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You wouldn't know it by listening to Connor Arlia, but the kid is really special.

The Weirton Madonna junior is so focused on Friday's game against Bishop Donahue he can't worry about anything else.

He's so humble that when he was handed a letter by Coach Bob Kramer that informed him of his selection to to the 2010 National Combine at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, his emotions went from ''excited and honored'' to ''let's get back to practice.''

''He works at it and he has dedicated himself to constantly get better,'' Kramer said. ''He's always looking to improve himself. He works hard in the weight room and even harder in the classroom.''

While Arlia feels blessed about being one of 500 underclassmen from around the country to be selected to participate in the annual event, his focus right now is Friday in Weirton. The combine is in January in San Antonio.

''I was shocked to see the letter when Coach gave it to me because I didn't know what it was,'' Arlia said. ''I was amazed and am very happy to be thought of, but that isn't really on my mind now.

''We want to finish the season strong, and we have a big game this week.''

The inclusion in the combine is no small feat and didn't come as a coincidence.

Arlia has been going to camps all around the country from West Virginia to Brown University to one in Florida. Someone took notice. Actually, a couple people took notice.

Along with the committee that selects who is invited to San Antonio, West Virginia University and Notre Dame are among the teams that have Arlia on their radar, sending him e-mails and gauging his interest.

No wonder he is so focused on the task at hand when coaches of ranked teams like Bill Stewart and Charlie Weis are keeping tabs on you.

''I have gotten a few e-mails and few calls, nothing major,'' Arlia said. ''A few smaller schools are taking notice, but I'm not real worried about that right now. I'm just trying to focus on this week.''

There's that ''this week'' comment again.

OK, so back to the combine.

A receiver/defensive back, Arlia will be running 1-on-1 pass coverages. Other things he will have to deal with are his body measurements (height, weight, reach) and a variety of physical tests.

He will run in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard short shuttle, vertical jump, and 185-pound bench press.

This is a combine that has worked out Miami Dolphins wideout Ted Ginn Jr., Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski, Detroit Lions No. 1 overall draft pick Matt Stafford, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow of Florida, Heisman Trophy candidate Colt McCoy of Texas, and speedy Notre Dame tailback Armando Allen, just to name a few.

That's the company Arlia is going to be lumped with, so despite his best efforts to take some of the spotlight off him, the light is only going to start getting brighter and brighter.

''He goes to camps and he puts himself out there,'' Kramer said. ''College coaches take notice and they see the effort he gives. Everywhere he's gone, he's impressed.

''Connor is a pleasure to coach. He gives 110 percent and you never have to get on him about anything. If you tell him something, he absorbs it right now and puts it into practice.

''He takes pride in his defense, has real good hands, and runs real good routes.''

With a stable of tailbacks and a quarterback in Max Nogay who runs as well as throws, the Blue Dons don't air it out much. Arlia leads the team in receptions with 15 for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

He does his damage on defense, where he has two sacks and two interceptions for a team that has yet to find itself trailing this season and sits at No. 4 in the W.Va. Class A rankings.

''I put a lot of time in the weight room because football is a huge part of my life. Football and grades'' the 4.0 student said. ''It's a huge goal of mine to play football in college, and I really want to further myself in athletics and academics. I can just hope and pray I can stay healthy.

''But that is down the road. We still have a lot of good competition left on our schedule. We have a really good senior class and we work really hard and we are looking to do big things this season.''