CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- LaVar Arrington very nearly chose to play for the University of Miami instead of Penn State.

It makes sense, since the hulking linebacker's conduct of late recalls the Hurricanes of old rather than stodgy State College.

First, Arrington drew two personal fouls on the same play for his takedown on Pitt punter Greg DeBolt during No. 3 Penn State's 20-17 win last week. Days later, he drew the Hurricanes' ire for Saturday's showdown by claiming ignorance about a fellow Butkus Award candidate.

"I guess he feels he's a big man, talking big," Miami defensive tackle Damione Lewis said Thursday. "But he's got to come out Saturday and let it show."

With the eighth-ranked Hurricanes expecting their first home sellout in years at the Orange Bowl, there's little question fans' biggest target will be wearing No. 11 in blue and white.

"He has to understand that he is in the limelight," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "He has to be able to have a little tighter control over himself than somebody else."

That isn't always the case with Arrington, who produces big plays and equally big headlines.

Arrington's body slam of DeBolt has been replayed countless times since Saturday. Certainly all the Hurricanes have seen it, many expressing surprise that he would pick on a hapless punter.

"I'm not a punter, but that's the last thing I'd put up with," said Miami quarterback Kenny Kelly, who figures to be in Arrington's sights. "That's taking it a little bit overboard. If it happened to me, I couldn't tell you what I'd do."

Andy Crosland does both Miami's punting and placekicking. Teammates have been alternately spoiling for a fight and reassuring him they'll back him up.

"We're telling him to go after him, hit LaVar before he hits you," safety Jeff Popovich quipped. "We'll look after him on special teams and make sure he's not in a wheelchair after the game."

Arrington further fanned the flames Wednesday during a discussion comparing the teams' linebacker corps, perhaps the two finest in the nation.

Of the 65 players on the Butkus committee's preseason list of candidates to watch, five will be on the field Saturday. Penn State's trio of Arrington, Brandon Short and Mac Morrison all made the list, as did Miami's Dan Morgan and Nate Webster.

Asked to respond to Morgan's assessment that Miami had the better group, Arrington said, "Who's Dan Morgan?"

Long pause. "No, I'm serious," Arrington said.

Perhaps Arrington truly was oblivious. Still, the quote quickly found its way to Miami's bulletin board.

For his part, Morgan spent much of Thursday trying to downplay the hubbub. Asked if he might take a moment Saturday to introduce himself to Arrington, the junior chuckled.

"All that stuff is funny to me," said Morgan, who has led Miami in tackles in each of his first two seasons.

But for a brief minute after the TV cameras turned off, Morgan took on a more serious tone.

"You can talk all the trash you want," Morgan added. "I'm going to show who Dan Morgan is on Saturday. If they don't know who Dan Morgan is, they'll find out Saturday."

It's an odd sight, watching the Hurricanes -- college football's former bad boys -- defend themselves against trash talk from Happy Valley.

Then again, Arrington could have been playing alongside Morgan if not for a last-minute change of heart. He was set to commit to Miami until the fatal shooting of linebacker Marlin Barnes and departure of coach Dennis Erickson for the NFL.

"Penn State ended up being the better pick for me," he now says.

The Hurricanes would like to say otherwise Saturday.