Penn State's Abdul Carter blends high football IQ, 'freak' physical ability in sterling debut season

Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter, once again, turned heads in his performance against Michigan State on Saturday. Finishing with seven tackles that included a pair of sacks, his statistics were team highs in the Nittany Lions’ 35-16 win over the Spartans.

How he accumulated them, however, proved more impressive.

Darting through every level of the field, with a closing speed that needs to be seen to be believed, Carter again demonstrated the attributes that have put him into rarified territory. Still in the earliest stage of his college career at Penn State, it’s a foundation upon which he’s continued to build.

“I’m proud of him. He’s gotten better every single week,” head coach James Franklin said afterward. “He’s got a ton of natural physical ability that he’s getting more and more confident within the scheme which not only is helping our defense play better, but it’s also putting him in position to make more and more plays.”

Abdul Carter

Saturday afternoon, that sentiment bore itself out repeatedly for Carter.

And maybe no specific instance was more impressive than the play he ultimately didn’t make. Racing toward Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne as teammate Nick Tarburton batted a pass at the line of scrimmage late in the third quarter, Carter nearly corralled the loose ball and walked into the end zone for a pick-six, tangling up with Tarburton in the pursuit of the ball.

“He’s a freak. That’s what I keep saying to everybody here. He’s a freak and it’s fun to play with him,” Tarburton said. “I just think he’s got a knack for the ball. I think he knows the game, really, really well for a freshman. 

“He’s a guy that just seems to always be around the ball. He seems to always kind of know how to work his body, tweak his body, just to get to the quarterbacks or the running backs. He’s just a freak. That’s a good way to put it.”

Steady development

Working closely alongside Carter this season, fellow linebacker Tyler Elsdon detailed what has gone into the accelerated pace of football knowledge. And maybe more important than just knowing what to do and how to do it, Elsdon said, has been Carter’s ability to implement it in games.

“He had a crazy amount of potential. Everybody saw that right away. And just throughout the year, it’s crazy to see how much he’s really put that potential on the field,” Elsdon said. “He’s very talented, and he’s one of the hardest workers in the LB room, maybe on the team. So he’s very driven, very confident. 

“And he’s a team player. Maybe sometimes you see a guy who makes plays, and it’s all about him. But he is a team player and I think that’s one of his biggest strengths. He just keeps getting better. It’s awesome to see.”

Next steps

Blending that pure athleticism with a knowledge base that has taken on an upward trajectory throughout the season, Carter’s future is what Penn State football is looking forward to seeing next.

Having produced to the tune of team-high tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (6.5), with the second-most tackles (55), plus four pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, and a pair of forced fumbles, to do so as a true freshman sets up well for the future.

“His ability to burst and chase the quarterback or burst and chase running backs on the perimeter or within the box, it’s impressive. He’s got the ability to find the ball and when he gets there, he’s got bad intentions,” Franklin said. “It’s been fun to watch his development from the beginning of the year to now.”