South linebacker Ethan Yarrington (left) has recorded 265 tackles over the last two years. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
Even though he makes headlines as a halfback, Ethan Yarrington’s future in football is likely on the defensive side of the ball.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder is a heat-seeking missile at linebacker, known for blowing up plays.
Yarrington has averaged 13 tackles per game for the South football team across the last two seasons. Once he locks on a ballcarrier, he wraps up and doesn’t let go, leading to a 72% solo-tackle rate, up from 55% as a sophomore.
He was recently named the best football player in Alaska by MaxPreps as he enters his senior season, and college coaches have taken notice as well.
He’s received offers from NCAA Division II schools Upper Iowa University and William Jewel College, along with NAIA Montana State Northern. Expect more to come.
Yarrington was the centerpiece on South’s state championship squad last season, leading the team in tackles (143), running yards (1,143) and rushing scores (20). He also threw for one score and caught two TDs.
He anchored a defense that allowed a total of 30 points in three state playoff wins, capped by a 37-3 victory over Bartlett in the D1 First National Bowl. He recorded 14 tackles in that game.
Yarrington recorded double-digit stops in seven of 10 games as a junior, with highs of 23 tackles against Service and 18 against Juneau. Against Bartlett and Lathrop, he produced the same stat line: 10 tackles, 1 sack, 1 recovered fumble.
Prep Football
WEEK 1
Friday, Aug. 14
Colony at Dimond
Bartlett at West
Soldotna vs. Wasilla
Chugiak vs. West Valley
Kodiak at Seward
Houston at Redington
🏈
Saturday, Aug. 15
Juneau at South
Service at East
Palmer at Eagle River
Homer at Kenai
North Pole at Lathrop
He’s big and strong and reads the field well, which allows him to stay in attack mode.
The same could be said about Yarrington as a running back, his other dominant discipline. He’s a candidate to win either the Cook Inlet Conference Offense Player of the Year or Defense Player of the Year awards. Or both.
He may have to settle for Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year. Yarrington is certainly the favorite going into the season, which kicks off a week from today.
As a ballcarrier, the South bruiser averaged 7.2 yards per carry last season and rushed for as many as 185 yards against East. He also popped off for 157 against Dimond.
Yarrington sheds a tackler. Photo by Stephanie Burgoon/Alaska Sports Report
In the state playoffs, he scored two rushing TDs in each of his team’s three victories to help him etch his name in the South record book.
Two years after his big brother Cole set the school record for single-season passing yards (1,952), Ethan set the school record for single-season rushing TDs (20).
No doubt, Yarrington has the single-season rushing record in his sights. The top mark belongs to 2006 record holder Leeanthony Jenkins (1,389), although Justice Augafa got close (1,360) close in 2014.
Augafa went on to play defense at the University of Hawaii and in 2019 scored a TD on special teams after a scoop and score off a blocked punt.
