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Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter declares for 2025 NFL Draft

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•about 9 hours•

GregPickel

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Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter. (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is the latest Nittany Lion to make his stay-or-go decision for next year now that the team’s 2024 season is over. The junior is declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.

“Penn State consensus All American defensive end Abdul Carter has entered the 2025 NFL Draft and hired Drew Rosenhaus, Robert Bailey and Jason Rosenhaus to represent him. “I expect Abdul will be one of the top picks of this draft and a future All Pro,” Drew Rosenhaus said in a statement to ESPN.

Carter’s decision has long been expected. He is the second Nittany Lion to reveal his future plans as it relates to the NFL. Classmate and quarterback Drew Allar announced in December that he is coming back to State College for his senior season.

“This season has been the most fun I’ve had in my entire life playing football and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team,” Allar posted on social media. “I know there’s still more work to do which is why I look forward to making more memories with my teammates this year and beyond. But right now we are solely focused on the opportunity we have as a team in front of us.”

Both players’ choices were their most likely ones after recent weeks offered insight into what their future plans could be. Carter had a dominant year in his first season as a defensive end. He is the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year. The Philadelphia native is the program’s 45th consensus All-American. And, he entered the CFP with 19.5 tackles for loss, which are the most among Power Four players. Additionally, his 10 sacks are second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally. He returned from injury then to play well in the Orange Bowl.

Where will Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter go in the 2025 NFL Draft?

Right now, he is looking like a top five pick. ESPN analyst Field Yates projects the Carolina Panthers will take the Nittany Lion at No. 4 overall. That is starting to become the national consensus.

“Edge rusher will be a priority for Carolina this offseason, as only Atlanta is worse in pass rush win rate (28.1%),” Yates writes. “And this draft class is deep there. 

“Carter transitioned to a full-time edge role this season after previously playing primarily as a standup inside linebacker. We’ve seen his emergence, as he has 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss this season. He has more juice and a faster get-off than any other pass rusher in this class, proving the ability to consistently make plays behind the line of scrimmage.”

Carter suffered an upper body injury in the CFP quarterfinal round. It’s unclear if it will impact his ability to go to the NFL Combine and do other pre-draft events. Either way, he looks locked into the first round, and even the top 10, as this moment in time.

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