Pilot of seaplane was trying to land in Tennessee River before March 25 crash, FAA says

Tennessee football commitment Kaidon Salter named Elite 11 quarterback

Mike Wilson
Knoxville News Sentinel

Kaidon Salter came to Tennessee on Monday. He left with a claim as one of the best high school quarterbacks in the country.

Salter, a four-star prospect from Cedar Hill, Texas, was named to the Elite 11 after competing with 20 quarterbacks at the three-day Elite 11 finals in Murfreesboro. 

Salter is the third Tennessee commitment in as many years to make the Elite 11, following Harrison Bailey in 2019 and Brian Maurer in 2018.

UT senior Jarrett Guarantano made the Elite 11 in 2015.

Salter is the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback and No. 206 prospect in the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Salter picked the Vols over Auburn and Baylor.

Salter, who committed to Tennessee on May 10, made a strong early impression with Elite 11 quarterbacks coach and former NFL player Trent Dilfer on Monday.

“Way more organized as a passer than his tape showed,” Dilfer said to 247Sports. “He was really, really clean and there is some juice in that body, wow! It wouldn’t surprise me if he can take one step and 360 dunk. He has that kind of juice in his body. Super coachable, they threw these inside seam shots, right, left, one high, benders, stay skinny and they cross. First rep may not have been perfect and I watch the second rep and his correction rep was money time after time after time.”

The competition continued Tuesday and Wednesday with drills comparable to a pro day and an accuracy challenge.

The Elite 11 quarterbacks were chosen by the camp's coaches with 50 percent of their judgment based on junior season film and performance and 50 percent on camp evaluation and quarterback traits.

“A lot of people think of him as a dual-threat quarterback because he does have the ability to run,” Cedar Hill quarterbacks coach D.J. Mann said to Knox News in May. “He brings a lot of the pro-style style to his game. He can sit back in the pocket and read defenses and throw it on time. He can do the drops and throw the routes. He does well learning new systems.”

Five-star quarterback Caleb Williams of Washington, D.C., was named the Elite 11 MVP.

Tyler Buchner (Notre Dame), Kyron Drones (Baylor), Tyler Macon (Missouri), Drake Maye (North Carolina), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Kyle McCord (Ohio State), Miller Moss (USC), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Ty Thompson (Oregon) and Brock Vandagriff (Georgia) rounded out the Elite 11.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.