Not your typical LB

Growing up in Las Vegas, outside linebacker Nate Carter wasn't into football. He was into skateboards and drums, but after watching him at this past Saturday's NIKE Training Camp at the University of Southern California, you would have never guessed that he'd only been playing football for three years.

Carter, who measured in at 6-foot-1 ½ and 213 pounds, was one of the top linebackers at the camp, and he might have taken home the top honors at the position were it not for some cramps that hampered him late in the day.

But still, it was an impressive effort for a guy that was more in drumsticks and Tony Hawk than shoulder pads and quarterback sacks not too long ago.

"My freshman year was my first year of playing football, and I came in late in the season and missed some of the games," Carter, who is now one of the top prospects in Nevada for the class of 2007, said. "My friend encouraged me to get into it because he said Las Vegas High has the best football team in the state and it would be really cool for me to get involved with it.

"I wasn't even involved with sports until high school. I used to skateboard a lot. My buddies and I would spend a lot of time doing that and playing Tony Hawk. We'd want to be just like him. My family is also really into music. I've been playing drums now for six years.

"I guess I'm not your typical football player."

Hardly.

But that maybe something that makes Carter's story even more special. Since he's still so new to football, he doesn't know how to be a selfish player and he is very coachable. He's still eager to learn and get better every day on the practice field.

"That's how I play," he said. "Whatever the coach says, I'll do it. I wouldn't say I'm one of the best players around, because that would take away from the focus on the team. I'll just do what the coaches tell me to do because I know they're going to put me in the right scheme and right places to do things to help us win."

And win a lot Las Vegas High has done.

After finishing second in the state in 2004 and dropping the first game in 2005, Las Vegas went on a run that didn't end until it won the state championship. Carter said it was a ride he really enjoyed and he won't take the winning for granted, even though his school has played for two state titles in two years.

"I moved up to varsity my sophomore year and we lost in the title game that year," he said. "I didn't like that a whole lot. We started my junior season out a little slow. We lost to Pine View, a team from Utah, 23-21. That was the second game I've ever lost, and I'm not used to it. We then got re-focused and took state.

"We went 14-1. You don't get there that often and you have to be lucky enough to get there. I think as long as everybody is committed to the program, we should be all right this year. Every game, I'm going to listen to the coaches and give it my all."

He gave it his all this past weekend at the NIKE Camp and really opened up some eyes.

"That was more intense than I thought it would be," he said. "I noticed a big different in speed. A lot of guys in Vegas aren't that fast, and you can hang with them because you're just faster than they are. But out there, there was a lot of speed, so you really had to work hard to stay with the faster running backs.

"I think I did all right. I know I could have done better, but I guess people liked what I did."

At this point, Carter has yet to earn his first scholarship offer. With a 3.4 grade-point average, he should have little problem qualifying. At this point, he's getting regular mail from Illinois, UNLV, Stanford, Boise State and Fresno State.

He's excited about what his future might hold, but is squarely focused on what's going to happen on the field first.

"I'll worry about the recruiting stuff as it happens," he said. "I'm sure my coaches will help me with a lot of that stuff. I want to go out as a winner as a senior, so that's something I'm really working hard for."