Is Miami in play for SoCal LB

Linebacker Donovan Carter from Lake Balboa (Calif.) Birmingham has been one of Birmingham's main attractions this past spring. By Carter's own initiative he was able to attract a school that seldom makes its way to California. This school made the trek west and now Carter is being recruited by an ACC school, in addition to just about every western school.

"Donovan sent his film to Miami and their new head coach Randy Shannon," Birmingham coach Ed Croson said. "He was impressed enough by Donovan's film to fly out to L.A. and check him out.

"Miami wanted to make sure there really is interest from Donovan before they put in the time recruiting him," Croson said. "Miami was Donovan's favorite team growing because his first cousin is former Hurricane running back, Clinton Portis."

"I would say that UCLA, Oregon and Miami are his three favorites," Croson said. "He really likes UCLA a lot.

"Oregon is working really hard because they need a guy like Donovan," Croson said. "He likes all three schools."

"Everybody in the Pac 10 has been by the school this year," Croson said. "All the western schools made it by this spring.

"Schools like Ole Miss, Michigan, Nebraska and Florida have all been by to check us out," Croson said. "I've seen schools this spring that I don't see that often. We even saw Stanford.

One thing that might have intrigued Miami about Carter is he has been compared to former Miami Hurricane and now New York Jet Jonathan Vilma.

Like Vilma when Donovan hits you, he goes right through you.

In an earlier interview with Croson, he said the following about his linebacker.

"Donovan has great instincts and is a very hard hitter," Croson said. "When he hits you, he finishes it. He's wired that way. When he hits you, he goes right through you.

"Donovan has great size and speed. He's a great athlete. He played a new position for us at linebacker and he dominated.

"He's a great kid and has a great sense of humor. All the kids like him. He's special on and off the field."

Carter earned first-team all-city, first-team all-city and first-team all-league as a junior after accounting for 128 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pick that he returned 60-plus yards for a touchdown in the quarter-final against Los Angeles (Calif.) Locke.