It may come as a surprise, but San Diego County is one of the best football hotbeds in Southern California. At one time there were more players in the NFL from San Diego than any other city in the United States.

One player from the area who is already attracting the attention of Division I-A schools is middle linebacker prospect Marcus Yarbrough (6-2, 250, 4.8) from Chula Vista (Calif.) Eastlake.

"Marcus is very interested in the Pac-10," Eastlake coach John McFadden said. "He was up at the USC camp last summer and he liked it very much."

He has drawn attention from USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Colorado, Colorado State and hometown school San Diego State, where his father played football.

Yarbrough was a one-man wrecking crew from his middle linebacker spot during his junior season. He racked up 141 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Yarbrough was the only junior to be named to the first-team San Diego Section All-CIF team. He was also selected to the all-state underclass team and first-team all-league in 2004.

"As big as Marcus is he's very physical," McFadden said. "When he gets fired up, he's the best football player I have ever coached."

Yarbrough also has strong work ethic and is working hard to better himself as a football player. He has a personal trainer and it is already paying off dividends.

Yarbrough currently benches 300 pounds and squats 450. He just begun to do the power clean exercise two weeks ago and he is already cleaning more than 200.