Abdul Carter meets with Jaguars, feels he’s the best player in the Daft
Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter is expected to be in contention to go first overall to the Tennessee Titans. He speaks at the Combine on his merits
- Abdul Carter, a defensive end for Penn State, did not participate in drills at the PSU Pro Day due to a shoulder injury.
- Despite not participating, Carter believes he should be the number one pick in the NFL draft due to his versatility and impact on the game.
- In his first season playing defensive end, Carter recorded 68 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and nine quarterback hurries.
STATE COLLEGE − Abdul Carter was everywhere on the Holuba Hall turf Friday morning.
He was throwing a football with some former teammates, cheering on others who were running and working out here on Penn State football Pro Day. He was catching up with mentor Chop Robinson, in town from his job rushing quarterbacks with the Miami Dolphins. He was going over NFL plans with super-agent Drew Rosenhaus.
He even was officiating an impromptu race between his mom and dad.
Carter decided not to participate in drills like the 40-yard dash and shuttle runs and bench press, citing his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered during the College Football Playoff. He also did not work out at the NFL Combine in late February because of that and a stress reaction in his foot.
He still met with the media here Friday and spoke ever-confidently about his abilities, his near-future and his stock in next month’s NFL Draft. Like being worthy of the top pick.
(Carter did spend Thursday evening here with officials from the Cleveland Browns, who have the No. 2 pick and could team him with pass-rushing star Myles Garrett. Jacksonville owns the No. 1 pick).
“A lot of reasons,” Carter said about going No. 1 in Green Bay on April 24.
“My overall impact on the game, my versatility to play multiple positions and probably most importantly I step up when I’m needed the most. When crunch time comes around and they need somebody to make that big play, I’m the guy who makes that big play.
“Everything happens for a reason. If I don’t go No. 1m it wasn’t meant to be. But I’m also going to have that motivation. If they don’t select me, that’s motivation.”
Penn State football: What’s next for Abdul Carter?
Carter said he may still work out privately with NFL teams, such as the New York Giants and New England Patriots, over the next month, especially considering that “I’m pretty close to 100 percent. Closest I’ve been in a long time.”
If he had chosen to work out here Friday, he was expected to challenge the stunning 40-yard times posted by past Penn State premium edge rushers Chop Robinson (4.48 seconds, NFL Combine) and Micah Parsons and Odafe Oweh (both 4.39, Pro Day) four years ago.
All were picked in the first round − Parsons (12th), Robinson (21st) and Oweh (31st). Carter is challenging to become the first No. 1 Penn State pick since Courtney Brown − yet another defensive end − in 2000.
Certainly, Carter already proved his on-field value during Penn State’s College Football Playoff season: He totaled 68 tackles and a remarkable 23.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and nine quarterback hurries over 16 games.
This all came after just one season at defensive end. He played linebacker his first two seasons at Penn State.
“I feel like I’m just getting started. This was my first year playing a new position, and I feel like I was the best at it. I dominated at it. I feel like the sky’s the limit.”
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
