Tag: Abdul Carter

Abdul Carter among ESPN’s favorite Big Ten players in 2024

Abdul Carter is drawing some big hype entering the 2024 season.

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.

 

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.

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Abdul Carter named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list

Abdul Carter is on the watch list for the nation’s top defensive player award in 2024.

On Tuesday, the Penn State junior defensive end [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list.

Carter was one of 76 defensive stars to make the preseason list for national defensive player of the year. He is making the switch from linebacker to defensive end, which could help him gain more counting statistics like sacks and tackles for loss.

In 2023, Carter notched 48 tackles (25 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, five pass breakups and five QB hurries.

Related: James Franklin plays down Abdul Carter’s position change at Big Ten media days

Other notable names joining Carter on the watchlist include Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, Georgia safety Malaki Starks, Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, Denzel Burke, JT Tuimoloau, Michigan’s Will Johnson and Colorado’s Travis Hunter.

It is safe to say that the Big Ten is filled with top-tier defensive players and that the Nagurski Trophy could easily come from the conference.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on November 2 and unveil the winner on December 9.

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Abdul Carter set to play multiple positions in 2024 according to James Franklin

Abdul Carter looks set to play multiple positions in 2024, not exclusively at defensive end.

It is Big Ten media week, and James Franklin spoke to assembled media in Indianapolis to kick off the 2024 season.

One of the main topics Franklin discussed was junior [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] switching positions from linebacker to defensive end. When Carter’s switch was announced, many speculated that he would not be playing linebacker in 2024, paving the way for younger players like Tony Rojas and Dominic DeLuca to see more playing time.

At Big Ten media day, Franklin clarified the change, stating that Carter will not be a full-time defensive end but will play both positions in 2024.

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“He’ll play both,” Franklin said about Carter’s positions. “We have the flexibility to play him in both positions. Week to week, we’ll decide where he will have the most impact for us.”

It sounds like Carter’s position change was not as big of a deal as people made it out to be earlier this spring, but it brings up some questions about how the linebacker core will look with Carter slotted in there.

Carter is an All-American type of player no matter the position, but it will be interesting to watch what position he plays most this year.

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Abdul Carter named one of Big Ten’s preseason players to watch

The Big Ten’s list of preseason honors at media day included just one Penn State player.

The Big Ten released its annual list of players to watch in the conference for the upcoming 2024 college football season, and just one Penn State player appears on the list. Defensive end [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] was one of the Big Ten’s 12 players receiving a preseason honor from the conference at Big Ten media days this week.

Carter is moving from linebacker to defensive end this season in a move expected to help solidify the outside edges of Penn State’s defensive line after losing Chop Robinson to the NFL draft. Carter will work the end of the line opposite Dani Dennis-Sutton, who is receiving some good preseason hype for what he could do this fall.

Carter is one of two defensive ends honored by the Big Ten, joining Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau. Ohio State led the conference with four players honored by the Big Ten; Michigan had three players, Oregon had two, and Iowa and Rutgers each had a player honored. You can see the full list of preseason Big Ten honors below.

2024 Big Ten Preseason Honors

  • LB Jay Higgins, Iowa
  • DT Mason Graham, Michigan
  • DB Will Johnson, Michigan
  • TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
  • QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
  • WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
  • SAF Caleb Downs, Ohio State
  • WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
  • RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
  • DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
  • DE Abdul Carter, Penn State
  • RB Kyle Monangai, Rutgers

We previously highlighted Carter as one of Penn State’s top 25 players for the 2024 season. You can see his full player profile for this season too.

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Saints spend top-10 pick on Penn State DE Abdul Carter in 2025 mock draft

It’s still too soon to accurately project the 2025 NFL draft, but Abdul Carter could be a good match for the Saints if they’re picking early again next year:

It’s still too soon to accurately project the 2025 NFL draft, but Penn State star Abdul Carter could be a good match for the New Orleans Saints if they’re picking early again next year. That was the case in this projection from Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy, which had the Saints picking at No. 8 overall.

Carter has the size the Saints covet at a listed 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds, and he comes from a program that’s sent several great pass rushers to the NFL. Defensive ends Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac were both top-100 picks this spring, which opened the door for Carter to move outside after initially playing off-ball linebacker. That was also the case for Micah Parsons, who was picked at No. 12 back in 2021.

