Jack Elliott of Mount Carmel – local Shaw

Regardless of how a coach or opposing player approached the subject, Jack Elliott always seemed to come up after a game against Mount Carmel this season.

Sometimes the conversation started after a question about how difficult it is to stop Elliott.

“Just watching him on film and seeing him in person, even when you think a guy has an angle on him, he just tops it,” Joliet Catholic coach Jake Jaworski said. “He’s pretty slick and looks like a running back who can really throw the ball.”

At other times, Elliott appeared unprovoked.

“Jack is a heck of an athlete,” Loyola senior quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald said. “Probably in the four years I’ve played, obviously I’ve gone up against Darrion (Dupree) and other guys, but Jack is just, he can do everything, but he has that factor. That is why they are really successful. It’s something that coaches want.”

No matter how Elliott came out, after a win or a loss, the feeling was almost always the same.

“This is the best player in the state, Jack Elliott,” said the St. Louis head coach. Rita, Martin Hopkins. “He does a lot for that team and is a special athlete. His will and determination speak volumes about him. You can see it has that factor.”

Elliott’s “it” factor made the difference in a season where he and the Caravan overcame obstacles to wins program-record 16th IHSA state championship and third crown right. That “it” factor is why he’s the 2024 Friday Night Drive Offensive Player of the Year.

The honor came after a season that didn’t go the way Elliott expected or wanted. Elliott drew plenty of attention before his senior season after contributing to the 2021 Class 7A state champion as a backup and then transitioning seamlessly to the starter as a junior, winning another championship as a starter.

After committing to Vanderbilt in AprilElliott seemed poised to end his high school career to once again lead a dynamic offense to impressive numbers.

Then the continuous jams started.

Week 1: Sprained AC in his throwing shoulder along with cramps in various parts of his body against the Hun School of New Jersey.

Week 3: Damaged ligaments in his throwing hand against Nazareth.

Week 5: Re-injured shoulder against Benet.

Despite never feeling 100 percent since the start of the season, Elliott has missed just one of the Caravan’s 14 games.

“We wanted our team to win no matter what,” Elliott said. “It turned out to be probably the toughest state championship of the three.”

Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch had to adjust the Caravan offense because of Elliott’s injury. Lynch couldn’t use Elliott’s full potential as a dual threat, and the Caravan had to rely on their new playmakers like senior Cooper Leham, Quentin Burrell and freshman Marshawn Thornton.

Lynch could tell the injuries were frustrating Elliott, even if he didn’t show it. Elliott continued to lead on and off the field despite his personal obstacles.

“There’s two types of kids in this world: There’s a kid who has, especially these days, a scholarship offer, you could have easily done that and backed him up on the sidelines and not rushed back and prepare you for his future. ,” Lynch said. “But this kid has an SEC offer, he’s committed, but the only thing he wants to do is win a state championship and be on the court, so he’s rushing back and helping his team win a state championship .”

Once Elliott got as close to 100% as possible for the playoffs, the Caravan showed its full potential. Mount Carmel averaged 50.2 points per game in the playoffs and became the first three-loss Caravan team to win a title. Elliott also broke open the IHSA Class 7A state championship game with six touchdown passes.

“This is the best player in the state, Jack Elliott. He does a lot for that team and is a special athlete. His will and determination speak volumes about him. You can see it has that factor.”

— Martin Hopkins, head coach St. Rita

Elliott finished the season with 3,147 yards, 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions and led the team with 858 rushing yards and 18 more touchdowns. He won CCL/ESCC Blue Offensive Player of the Year and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association honors.

While it didn’t go as planned, Elliott showed just how dangerous he can be when he approaches 100 percent.

“Jack’s a guy that when he gets into a rhythm, you’re screwed on the other side of the ball,” Lynch said. “Whoever plays it, you’re in trouble. You better burn three timeouts in a row to slow down some momentum because he’s going to start and get this confidence level and this competitiveness that he is, especially for a 17-18-year-old kid, is scary. It’s scary to see.”

Lynch has no doubt Elliott will bring that tough mentality with him to Vanderbilt. It felt like the schools under Elliott’s recruiting, given his tangibles as both a passer and a running back.

Elliott is ready to be part of the conversation at the collegiate level.

“Nobody’s better than me,” Elliott said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re SEC or something. I mean, I feel like I was overlooked and recruited, and Vanderbilt gave me my only opportunity. So I’m going to give them everything.”