Steve Clarkson, a renowned quarterbacks coach, started working with Brehaut this year and already is predicting a bright future.
"I've seen him compete with the best kids," Clarkson said. "He's done it more than one day. He's done it time after time. He's certainly worthy of being considered one of the top quarterbacks coming out. I think he's a tremendous quarterback and has a Sunday-type of future if everything plays out."
For Brehaut to raise his level of excellence in football last spring while also playing catcher for the baseball team and taking Advanced Placement classes in English and history demonstrated an ability to pull off a balancing act while thriving under pressure.
"I knew they were evaluating me," he said. "I had to do my best when coaches came out."
And so Brehaut has his scholarship to the school he always wanted to attend, and he's on course to one day face Barkley in a USC-UCLA game, which will produce the expected talk about who's best.
However, that's for another day.
"You can't worry about the future," he said. "You have to focus on now."
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* Next up: running backs.
eric.sondheimer@latimes.com
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Quarterback report
How the quarterbacks rank:
1. Matt Barkley, Mater Dei, 6-3, 230, Sr.: Enters fourth year as varsity starter.
2. Richard Brehaut, Los Osos, 6-2, 210, Sr.: Has arm strength and can run.
3. Josh Nunes, Upland, 6-4, 216, Sr.: Has 4.6 GPA, committed to Tennessee.
4. Allan Bridgford, Mission Viejo, 6-4, 215, Sr.: Committed to California.
5. Clark Evans, Los Alamitos, 6-5, 225, Sr.: Committed to Colorado.
6. Brandon Connette, Cor. Santiago, 6-3, 205, Jr.: Top QB prospect in 2010 class.
7. Caleb Herring, Citrus Hill, 6-4, 175, Sr.: UNLV commit passed for 2,418 yards.
8. Corey Nielsen, Gahr, 5-11, 185, Sr.: Region's top passer in 2007 (4,363 yards).
9. Keith Price, St. John Bosco, 6-3, 185, Sr.: Committed to Washington.
10. Cameron Deen, South Hills, 6-3, 190, Sr.: Athletic, smart and makes big plays.
-- Eric Sondheimer
