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Abdul Carter wears Darth Vader eyeblack in Orange Bowl vs. Notre Dame

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•about 12 hours•

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Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) reacts after tackling UCLA Bruins running back Jalen Berger (0) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)
Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) reacts after tackling UCLA Bruins running back Jalen Berger (0) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)

The Force is strong with Abdul Carter. On Thursday, the Penn State defensive standout wore eyeblack that read “Darth Vader.” The seemingly odd choice was a reference to a post he’d made on X earlier in the week.

On Monday, Carter posted a clip from the Disney+ show, “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” which showed Darth Vader in a “bacta-tank” healing from his wounds. Paralleling Vader’s recovery, Carter was recovering from a shoulder injury this week that he suffered in Penn State’s win over Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Like Vader, when Carter is at full strength, he’s nearly unstoppable. The junior standout boasts 63 tackles this season, along with a team-high 11 sacks. Carter’s 11 sacks are also tied for the seventh-most in the country in the 2024 campaign.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Carter’s NIL representative, Drew Rosenhaus, raved about Carter’s gritty attitude.

“This guy is a warrior, he loves his coaches and his team, he would fight to win the championship no matter how much was at risk,” Rosenhaus said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “I was at the last game where he hurt his shoulder and the guy went out there and tried to play with one arm. If he can play tonight, he will.

“There is no discussion about don’t put out bad tape, no thought about risk of injury. He’s going to give it his all for Penn State, his teammates deserve that, that’s who he is, that’s how he was raised by his parents, and that’s what makes him great.”

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Rosenhaus isn’t the only who understands how pivotal Carter is to Penn State’s efforts. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum referred to Carter as the “key” to the Nittany Lions’ success.

“It’s Abdul Carter and he is such an outstanding player but he has been injured,” Finebaum said. “He suffered an arm injury against Boise State and they need him desperately in this game. James Franklin did not really address the issue. He will be the key tomorrow night.”

Now, Abdul Carter will look to embrace the dark side and wreak havoc in Notre Dame‘s backfield. The winner will advance to the national championship to face off against the winner between Ohio State and Texas.