3 From Area Rate Among Southland’s Blue-Chippers : Prep football: Oak Park’s Smith and fellow running back Swinton of Montclair Prep, and Saugus lineman Stuart named to Terrific 22 team.

After a decline in 1991, Southern California is expected to recoup its standing this season as a producer of blue-chip high school football players.

“You can’t have good (recruiting) years every year but last year was definitely a little down,” said Dick Lascola, who runs the Fallbrook, Calif.-based Scouting Evaluation Assn. His service provides reports of high school players to 100 colleges nationwide.

“I think the talent in Southern California this year is very good,” Lascola said. “Barring injuries, I think it should be an outstanding year.”

In addition to Lascola, other national recruiting services such as Max Emfinger’s National High School Football Recruiting Service of Houston, Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report of Illinois, G & W Recruiting Report of Pennsylvania, SuperPrep magazine of Costa Mesa and Blue Chip Report of Woodland Hills were used to determine which Greater Los Angeles and Orange County seniors earned distinction on The Times’ Terrific 22.

Three Valley-area players earned berths on the team: running backs Tarik Smith of Oak Park High and Eliel Swinton of Montclair Prep and offensive lineman Shawn Stuart of Saugus.

The positions with the most depth are in the offensive backfield. Quarterbacks Tim Carey of Los Alamitos and Stais Boseman of Inglewood Morningside and running back Saladin McCullough of Pasadena Muir are expected to have banner seasons.

Other blue-chip prospects include wide receiver Antonio Carrion of Dorsey, and defensive linemen Germaine Gray of Rialto Eisenhower and Travis Kirschke of Anaheim Esperanza.

Los Alamitos, which won the Southern Section Division III title last season, is the only school with more than one player on the list.

Here are the 22 players who have received the most publicity nationally from recruiting services.

Tim Carey, quarterback, Los Alamitos: In a good year for quarterbacks in the Southland, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound Carey is attracting the most attention from recruiters. As a junior, the All-Southern Section selection passed for 2,491 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also plays baseball and is an above-average student.

Pat Barnes, quarterback, Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills: Barnes (6-4, 207) was impressive at Lascola’s scouting combine last spring. He runs a 4.7-second 40-yard dash and is described by SuperPrep as a quarterback who “can take a hit and plays the game with a linebacker’s mentality.” He passed for 2,920 yards and 22 touchdowns in 1991.

Aaron Flowers, quarterback, Lakewood Artesia: Flowers (6-1, 170) is not as big as Carey or Barnes, but he has the statistics to rival any quarterback. He used his mobility to pass for 3,954 yards in 1991--No. 2 on the Southern Section list behind Hart’s Ryan Connors (4,144, ‘91). He also can play safety and is an excellent student.

Stais Boseman, quarterback, Morningside: Nobody is more gifted athletically in this year’s Terrific 22 than Boseman (6-4, 190). He runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds and is effective as a drop-back or option quarterback. He also could be a defensive back or receiver in college. As a junior, he rushed for 1,367 yards and 17 touchdowns and passed for 1,173 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had six interceptions as a defensive back. Boseman also is a standout guard for the Morningside basketball team and might play that sport in college.

Johnny Macon, quarterback, Downey: The 5-11, 180-pound senior has built a reputation as an exceptional option quarterback, although he might be a receiver or defensive back in college. He runs the 40 in 4.7 and, like Boseman, is an outstanding basketball player.

Sammy Knight, back, Riverside Rubidoux: Sammy’s older brother, Ryan, was a running back at Rubidoux who played at USC in the 1980s. Sammy’s best position might be defensive back. Knight (6-1, 190) intercepted three passes in 1991 and has blocked eight kicks in his career. He also plays running back and is a forward on the basketball team.

Zukoni Hodges, back, Pasadena Blair: His legal name is Z but he is strictly on the A list when it comes to football. Hodges (6-1, 185) has a quick first step and exceptional agility. He had 14 touchdowns in 1991, including five as a return specialist. He also plays free safety and could be a receiver in college. He runs the 40 in 4.5 and also competes in track.

Saladin McCullough, running back, Pasadena Muir: It is difficult to find a more dangerous back than McCullough. He has speed (10.8 seconds in the 100 meters) and the moves to match any runner. Some scouts say he might be more talented than former Mustang Ricky Ervins, who is playing for the Washington Redskins. McCullough (6-0, 185) also is talented enough to play defensive back. He might need to improve his grades to earn a scholarship.

