AREA FOOTBALL CROP COULD BE BOUNTIFUL.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

Although a handful of marquee players are receiving most of the attention, this might turn out to be one of the area's deepest years for high school football players worthy of being recruited by colleges.

Most schools are interested in Notre Dame tailback Justin Fargas, Palmdale defensive tackle Matt Leonard and Agoura quarterback Ryan McCann, but there are many other players who should get scholarships.

Agoura has four potential Division I players. Besides McCann, tight end Marcus Helfman, offensive lineman Derek Graf and cornerback Chris Poling are drawing attention.

Helfman (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) recently returned from the Brigham Young football camp, and the Cougars are his slight favorite ahead of UCLA, California and Washington. Helfman, who is Mormon, said he likes BYU because it has a good reputation developing tight ends and the Cougars also will let him play basketball.

Graf is hoping to play for USC. The Trojans have talked to Graf (6-4, 245) about playing center. His father, Allen, played for the 1972 national-championship team and is currently a second-unit movie director. He directed the football scenes in the film ``Jerry Maguire.''

Poling, who came to prominence after running the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash at the Reebok combine (4.49), is being recruited strongest by Washington State.

In the City Section, Taft defensive back Sedric Hurns appears to be the most heavily recruited player. After playing him at outside linebacker last season, Taft coach Troy Starr plans to use Hurns at free safety.

Among the many schools after Hurns are Nebraska, Colorado, Washington, UCLA and USC. He could, however, spurn them all for Tennessee, which is where most of his relatives live.

Granada Hills wide receiver Leon Pimky returned from the BYU camp last week and is beginning to draw more interest from colleges. Pimky favors USC over Washington and UCLA but may have problems qualifying academically. His size (6-3, 228) will help schools remain patient with him.

Another big player on the rise is Burbank's Vardan Mkhitarian, who first came to prominence at the Reebok combine. Mkhitarian (6-3-1/2, 242) caught only 10 passes, but Oregon, USC, Washington and Arizona State are interested. Wisconsin wants him to be a defensive end, which he also plays for Burbank. Oregon told Mkhitarian it will offer a scholarship in the fall.

Among tailbacks, Palmdale's Jason Anderson and Alemany's Miguel Fletcher probably will be the next-best prospects after Fargas.

Anderson, the cousin of former Crespi star Russell White, is being heavily recruited by Oregon State and getting interest from Cal, Arizona State and San Jose State. Anderson's teammate, quarterback Grant Livermont, is being recruited by Oregon State, San Diego State and San Jose State.

Fletcher, who finished second to Fargas in the state 100-meter finals and gained more than 1,100 yards last season, remains most interested in UCLA.

Grades will not be a problem for Camarillo tight end Justin Denham (6-5, 235). Denham is being recruited by Arizona, UCLA, Stanford and Wisconsin. But his 4.28 grade-point average and 1,380 SAT score make him attractive enough that he is considering going to Harvard or Princeton.

Stanford is his No. 1 choice, which would reunite him with ex-Camarillo quarterback Joe Borchard.

``Joe's been bugging me to go there,'' Denham said.

The strongest player in the Valley might be Sylmar's Ray Solis (6-4, 260), who bench presses 365 pounds. Coach Jeff Engilman said Solis is the best lineman he's had at Sylmar.

Solis is being recruited as a defensive lineman, with Nebraska, Oklahoma, Cal and Michigan showing interest.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1) FARGAS

(2) McCANN