Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482664
2 6 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Freshman linebacker Abdul Carter and several of his defensive classmates have already shown glimpses of their sky-high potential T rue freshman linebacker Abdul Carter likes to work out. It says so right there in his official Penn State bio. A weight room setup that sits just in- side the front door of his family's Phila- delphia home is one piece of evidence confirming the veracity of Carter's write-up on PSU's website. Additional proof lies in the way that the 6-foot-3, 233-pound former four-star prospect has performed in his first season with the Nittany Lions. Carter was one of many highly rated players from Penn State's 2022 recruiting class who seemingly had the potential to quickly make their way to the field. He didn't enroll early like some of his classmates who have since made an early impact, but through seven games, Carter was near the top of the team's stat sheet and had graded out well on a weekly basis according to the evaluators at Pro Foot- ball Focus and his coaches at Penn State. "He's freakishly fast, freakishly strong and doesn't have the body of a normal high school linebacker coming in," head coach James Franklin said, describing the qualities that catapulted Carter into a prominent role almost from the very start of his career. Part of the reason for his athletic suc- cess is that he has a frame and physique that cannot be taught or coached. But he also has a strong work ethic and a sup- port system that have helped him maxi- mize his potential. Parents Tina and Christopher Carter instilled in him a burning desire to im- prove, and it has carried him to great heights in high school and college. The aforementioned in-home weight room likely scuffed the family's hardwood floors, but it also made an impression on Franklin and his staff during the re- cruiting process. His upbringing helps explain why they pushed so hard to keep the Keystone State native close to home. He had been considering South Carolina and Ole Miss among others but ended up signing with Penn State back in De- cember. "I think his dad, specifically, and his family have done a really good job rais- ing him," Franklin said. "His dad talked about his maturity and his focus, and he's exactly right. His maturity and focus for a guy his age are impressive. He is a very disciplined young man. Comes from a disciplined family. G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G. P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M Flash Forward Carter has given a lift to Penn State's linebacker corps as a true freshman. Through seven games, he was third on the team with 31 tackles, including 3.5 for loss. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS