One of the top storylines for the Penn State football team in 2024 is [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag]’s position switch. The All Big-Ten linebacker is now moving to the defensive line full-time, and the success of that switch could be the x-factor for a potential playoff berth in the new 12-team format.
While there is no guarantee that Carter can hold up as a pass rusher full-time, many believe he has all the tools to do so. Among those high on him are ESPN reporters Adam Rittenberg and Jake Trotter, who named Carter as one of their favorite players in the Big Ten for the upcoming season.
They love his ability to get into the backfield quickly, citing his impressive 11 career sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss as a linebacker through his first two seasons. It’s not surprising for a player with Carter’s skillset to be a favorite for reporters, and the intrigue surrounding his position switch only adds to it.
It also seems like Carter will still play a more hybrid role on the defense based on the comments from defensive coordinator Tom Allen.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen on Abdul Carter pic.twitter.com/ZzCAP179g7
— Joel Haas (@Joel_Haas1) August 3, 2024
Allowing Carter to play both linebacker and edge rusher early on should help ease his transition, but anyone who has watched a lot of Penn State football over the last two years knows that his ceiling is higher off the edge. The comparison to former Penn State and current Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons is an obvious one, but it’s also a fair one to make.
Both players showed more flashes of elite play when asked to rush the passer, whether it was as a blitzer or from a true edge alignment. Carter will have the advantage of making the switch before he takes his talents to the NFL, something Parsons didn’t do until partway through his rookie season.
If he is even close to being as successful making the switch as Parsons, he could be a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft while anchoring a playoff-caliber defense in Happy Valley. No matter how the season plays out, however, Carter should be one of the most exciting players to watch in 2024.