Gatorade names Barkley state’s best

Add another parallel to the list of similarities between Matt Barkley and Matt Leinart.

Barkley, the junior starting quarterback at Mater Dei High and a Newport Beach resident, was named the Gatorade California Football Player of the Year Friday.

Barkley is the second player from Mater Dei to receive the honor. Arizona Cardinals quarterback and former Monarch Matt Leinart was the first.

The buzz surrounding Barkley, one of the top college football prospects in the country, suggests that he has the potential to become Mater Dei’s third Heisman trophy winner after Leinart (2004) and John Huarte (1964).

Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson called Barkley into his office to give him the news. Afterwards, Barkley first shared the news with offensive tackle Khaled Holmes.

His hard work, Barkley said, “Really pays off. I’m happy to see that now, especially with the tradition at Mater Dei with Leinart, Huarte, and now even Colt Brennan in the Heisman race.

“I kind of knew going in that the school has put out a lot of great quarterbacks. I don’t think it’s a lot of pressure.”

Barkley is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, to be announced in mid-December.

The award recognizes high school athletes who have demonstrated exceptional athletic prowess, while performing well academically and contributing to their communities.

Barkley threw for 3,576 yards in 11 games this season, before Mater Dei (9-2) fell, 48-26, to Crespi in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs. He averaged 325 yards per game and had a 63% completion rating, throwing for 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

“All I need to do is win a championship now,” Barkley said. “Hopefully that will be next year.”

Barkley maintained a 3.77 grade point average and played an instrumental role in the team’s Monarchs for Marines service program. He helped raise more than $100,000 for a charity which helps families of wounded and fallen Marines.

Barkley spent his early childhood in south Irvine, and his parents moved to Newport Beach about four years ago.

Gatorade chooses one athlete from the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states to be honored in the following sports: football, baseball, softball, girls’ volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ and girls’ cross country, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and boys’ and girls’ track and field.

- Soraya Nadia McDonald