Son of Cris Carter commits for 2009

By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ohio State picked up its 18th commitment to the 2009 recruiting class yesterday, and the name, Duron Carter, has a familiar ring.

The receiver from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is the son of former Ohio State All-American and All-Pro receiver Cris Carter. At 6 feet 3, 190 pounds and with the ability to make spectacular one-handed catches, Duron is a facsimile following in his father's footsteps.

"I like the tradition, and I like the coaches and the school," said Duron, who committed after Ohio State's one-day summer camp for rising seniors. "Me and my family all agreed Ohio State was the place for me."

His father's reaction?

"He was very happy," Duron said. "It was definitely one of his dreams for me to go to Ohio State. His legacy can carry on."

Cris Carter helps coach his son's high school team while juggling his gigs on cable television NFL shows. But the Buckeyes didn't pursue Duron just because of his father's resume.

"He's the kind of receiver a lot of people are looking for now: tall, with good speed and good hands," recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com said. "You see a lot of his father in him and, believe me, that's not bad."

A great example was a spectacular one-handed catch Carter reportedly made during the camp. It showed why Ohio State, Louisiana State, Florida, Auburn and Wisconsin were elbowing to be part of his top five.

"It was definitely nice to have colleges like that want you," Carter said. "And one of the main reasons why I picked Ohio State is I felt like they wanted me the most. They never stopped recruiting me."

tmay@dispatch.com