Mater Dei Football: Top NFL Draft pick alumni

When it comes to high school football in California over the past two decades, the conversation has to start with Mater Dei in Santa Ana. The Monarchs won their fourth state title in program history last fall and have also been crowned national champions in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021.

Along the way, they’ve produced dozens of Division I recruits in that time, including three elite quarterback prospects. Below are the top alumni and NFL Draft picks to come through Mater Dei:

1) QB Bryce Young

Draft Position: 2023 Round 1, Pick 1 (Carolina Panthers)
College: Alabama

Bryce Young was one of the most decorated high school quarterbacks coming out of Southern California in the last 25 years before signing with the Crimson Tide. In his first year as a starter in 2021, he won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Alabama quarterback to do so. He also won the Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year and was a consensus All-American. After a junior season where he completed 64 percent of his passes, throwing for more than 3,300 yards and 32 TDs, he left early for the draft and was taken No. 1 overall.

2) QB Matt Leinart

Draft Position: 2006 Round 1, Pick 10 (Arizona Cardinals)
College: USC

The first of the elite quarterbacks out of Mater Dei, Matt Leinart ended his career as USC’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes and completion percentage, and was second at USC behind Carson Palmer in completions and yardage. He led the Trojans to a national championship in 2004, as well as winning the Heisman that year. A year later, he and Reggie Bush led the Trojans back to the national title game, where they fell to Texas and Vince Young in one of the greatest college football showdowns of all-time.

3) QB Matt Barkley

Draft Position: 2013 Round 4, Pick 98 (Philadelphia Eagles)
College: USC

Following in another famous Matt’s footsteps, Matt Barkley was the No. 1 recruit in the country out of Mater Dei before signing with USC. In 2009, he became the first true freshman quarterback to ever start an opener for the Trojans. Over the next three years, he threw for more than 9,000 yards and 80 touchdowns before deciding to return in 2012 for his senior season as the favorite to win the Heisman. After a disappointing senior season where he threw a career-high 15 interceptions and dealt with a nagging shoulder injury, Barkley was drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles.

4) WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

Draft Position: 2021 Round 4, Pick 112 (Detroit Lions)
College: USC

Amon-Ra St. Brown burst onto the scene as a freshman at USC, finished his first season with 60 catches, 750 yards, and three touchdowns. A year later in 2019, he totaled 77 receptions for 1,042 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. And despite a shortened season in 2020 due to COVID-19, he still pulled in 41 catches for 478 yards and seven touchdowns. After his junior year, he left early for the NFL Draft and was taken in the fourth round by Detroit. He has gone on to earn Pro Bowl honors in both 2022 and 2023, while also being named first-team All-Pro in 2023.

5) IOL Khaled Holmes

Draft Position: 2013 Round 4, Pick 121 (Indianapolis Colts)
College: USC

Khaled Holmes was another Monarch to play for nearby USC, starting all of 2010 at right offensive guard as a sophomore and earning 2010 All-Pac-10 honorable mention. As a junior, he started every game for the Trojans and made second-team All-Pac-12. In his final year, he was named First-Team All-Pac-12 and one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy before being drafted in the fourth round by Indianapolis.

6) SAF Quentin Lake

Draft Position: 2022 Round 6, Pick 211 (Los Angeles Rams)
College: UCLA

The son of former NFLer Carnell Lake, Quentin Lake had a standout career for the Bruins over five years. He started all 12 games as a sophomore in 2018, notching 67 tackles. After injuries in 2019 and a shortened 2020 season, he came back in 2021 and started all 11 games for the Bruins. He was named an honorable mention All-American by Phil Steele and second-team All-Pac-12 before being drafted by the hometown Rams.

7) TE Thomas Duarte

Draft Position: 2016 Round 7, Pick 231 (Miami Dolphins)
College: UCLA

Thomas Duarte was a standout prep star at Mater Dei, playing tight end and linebacker before signing to play football at UCLA. He struggled with injuries during his first two seasons in Westwood, but finished his junior season with 53 receptions for 872 yards, and led the team with 10 touchdown catches. After the season, he left early for the NFL Draft and was taken in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins.