Cleveland star Chad Voytik (8) will be one of 24 quarterbacks competing in Malibu, Calif.CLEVELAND, Tenn.-Chad Voytik embraces every opportunity he can to silence any notions that he's too small to be a top-tier quarterback.
The Cleveland High School will have an opportunity next week to do it on the grandest high school stage imaginable.
Voytik will be one of 24 quarterbacks in Malibu, Calif., competing in the Elite 11 finals, the nation's premier quarterback competition for prep athletes. The contestants will go through an intense five days of workouts on and off the field.
Voytik had an outstanding regional camp at the University of Georgia, with some reports calling him the best quarterback there.
"I go into every camp expecting to be the best one there," he said. "There are a lot of good quarterbacks around, but I always go in wanting to prove I'm the No. 1 guy there. There are going to be some big guys that have some big-time offers out there, but that's not going to scare me away. I'm just going to compete."
Voytik, who will be one of five quarterbacks at the Elite 11 camp who hasn't committed to a college, has narrowed his options to Mississippi State and Pittsburgh. He did say he wouldn't fully shut out other possibilities that may arise if he has a standout week.
"I'm really happy with my final two schools," he said. "I think I can go to either place, be successful and have a good college experience, but if other big schools start showing more interest in me, I'm definitely going to keep my options open."
Voytik will be the second-shortest of the 24 competitors, but at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he feels he has all other necessary tools to be successful at this camp and in college.
"I feel my athleticism overpowers the fact that I'm two or three inches shorter than some of the other guys," said Voytik, who runs a 4.6 40-yard dash. "I don't know how I would be if I were a couple inches taller; I know I would be a different quarterback, though.
"I'm just going to use what God has given me. He hasn't failed me yet. I feel my work ethic and mechanics can overcome any questions or concerns about how tall I am."