Penn State’s Abdul Carter is entering the NFL draft.
Considered one of the top prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced his decision shortly after the Nittany Lions’ season concluded with a loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. Notre Dame secured a 27-24 victory with a late field goal, advancing to the College Football Playoff national championship game against either Texas or Ohio State.
Carter has been one of the standout edge rushers in college football this year. He recorded five tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack in the game against Notre Dame. He wrapped up the season with 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, earning All-American honors.
Despite playing with a left shoulder injury, which he sustained during the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State, Carter made a significant impact. His shoulder and arm were observed to be bandaged after he went down in the first half of that game, watching from the sidelines as PSU secured a 31-14 win.
In Yahoo Sports’ recent mock draft, Carter is projected as the No. 7 overall pick by the New York Jets. Analyst Nate Tice commented on Carter’s profile:
Even with general manager Joe Douglas potentially leaving, the Jets remain focused on acquiring defensive linemen. While Carter can be inconsistent against the run, he possesses high-level pass-rushing skills that could help revitalize a defense in need of fresh talent.
Over his two seasons at Penn State, Carter recorded 11 sacks, totaling 23 career sacks. This season, he made 68 total tackles, ranking as the team’s fourth-leading tackler. After finishing the season with a 13-3 record, Penn State experienced losses to Ohio State during the regular season and to Oregon in the Big Ten championship game.
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