How Elijah Haven became the No. 1 QB in the 2027 class -- and does Alabama, Georgia lead ahead of decision?

Despite the production, Ivins said Haven isn't as polished as some other top 2027 quarterbacks. When Haven showed up at the Elite 11 New Orleans regional on March 21, he told Ivins that he'd only thrown only one or two times since Durham's season ended in mid-December. The reason why – basketball.

Unlike a lot of his peers who do weekly quarterback training and 7-on-7, Haven largely checks out of football until basketball season ends.

That annual yo-yo between two sports will end next winter. Weiner said Haven will not play basketball as a high school senior, instead enrolling early at his school of choice. Haven may be a bit behind some of his peers in reps or mechanics. But his all-around athletic development, Weiner said, makes Haven such an intriguing prospect.

"I think that shows how high his ceiling can be that he hasn't maxed out yet," Weiner said. "There's a lot of great quarterbacks right now across the country, I don't know how much better than can get because they've dedicated all of their waking moments to this. And I think Elijah's got bigger and better things beyond."

The Decision

Coachingmovement can have an outsized impact on a recruit's path, and Haven is a great example.

He grew up 10 minutes from LSU's campus, but the Tigers' coaching movement last cycle largely pushed the Tigers out of the conversation. Florida and Penn State were in hot pursuit, too, but the coach changes at those schools largely took them out of the conversation.

The two mainstays for Haven since the fall have been Alabama and Georgia.

Alabama has recruited high school quarterbacks as well as anyone the last few cycles. The Tide signed five-star Keelon Russell in the 2025 class. They followed that up with Jett Thomalla (No. 4 in 2026) and Tayden-Evan Kaawa in the 2026 cycle. Four-star Trent Seaborn is already committed in 2027. Haven would yet another chip in Alabama's war chest at QB.

Georgia, for its part, is looking for its first high school signee at QB since 2025. The Bulldogs need someone to bridge the gap ahead of the 2028 class when they already have No. 1 overall player Jayden Wade committed at the position.

It's an old-school SEC battle for the No. 1 passer.

A few days ahead of the decision, 247Sports national analyst Tom Loy said Alabama had the edge.

"I feel good about Alabama heading into the final week of his recruitment," Tom Loy said earlier this week. "Georgia has made a point to turn up the heat the last week to show him how much he's needed – not just wanted – in Athens. They're making it a close race. But come Saturday I do expect him to pick the Crimson Tide."

However, as decision day creeps closer, it seems like the Bulldogs are making a push. 247Sports had an excellent breakdown on Haven's process heading into the final 24 hours, and Loy reported this Friday afternoon.

"In talking with sources in Athens, Georgia, there is a strong belief that the Bulldogs are very much being slept on in this recruitment," Loy reported. "Now, I'm not trying to get Bulldogs' fans' hopes up here, but I do believe that Georgia and coach Kirby Smart are way more in this battle down the stretch than most realize.