Peavey makes case for Elite 11 invite

Rafe Peavey of Bolivar, Mo., became Arkansas’ first oral commitment for the 2014 class.

Arkansas quarterback commitment Rafe Peavey had a good performance at the Dallas Elite 11 regional event in April, according to Elite 11 Head Coach and ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer. He upped his game at the Chicago Elite 11 and was one of the top six performers at the May 3 event.

"He was real good." Dilfer said.

Dilfer said he gave Peavey and his father, Jack a list of things to work on after the Dallas Elite 11.

"One thing I look at with these kids are their work capacity," Dilfer said. "They're willingness to change and are they capable of change or do they have so many bad habits they can't change."

After Peavey's performance in Chicago, Dilfer praised the Hog pledge for the noticeable improvement.

"Boy did they go to work," said Dilfer, who selected Peavey as one of the top six quarterbacks out 64 competing in Chicago. "I would say the ball was twenty-five percent better off his hand. He has good feet, his footwork needs improvement to be more consistent and they know that but they went to work on the things I told them to. They were some nice changes."

Peavey, 6-2, 207, 4.5 seconds in the 40 yard dash, of Bolivar, Missouri has continued to add to his growing list of scholarship offers over the months since his commitment to Arkansas and is now up to about 30.

Dilfer has picked five quarterbacks for the National Elite 11 competition to be held at Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon this summer. There are 13 spots remaining and Peavey, who posted times of 11.2 seconds in the 100 meters and 22.5 in the 200 at Saturday's district meet, is in contention for one of the remaining invites with two more regional events to come.

"He's on the big board," Dilfer said. "There's only 18 spots this year because we're combining with The Opening and trying to make more prestigious by lowering the numbers. He'll be in the conversation as we go forward. A lot will depends on whether kids from California and Columbus go out and have signature performances that match with the quality of their tape."

Dilfer expects to name all but two spots by June 1. The final two should be announced on June 10 or 11.