Penn State Sports Magazine
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2 2 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M And that is the best place for him and for Penn State in what will likely be his final collegiate season. "I'm still learning," Carter said in the Beaver Stadium media room while wear- ing his team-issued White Out gear. "I'm still getting better. I'm still growing. It's going pretty good for me so far, but you still haven't seen the best of me yet." He was asked if that prospect should scare future opponents. His big smile re- turned. "I don't know how they want to take it," he said, "but I'm still getting better." Into High Gear Penn State's coaches knew it would take time for Carter to become the best version of himself at his new home on the field. The staff also knew that it would be worth the wait, because even while he was learning how to be the best defensive end possible, Carter would be using the find-ball- get-ball traits that had made him so effective as a linebacker. With nearly a full season of expe- rience under his belt, he's now em- ploying better technique and learn- ing from each rep. Defensive line coach Deion Barnes and graduate as- sistant Torrence Brown have helped him blend his rare combination of size and speed with best practices when it comes to shedding blocks and rushing the passer with his hand in the dirt, as opposed to being a free rusher from the second level. Through Penn State's first 10 games, Carter was second in the FBS and first in the Big Ten with 17.5 tackles for loss and tied for 12th na- tionally (tied for third in the Big Ten) with 8 sacks. His season really kicked into gear once Big Ten play began in late September. Af- ter netting just 1 sack in the Nittany Li- ons' three nonconference games, he had 2 against Illinois, 1 against USC and 2 apiece versus Ohio State and Washington. Those numbers, coupled with Penn State's overall success on defense, have made Carter a strong contender for Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year hon- ors. He will likely vie with Indiana edge rusher Mikail Kamara for that trophy, as well as the league's Defensive Player of the Year award. All-America accolades are possible, too, and he's a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Lombardi awards, as well as the Lott IMPACT Trophy. "He's a dominant force," redshirt ju- nior linebacker Kobe King said. "He does a lot for our defense. [Opponents] have to scheme up for him and game-plan for him. He wants to be the best player on the field, the best player in the world, really. … He's someone that they should be worried about. Great player, great person, and he brings something great to our defense." Carter does not seem to care much about postseason awards. If this is in- deed his final year in blue and white, he wants his legacy to include more than just personal acclaim. He wants to take Penn State as far as it can go as a team, which, of course, would involve a trip to the playoff. Holding an 9-1 record heading into a visit to Minnesota on Nov. 23, the Lions were still in strong contention for the CFP in its first year as a 12-team tournament. By winning out, Carter and his teammates would be all but assured of a chance to shine on the sport's biggest stage. And if they get there, the Nittany Lions will need their playmaking defensive end to continue to harass opposing passers. Fortunately for the Lions, there's ev- ery reason to believe he's ready for his closeup. "Abdul Carter continues to make big plays in critical moments," Penn State coach James Franklin said af- ter the victory over Washington. "He's a disruptive football player. He was that way when he played linebacker. He's disruptive when he plays defensive end. "I still think there has been an evolution for him there, in terms of playing the run on a consistent ba- sis, rushing the passer on a consis- tent basis, getting good at his get- off. He's just getting better. To me, that's the exciting thing. He's got a lot of football ahead of him. He finds a ton of different ways to disrupt the game." Carter has been disruptive even though he is frequently being held. Opponents often don't have any other way of protecting their quar- terback, and officials can't call them all, so the only thing Carter can do is try to battle through the tangle of arms to get into the backfield. "I think it just shows his resilience "He wants to be the best player on the field, the best player in the world, really. … He's someone that [opponents] should be worried about. Great player, great person, and he brings something great to our defense." M I D D L E L I N E B A C K E R K O B E K I N G O N C A R T E R Uncalled holding penalties have been a source of frustration throughout the season, but Carter was still tied for third in the Big Ten with 8 sacks through 10 games. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL