[autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] changed positions this offseason from linebacker to defensive end. His success continued in his new position, and the Big Ten recognized his successes on Tuesday.
Carter was named the Big Ten’s Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year. The announcement came Tuesday afternoon on the Big Ten Network, where all the conference’s end-of-season awards were announced.
The junior defensive end was a force on Penn State’s defensive line this year, finishing the regular season with 19.5 tackles for a loss and ten sacks. Carter is also fourth on the team with 54 tackles and leads the team with two forced fumbles. His ten sacks are the most for a Penn State player since Carl Nassib in 2015.
In addition to his conference awards, Carter was named to the First Team All-Big Ten defensive team. The Philadelphia native is also a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy, and the Bednarik Award.
With one year of eligibility remaining, Carter will have to make a big decision about his future after the season. He is likely a first-round pick and quite possibly a top-10 pick if he declares for the 2025 NFL draft.