Penn State football's Abdul Carter: He's wrapped, ready and rolling in the Orange Bowl
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Abdul Carter, one of the top defensive players in the nation was ready to play in tonight's College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame, after all.
Though the Penn State football star defensive end had his left shoulder wrapped and his left arm cloaked in a protective sleeve, he helped swallow the Fighting Irish offense in the first half here at the Hard Rock Stadium in the Orange Bowl.
Carter registered three tackles, a pass breakup and a late sack as the Nittany Lions led 10-3 at halftime.
Earlier in the day's Carter's NIL representative, NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus, appearing on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show, said the Penn State junior is suffering from a shoulder injury and is a game-time decision.
"If this guy can play, physically, if there’s a chance, he will do it," Rosenhaus said on McAfee Show. "I’ve been an NFL agent for 36 years. This is absolutely one of the toughest human beings I’ve ever been affiliated with. Just watch this guy play. He plays so hard every snap. If he can go, he’ll go. But he has a legitimate shoulder injury. Franklin came out and said, ‘Hey, it’s a game time decision.’ It really is."
The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and projected first-round NFL draft pick is dealing with that ongoing upper-body injury he sustained in the second quarter of Penn State's CFP Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal victory on New Year's Eve. Carter is currently ranked as the No. 2 player in April's NFL draft class according to ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s big board.
Penn State, now 13-2, will play the Fighting Irish in Hard Rock Stadium for a place in the CFP national championship game in Atlanta.
"We anticipate Abdul playing (against Notre Dame), he's doing everything he possibly can to play. His approach has been awesome. He's lived in the training room. But it will be a game-time decision, and we'll see.
"Abdul's approached this the right way, he wants to play. He's put a ton of cryptic messages out on social media, and you guys have probably seen those. I learn as much from those as I do from our trainers," Franklin said with a smile. "But we're hopeful and expecting Abdul to play, and we'll see."
Carter's latest Star Wars-themed post on X, formerly Twitter, came just hours before kickoff. Once again, it hinted at his return tonight.
Abdul Carter injury update
Carter sustained an apparent upper-body injury in during a third-down play in the second quarter of the Nittany Lions' 31-14 CFP Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal win vs. No. 3 Boise State.
He left the game to be tended by Penn State's training staff in the medical tent. He'd then briefly returned to the action before leaving again and being sidelined for the remainder of the game.
Carter was seen with his left arm wrapped, as the Nittany Lions trotted out onto the field to start the second half at State Farm Stadium. He remained on the sidelines in uniform for the entirety of the second half, and was shown near the stationary bicycle on the Nittany Lions' sidelines by ESPN's broadcast.
Abdul Carter stats
Carter has logged 63 total tackles and 11 sacks this season at Penn State, both career-highs for the Philadelphia native. He also has broken up three passes and caused two fumbles in 14 games, as he did not record a single stat in the CFP quarterfinals vs. Boise State before his injury.
Here's a look at Carter's stats during his career at Penn State:
- 2022: 56 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, four broken-up passes and two forced fumbles
- 2023: 49 total tackles, five broken-up passes, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception
- 2024: 63 total tackles, 11 sacks, three broken-up passes and two forced fumbles
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.