Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1454229
M A R C H 2 0 2 2 2 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M S ometimes, there's fanfare. There's a ceremony in a gymnasium, with crowds of people and speeches and cam- eras and a row of hats on a table signify- ing the choices that lie before the coveted high school athlete in question who is preparing to reveal his college decision. Other times, it just kind of happens. When four-star Philadelphia line- backer Abdul Carter committed to Penn State last July, the atmosphere could hardly have been less dramatic. He was attending a PSU football camp at the time, and he hadn't even gotten to the part of the visit in which James Franklin and his staff lay out their vision for his future. "We were out on the field with a bunch of their coaches at the time," Carter re- called. "I pulled them aside and told them that I was coming here, and that's when everyone came over and congratu- lated me. It was at the end of the day, but before we all sat down and talked. We were still outside at the time." That casual vibe may have belied Carter's importance to the Nittany Li- ons' future. Ranked as the No. 222 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus and the No. 22 linebacker nationally, he is set to help solidify the linebacker corps during a moment of transition, both for that po- sition group and the defense as a whole. Carter will be joining a linebacker unit that boasts very little experience follow- ing the departure of veterans Brandon Smith, Ellis Brooks and Jesse Luketa. His tremendous athletic ability — he turned in a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and 10- foot, 4-inch standing broad jump last summer — could help him make an im- pact early in his career. The other change is at the very top of Penn State's defensive org chart. The coach who took the lead in recruiting Carter — Brent Pry — left in November to become head coach at Virginia Tech. In December, former Miami (Fla.) head coach Manny Diaz replaced Pry as Penn State's defensive coordinator. Carter said that he had a chance to talk with Diaz after the hire was announced. Before taking charge of the Hurricanes' program in 2019, Diaz had been a defen- sive coordinator and linebackers coach at three Power Five schools. That history resonated with Carter. "I think it's a good hire," he said. "It's great for the whole defense, but espe- cially for the linebackers." Carter said that when they spoke, Diaz had already begun watching the tape from the prospect's stellar career at La Salle College High. That resonated, too. "He liked how twitchy I am, how fast I am to the football," Carter said. "He said he thinks I have great speed for my size." There's a good chance that Carter will get to show it off in the not-too-distant future. ■ Carter was recruited by Brent Pry and didn't waver when the defensive coordinator left in late November to become the head coach at Virginia Tech. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER Abdul Carter Bolsters Lions' Outlook At Linebacker M AT T H E R B | M A T T @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ABDUL CARTER LB | 6-3 | 235 LA SALLE COLLEGE HIGH PHILADELPHIA, PA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE consensus ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 222 22 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 129 11 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ – 36 11 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 229 20 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ – 36 11 STATISTICS • Finished with 78 tackles, including 53 solo stops, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks, as a senior. • Helped La Salle College finish 9-2 and win the Philadelphia Catholic League championship. NOTABLE • Was named team MVP as a senior. • Was a two-time all-state selection and a three-time All-Philadelphia Catholic League choice. • 2022 All-American Bowl participant. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Penn State on July 31, 2021. • Picked the Nittany Lions over South Carolina and Mississippi. • Recruited by former defensive coordinator Brent Pry. • Officially visited Penn State on June 25, 2021. 2022 PROJECTION The Nittany Lions are thin at linebacker this year. There are only five returning scholarship linebackers on the roster, and two of those play- ers — Kobe King and Jamari Buddin — are going to be redshirt freshmen this coming fall. The Lions are believed to be looking for help in the transfer portal, which could change the dynamic at this position group. But given the dearth of experience, it's possible that Carter will vie for playing time in 2022. THEY SAID IT John Steinmetz, La Salle head coach: "Abdul is one of the most athletic players I have had a chance to work with. He has incredible closing speed. He has a very high football IQ and understands the game very well." BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "No player in this class may have more potential than Carter. Yes, that includes Penn State's three five-star players. He's been clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash and has room to grow physically. His highlights are some of the most impressive plays you'll see from a linebacker in high school as well. Throw on top of that his blitzing ability, and he can be productive in multiple ways. " Those skills also make him the next likely candidate to replace Micah Parsons and Brandon Smith as the physical freak Will linebacker who can blitz, chase plays down, and wreak havoc on offensive game plans."