And like Parsons, Carter is seen as a versatile defender who can make plays in coverage or rush the quarterback from a two-point stance. He needs experience playing on the line of scrimmage with his hand down but he has Pro Bowl potential if he can keep learning and developing.

He could make sense for the Saints. They haven’t gotten enough production out of high draft picks like Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey or old pros like Cameron Jordan. The hope is Chase Young can transform the group this year but he’s working his way back from neck surgery and is only signed to a one-year deal.

But if the Saints are bad enough this fall to be picking at No. 8, it’s because Derek Carr bombed in Klint Kubiak’s offense. The ramifications for that could be big — how could Mickey Loomis sell fans on a fourth year with Dennis Allen at head coach if the Saints go 7-10 (like last year’s team picking at No. 8, the Atlanta Falcons), giving Allen a 23-28 record with New Orleans? If you include his Las Vegas Raiders run, as you should, Allen’s career record would be 31-56. That’s a win percentage of .356, which would be sixth-worst out of the 128 head coaches who have worked 87 or more games in NFL history.

Neither Allen nor Carr should be in the Saints’ plans if this is where they end up, and letting a new head coach draft a new quarterback should be their priority. It would be great if Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler is ready to compete for the job by this point but there’s no guarantee that either of them will be ready for it. Hopefully the Saints are so successful in 2024 that we aren’t worrying about things like this in the 2025 draft.

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Three Penn State Nittany Lions among top-rated players in EA Sports College Football 25

Find out which three Penn State players are among EA Sports College Football 25 top 100 players.

Penn State has a trio of stars among the top 100-rated players in EA Sports College Football 25. Defensive end [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag], safety [autotag]Kevin Winston Jr.[/autotag] and running back [autotag]Nicholas Singleton[/autotag] are the top Penn State players in the upcoming video game.

The game’s full player ratings were revealed on Wednesday, leading up to its much-anticipated launch date on July 16.

Related: Where Penn State ranks in EA Sports CFB 25

Carter is the No. 47 overall player in the game with a 91 overall rating. The linebacker-turned-defensive end is the No. 3 rated right end behind Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. (95 OVR) and Kentucky’s Deone Walker (93 OVR).

Kevin Winston Jr. is ranked ten slots lower than Carter at No. 57 overall with the same overall rating of 91 overall. Winston Jr. is the No. 2 overall strong safety behind only Virginia’s Jonas Sanker (92 OVR).

Meanwhile, Singleton is at No. 64 overall with the same overall rating of 91. Singleton is the No. 10 overall running back behind Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II (96 OVR), Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins (95 OVR), North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (93 OVR), Ohio State’s Treveyon Henderson (93 OVR), California’s Jaydn Ott (93 OVR), Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks (92 OVR), Kansas’s Devin Neal (92 OVR), Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (91 OVR) and Michigan’s star cover athlete Donovan Edwards (91 OVR).

The best players in the game are Michigan’s star CB Will Johnson, LSU LT Will Campbell (96 OVR), Gordon II,  Pearce Jr., Ohio State safety Caleb Downs (95 OVR) and Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter (95 OVR).

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ESPN gifts Browns explosive pass rusher in new 2025 NFL mock draft

Could the explosive Penn State pass rusher find a new home in Cleveland?

In a new 2025 NFL mock draft, ESPN’s Matt Miller has the Cleveland Browns landing explosive Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter.

Carter was predominantly an off-ball linebacker who will be moving to edge rusher for the Nittany Lions full-time this year. Does that sound like another All-Pro pass rusher from Penn State currently lining up for the Dallas Cowboys?

In his first two seasons at Penn State, Carter has racked up 11 total sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Look for those numbers to take a massive leap forward as he will spend much more time off the edge in 2024.

Here is what Miller had to say on Carter and his fit with the Browns:

“Cleveland has the league’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year in pass-rusher Myles Garrett, but there’s room to add more to the defensive line if a player like Carter is on the board. He’d slide in opposite Garrett — where veteran Za’Darius Smith is now — and boost an already elite unit.”

While the Browns re-signed Za’Darius Smith to a two-year deal, they do tend to draft a year out, so adding an edge rusher in next year’s draft would not be a total surprise. They do, however, still have Alex Wright on the roster and under contract, an ascending player who took a huge step forward in 2023.

We are too far out for definitive, but edge rusher, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, or wide receiver are likely to rise near the top of draft needs come next April. Carter would fit like a glove even if his need is not immediate.

Abdul Carter named preseason All-American by Walter Camp Foundation

Penn State’s Abdul Carter was named preseason All-America by Walter Camp Football Foundation, but there is a twist.

The preseason All-Amerrican teams are beginning to be released ahead of the 2024 college football season, and one Penn State player has made the list from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. But there is a bit of a twist.

Defensive end [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] was named on the second team defense on the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s preseason All-America team. But perhaps because the foundation has not been paying close enough attention to Penn State’s offseason storylines, Carter is listed as a linebacker.

Penn State has moved Carter from linebacker to the edge this offseason with the hope of letting Carter wreak havoc on opposing offenses and creating pressure off the edge. The move is designed to get more out of Carter’s athleticism in a position of need and is expected to turn in some terrific results for Carter and the defense.

Of course, a national organization such as the Walter Camp Football Foundation could easily have overlooked this roster development during the offseason, so it is not entirely shocking to see Carter receive preseason accolades at his former position.

The Walter Camp Football Foundation’s preseason All-America players at linebacker include Jay Higgins (Iowa), Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma), Jason Henderson (Old Dominion), Harold Perkins (LSU), and Barrett Carter (Clemson).

You can check out the Walter Camp Football Foundation preseason All-America team for 2024 on the foundation’s official website.

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2025 NFL mock draft: Bucs land another explosive pass rusher

See who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers get in this early first-round projection for the 2025 NFL draft

If you’re interested in early projections for the 2025 NFL draft, there’s a new mock draft for next year up at Tankathon, and it has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers adding another dynamic edge rusher to their defensive ranks.

This first-round forecast has the Bucs owning the No. 13 overall pick, which they use on Penn State’s Abdul Carter.

Carter played off the ball last season, but will be making the transition to edge defender in 2024. Much like fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons, Carter is an impressive athlete whose explosiveness might make him more valuable chasing quarterbacks off the edge than playing at the second level.

The Bucs just spent a second-round pick in this year’s draft on Alabama’s Chris Braswell, and they have a young stud in Yaya Diaby who led the team with 7.5 sacks as a rookie in 2023. But former first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is facing a make-or-break season this year after his fifth-round option was declined, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Tampa Bay spend more premium resources to upgrade their pass rush.

To check out the full first-round mock draft at Tankathon, click here.

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Penn State’s veteran defensive lineman out indefinitely with injury

Penn State defensive lineman Zuriah Fisher reportedly out indefinitely due to spring injury.

As Penn State gets through the summer months heading into preseason before things get truly underway in the fall, there are some questions about how these offensive and defensive units will look.

On the offensive line, they will have to replace three NFL draftees.

Defensively, two of their edge rushers were drafted, prompting [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] to move down from his linebacker spot. As roles shift, there are opportunities for others who have been waiting their turn to step up and carve out a job for themselves.

It seemed like [autotag]Zuriah Fisher[/autotag] was poised to be that player on the defensive line.

Entering this season as a fourth-year player, the veteran was coming off a 17 tackle, 3.5 sack performance in 2023 across 13 games where he also had a fumble recovery. He seemed like someone who could emerge as a real contributor for this unit.

Unfortunately, it was reported by Nate Bauer of On3 that Fisher is going to be out for an indefinite time with a “significant injury setback” that was suffered during spring practice sessions in April.

That’s all the information that was released, but it seems like he could miss extensive time this season that might even include the entire year.

This would be the second injury that has caused him to miss a significant portion of the season. In 2022, he was limited to only the final two games of the year.

Fisher was reportedly a player who was standing out during the offseason as [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] talked about the lineman’s continued ability to improve in his new position after beginning his career as a linebacker. Penn State’s strength coordinator Chuck Losey said he was impressed with how the veteran embraced the competition and was “really happy with the way he’s responded.”

Where the Nittany Lions go from here will be seen, but this is a major loss for a team who is looking to get into their first-ever College Football Playoff.