Ryan Rakowski continues to raise his stock on a national level in what has become a pivotal offseason for his future.
Palos Verdes High School (California) standout rising senior quarterback Ryan Rakowski is on an upward trajectory. He is fresh off a standout showing at the Elite 11 Finals down the road at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach this month.
This week, he will try to lead the Trillion Boys to a championship at the OT7 Finals. Eight teams will be competing for the title at the event beginning Friday in Los Angeles.
Rakowski is in the running for the MVP award following a spring of OT7 events. It was no surprise then when he showed up to the Elite 11 Finals two weekends ago and was among the most consistent performers.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound rising senior won the rail-shot challenge on the first day of the Elite 11 Finals. He followed that up with a standout showing in the Pro Day and accuracy challenges. Eventually, he was one of the top performers during the 7-on-7 tournament to wrap up the event.
Rakowski landed on the prestigious Elite 11 list for his work over the three days. He will head to The Opening in Oregon later this month looking to build on that performance with an MVP on the line.
All of this would be standard for a quarterback well known by the masses being pursued by every top college.
Stock Continues To Rise For Ryan Rakowski
Rakowski doesn’t exactly fit that profile. He certainly has garnered attention from top colleges at different points of his high school career. Arizona was one of the programs heavily involved this time last year.
Right now, most of his recruitment has focused non-Power Four schools such as North Texas and Nevada. He’s visiting both this month during an important time on the recruiting calendar. It was inevitable after his showing at the Elite 11 Finals that more Power-Four programs would get involved.
Arkansas, an SEC school, is now in the picture. It likely won’t be the last one that pursues the Southern California-based quarterback.
Like most players entering their senior season, Rakowski is simply looking for the right fit. It doesn’t matter all that much where his next home is located. It also doesn’t matter to him what the side of the helmet looks like.
“I’m not chasing a logo,” he said. “I want to go somewhere they have a genuine interest in me. And they genuinely have a path for me to play and play early, because that’s what I want to do. I don’t want anything to be given to me. I want to compete, and I want to compete for the job early.
“Right when I step on campus, I want to be able to have a good chance to play. I’m not chasing a logo.”
Elite 11 Finals Provided Latest Chance To Be Seen
If there is one thing to know about Ryan Rakowski, it is that he will show up and play in any event wherever he is needed. That is not a trait shared by all of his peers. If Palos Verdes is competing in a passing tournament, you can expect Rakowski to be the one throwing.
It’s just who he is.
He was the last player invited to the Elite 11 Finals. Rakowski was one of two uncommitted players in attendance at the time. His stats stack up with anyone else who participated, and he showed why his skills do as well during the event.
There is something to be said for rising to every challenge. Rakowski certainly is not going to shy away from any opportunity.
“I’ve heard all the noise throughout my whole career about me not being big enough,” Rakowski said. “So, just using that as a positive and for motivation. There’s two ways you can deal with it: which is being negative or being positive. So, just keeping that positivity.
“I think that’s one of my strengths, competing. That’s what I know what to do, and that’s what I’m going to do every time I step on the field. It was great to go out there and compete, and I feel like I showed I belong.”
Offseason Trajectory Could Just Be The Beginning
Rakowski comes from an athletic backround with former college athletes in his immediate family. He knows what comes with all that he is chasing. There is plenty of work that goes into becoming a high-level football player. That is not lost on the impressive 2027 quarterback.
The OT7 Finals, which will have a portion televised by NBC and Peacock, will give Rakowski another chance to be seen on a national level. He has shined already throughout the spring 7-on-7 season, but a championship would only add to his growing list of accolades.
“I want to be at the events, I want to compete, I want to play football,” he said. “That’s what I love to do. So, every event that I can be at, I’m gonna be there.”
Rakowski isn’t gifted with the same natural height or size of his counterparts. Having to be that much better to stand out is a necessity. He understands that, and has dedicated himself to his craft. NFL players can serve as a model for someone in Rakowski’s position.
One pro player who has had to overcome some hurdles throughout his career is who Rakowski views as a source of inspiration.
“On the field, Baker Mayfield,” Rakowski said. “The way he plays the game, the competitive juice that he brings every time he steps on it. I think that resembles me a lot. That would be the person that represents me on the field.”
The OT7 Finals begin Friday (June 12) and run through the weekend at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
