MATT BARKLEY

School: Mater Dei

Jersey: #5

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 230 pounds

Position: QB

Year: Senior in 2008-09

College: Has committed to USC

Stats: 2008 (senior year), 2007 (junior year), 2006 (sophomore year), 2005 (freshman year)

Awards: 2007-08 Gatorade National Boys Athlete of the Year ... 2007 Gatorade Football Player of the Year ... 2007 Joe Montana Award (top high school quarterback) ... 2007 Orange County Register Player of the Year.

Bio: "Matt Barkley is the best quarterback of the past 18 years in Orange County," says OCVarsity's Steve Fryer. "That puts him above some big names like Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart and Colt Brennan (who really did not blossom until he got to college), and all of those fine quarterbacks who played at Edison and Los Alamitos." ... first junior team captain in Mater Dei history ... In 2005, became first freshman to start at Mater Dei since Todd Marinovich in 1983. ... has a 3.77 GPA ... helped create Monarchs for Marines charity organization, a group that raised more than $100,000 in 2007 for the famililies of wounded and fallen Marines. ... plays acoustic guitar for a church youth group. ... favorite bands: U2, Third Day, Audio Adrenaline. ... "He's a great player," said Matt Logan, head coach of Centennial High of Corona. ... "He's very accurate, makes good decisions and great throws. He'll probably be a Heisman Trophy candidate and probably NFL guy down the line. I guess (Mater Dei alumnus) Matt Leinart is the benchmark and he's definitely following in those footsteps."

Trivia
Biggest role model: Jesus Christ; his father
Favorite team: New England Patriots
Favorite movie/TV show: "24", "300"
Favorite food: Mexican
Favorite pregame music: "What You Know" by T.I.

Videos:

	Matt Barkley: 2007 Gatorade Player - Interviews
	Barkley named Gatorade Player of the Year
	2007 All-County quarterbacks
	Week 10: Servite vs. Mater Dei - Barkley throws 348 yards and three TDs
	Week 5: Corona Centennial vs. Mater Dei - Barkley throws 365 yards and two TDs

Archived news stories:

• 11/20/08 -Mater Dei's Barkley could soar into rarefied air
• 10/2/08 - Matt Barkley overrated? Not even close
• 9/17/08 - Guess who's on the cover of the latest ESPN Rise magazine?
• 9/11/08 - Barkley on the verge of passing milestone
• 9/3/08 - Barkley rallies top-ranked Mater Dei to 3-0T victory
• 8/29/08 - National spotlight on Mater Dei's Matt Barkley
• 8/17/08 - Fryer: Early questions don't include Mater Dei's Barkley
• 8/5/08 - Barkley selected No. 1 recruit in nation by Scouts Inc.
  
• 7/16/08 - Mater Dei's Barkley national athlete of the year
• 6/11/08 - Spring Insider: Five questions with Matt Barkley
• 6/11/08 - Spring Insider: Q&A with Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson
• 5/22/08 - Barkley wins O.C. Football Player of the Year Award
• 2/4/08 - O.C. solidifies status as hotbed of quarterbacks
• 1/23/08 - Mater Dei's Barkley commits to USC
• 1/23/08 - USC was positioned perfectly for Barkley
• 12/28/07 - Barkley winner of the Joe Montana Award
• 12/21/07 - Mater Dei's Barkley is top offensive player
• 12/13/07 - Mater Dei's Barkley first junior to win national award
• 11/30/07 - Barkley picked as state's best
• 11/12/07 - Fryer on football: "Barkley is better in his junior year than Kevin Feterik ..."
• 11/8/07 - Whicker: Mater Dei receiver has llifelong connection with QB
• 10/19/07 - Mater Dei overcomes 'off night'
• 9/29/07 - Postgame Q&A: Barkley discusses the Monarchs' victory over Edison
• 9/16/07 - Junior quarterbacks lead the way

External links:   

• Wikipedia: Matt Barkley   
• Rivals.com: Matt Barkley   
• Scouts.com: Matt Barkley   
• Sports Illustrated - 2/5/08 - Full committed   
• LA Times - 8/30/07 - Mater Dei's Barkley figures to stay on course   
• ESPN: Elite 2009 prospect Matt Barkley picks USC   
• ESPN profile   
• SC Playbook: Recruit Profile: QB Matt Barkley   
• WeAreSC - 12/13/07 - Matt Barkley, National Player of the Year

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com