This year’s esteemed group of Elite 11 Finalists will feature Washington quarterback commit. The four-star prospect from New Jersey earned his finalist spot following this weekend’s Elite 11 Regional held in State College. The quarterback contest kicked off in the spring and made stops at several regional locations where the country’s top QB recruits vie for a chance to advance to the final event in Los Angeles. The State College event marked the final regional stop, and he secured his chance to compete with the nation’s best quarterbacks this summer at the 2025 Elite 11 competition.
His high school tape reveals a quarterback who’s equally comfortable operating under center and from the shotgun—a rare trait in modern high school football. One of his standout qualities is his effectiveness in play-action, where he demonstrates strong pocket movement and the ability to deliver accurate, high-level throws to all areas of the field. His ball placement is particularly impressive, as he consistently hits receivers in stride while keeping passes away from defenders.
He also remains composed under pressure. From the shotgun, he shows a clear ability to read defenses, escape pressure, and continue scanning downfield. He doesn’t panic when the pocket collapses and can make throws from various angles and off-balance platforms. Overall, Zammit’s poise in the pocket and precise ball placement are key strengths. His experience in a pro-style offense makes him an excellent fit for Jedd Fisch’s system, with his mobility adding an extra layer to his game.
Zammit’s Recruitment
Before committing to Washington on April 19, Derek Zammit had narrowed his college choices down to four programs: Alabama, Syracuse, Mississippi State, and the Huskies. Rutgers was the first to offer him a scholarship in the summer of 2023, followed by Washington in August and Alabama in February 2025.
Now with his invitation to the Elite 11 Finals, Zammit becomes part of an exclusive group of quarterbacks in the 2026 recruiting class. He’ll compete in the 2025 Elite 11 event alongside top-tier prospects like five-star Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon and Texas pledge Dia Bell. Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is a past Elite 11 Finalist from the 2023 class—he was initially committed to Ole Miss before flipping to Jedd Fisch and Arizona.
High School Standouts
Derek Zammit has spent three seasons as the starting quarterback at DePaul Catholic, where he’s amassed 5,512 passing yards, 57 touchdowns, and only 12 interceptions. He’s also contributed over 800 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. His standout junior year saw him guide DePaul Catholic to an 11-win season and a New Jersey Non-Public Group B state title, throwing for 2,582 yards and 35 touchdowns while adding 560 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.
The Washington commit stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 195 pounds. He’ll return to DePaul Catholic for his senior season this fall. Zammit ranks as the third-highest recruit in Washington’s 2026 class, trailing only five-star offensive lineman Kodi Greene and four-star EDGE rusher Derek Coleman-Brusa. According to the 247Sports Composite, the Huskies are one of just 11 programs nationally with a five-star commit and currently boast the No. 21 recruiting class in the country—sixth-best in the Big Ten.