Lawrence Phillips, running back, Baldwin Park: Phillips (6-0, 190) is powerful enough to run inside but has the speed to go outside. He is regarded as a good receiver and excels as a safety. Phillips recovered four fumbles in 1991 and runs the 40 in 4.5. He is a sprinter in track.

Tarik Smith, running back, Oak Park: Although Smith played for a small program, scouts say it was no fluke that he rushed for 1,776 yards and 21 touchdowns in 1991. He runs the 40 in 4.45 and has above-average strength. “Speed and strength set him apart as one of the nation’s finest backs,” according to SuperPrep. He also plays defensive back and competes in track as a sprinter and in the long jump.

Eliel Swinton, running back, Montclair Prep: Swinton, whose brother Rich played for Montclair Prep and Washington State, runs the 40 in 4.5 and has bench-pressed 310 pounds. He rushed for 1,773 yards and 22 touchdowns in 1991 and is a long jumper in track.

Antonio Carrion, receiver, Dorsey: Carrion might be the area’s best receiver. He is only 5-10, 160, but has good hands and leaping ability. He runs the 40 in 4.6 and is quick off the ball. He made several acrobatic receptions in 1991, when he caught 37 passes for 871 yards--an average of 23.5 yards a catch. He will need to improve his grades to earn a scholarship.

George Sagen, receiver, Los Alamitos: Like Carrion, Sagen (6-0 180) does not have great speed or size but makes up for it with great hands. “He has soft hands and catches everything within reach,” said Lemming of Prep Football Report. Sagen caught 77 passes for 1,135 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1991. He might be a defensive back in college.

Ed Gray, receiver, Riverside North: Gray (6-2, 180) combines leaping ability with 4.5 speed in the 40. He caught 46 passes for 989 yards in 1991 and also is an outstanding guard for the basketball team. He is being recruited for both sports but appears to be favoring basketball.

Andy Meyers, offensive lineman, Fontana: Not only does the 6-6, 290-pound Meyers have the size to play major-college football but the strength and agility as well. He runs the 40 in 5.0. Lemming says he “might just be the state of California’s top-rated offensive-line prospect.” He rates him even higher than former Fontana standouts Robert Loya and Clay Hattabaugh, both playing for USC.

Shawn Stuart, offensive lineman, Saugus: Most scouts rate Stuart (6-4, 280) among the best centers in the nation. He has quick feet and is especially strong as a pass blocker. Lemming says he is a “tough kid who can simply overpower opponents.” Stuart also plays defensive tackle, although his future appears to be on offense.

Tyson Lingenfelter, offensive lineman, Upland: Although he is listed as an offensive lineman, Lingenfelter (6-4, 250) also plays defense. He has excellent quickness and runs the 40 in 5.0. Lingenfelter had six sacks as a tackle in 1991. He has good strength and ranks among the state leaders in the discus and national leaders in the shotput. He would like to continue competing in track in college.

Germaine Gray, defensive lineman, Rialto Eisenhower: Gray (6-6, 260) is remarkably quick for his size. He has run the 40 in 4.8 and has a good vertical leap. He has 13 tackles for losses in his career and blocked seven passes in 1991 despite missing five games because of a knee injury. He is an excellent student.

Travis Kirschke, defensive lineman, Anaheim Esperanza: Kirschke (6-4, 250) has made nearly every major recruiting list. He runs the 40 in 4.8 and had 13 sacks in 1991. He is a guard on offense.

Treyvone Towns, linebacker, Pasadena: Towns (6-4, 220) runs the 40 in 4.7 and is rarely knocked off his feet despite his aggressive play. He is a tight end on offense and a forward on the basketball team. He might need to improve his grades in order to earn a scholarship.

Kelron Sykes, linebacker, Lynwood: The prospects for Lynwood improved greatly when Sykes transferred from Pius X. Sykes (6-3, 210) has good range and quickness and runs the 40 in 4.7. He has 24 sacks in his career and had 15 tackles for losses in 1991. He also must improve his grades to earn a scholarship.

Brandon Moore, defensive back, Wilmington Banning: Lascola is sold on Moore’s ability. “He could be one of the better (players) to come out of Banning,” Lascola said. Moore (6-0, 195) intercepted six passes in 1991. With 4.5 speed, he is a threat as a punt returner and he also is a running back.