This year’s prestigious group of Elite 11 Finalists will include Washington quarterback commit Derek Zammit. The four-star recruit out of New Jersey received his finalist invitation after this weekend’s Elite 11 Regional in State College. The quarterback competition began in the Spring, before traveling to a handful of regional sites where the nation’s top quarterback recruits compete for an invite to the final competition in Los Angeles. The State College stop was the final stop in the Regional tour, and Zammit earned an opportunity to compete among the top quarterbacks in the nation later this Summer in the 2025 competition.
Derek Zammit Earns Elite 11 Finals Invite
Quarterback Style
When you look at Zammit’s high school film, you see a quarterback who’s comfortable both under center and in shotgun. That balance is a rarity in what you typically see in today’s high school quarterback play. And one of Zammit’s strengths is out of the play-action. He’s able to maneuver in the pocket and make high-level and accurate throws to all parts of the field. Zammit’s football placement is another thing that stands out in his film. He routinely hits his receivers in stride, keeping the football away from defenders in the air.
Zammit keeps his composure as a passer under pressure as well. Out of the shotgun, Zammit shows an ability to read a defense and evade pressure while keeping his eyes downfield. He doesn’t appear rattled under pressure and displays an ability to deliver the football at different angles and out of unbalanced positions. Overall, Zammit’s pocket presence and football placement are his strengths. His familiarity in a pro-style system is ideal for Jedd Fisch’s offense, and the ability to make plays with his feet is a bonus.
Zammit’s Recruitment
Prior to committing to Washington on April 19th, Zammit had his recruitment narrowed down to four schools. That list included Alabama, Syracuse, and Mississippi State in addition to the Huskies. Rutgers was the first school to offer the four-star quarterback back in the summer of 2023. Washington extended its offer last August, and Alabama offered Zammit in February of 2025.
With his Elite 11 Finals invitation, Zammit joins an elite group of signal callers in the 2026 recruiting class. As a 2026 recruit, Zammit will compete in the 2025 competition, which currently includes five-star Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon and Texas commit Dia Bell. Washington’s Demond Williams Jr. was a former Elite 11 Finalist in the 2023 class. At the time, he was committed to Ole Miss before switching his commitment to Fisch and Arizona.
High School Standouts
Zammit has played three seasons of varsity football for DePaul Catholic, where he’s thrown for a total of 5,512 yards, 57 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. On the ground, Zammit has rushed for over 800 yards with 16 scores. His junior season was his most productive, leading DePaul Catholic to an 11-win season and a New Jersey State Championship in the Non-Public Group B division. That year, Zammit threw for 2,582 yards and 35 touchdowns. On the ground, he tallied 560 rush yards and six scores.
The Husky commit stands at 6’-1” and 195 pounds. He’ll play his senior season this fall at DePaul Catholic. Zammit is the third-highest rated player in Washington’s class of 2026 behind five-star offensive lineman Kodi Greene and four-star EDGE Derek Coleman-Brusa. The Huskies are one of just 11 schools that currently hold a five-star commitment according to the 247Sports Composite. In that ranking, Washington is the number 21 class in the nation, and sixth in the Big Ten.
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