed on Friday and only six, including Peavey were selected to take part participate in the pressure cooker competition. The quarterbacks had to throw seven different routes in less than two minutes while being hurried from station to station.

Peavey, who spoke to Coach Bret Bielema after the competition, felt good about the last part of the of the day but was disappointed about one incompletion.

"I felt like I did well on the rest of it," Peavey said in Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "I'm not sure what happened on that come back. I think I might have led him a little bit too much."

Peavey, who's considered one of the top dual-threat signal callers in the nation, has been laser timed at 11.10 seconds in the 100 meters while also running the 4x200 and 4x100 relays.

"I think during the offseason I got up to 215 pounds," said Peavey, who runs the opening leg in the relays. "But that's not what I am right now because of track. I'll probably get back to 212 after track."