The road to the Elite 11 Finals just got a little more crowded, and one of California's rising stars is packing his bags for Los Angeles.

Ryan Rakowski, a three-star quarterback from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, earned his golden ticket to the prestigious Elite 11 Finals this Thursday. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound signal-caller first made his mark at the Elite 11 Regional in Los Angeles back in March, where he impressed scouts enough to earn a spot among the nation's elite.

Rakowski joins Jameson Purcell as the 17th and 18th quarterbacks, respectively, to secure an invitation to this year's event. With only 20 spots available, competition is fierce, and every invite is a testament to a player's arm talent, football IQ, and leadership on the field.

For high school quarterbacks, there's no greater stage than the Elite 11 Finals. Celebrating its 27th anniversary in 2026, this three-day showcase brings together the top 20 signal-callers from across the country for intense competition and elite-level training in Los Angeles every June. It's more than just a camp—it's a proving ground where future college stars and NFL legends are born.

The alumni list reads like a who's who of football royalty: Carson Palmer, Andrew Luck, Matthew Stafford, and Tim Tebow paved the way, while modern stars like Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Stroud, and Bryce Young have carried the torch. Last year's Finals featured 16 of the top 25 quarterbacks in the Rivals Industry Rankings, including five of the top six players at the position. That's the caliber of competition Rakowski will face.

Currently ranked No. 736 overall and No. 50 among quarterbacks in the Rivals Industry Rankings, Rakowski has plenty to prove—and the Elite 11 Finals is the perfect place to do it. For a young quarterback with big dreams, this invitation is just the beginning.