Penn State LB Abdul Carter named among Top 10 returning linebackers for 2023
Penn State had its fair share of freshmen make a sizable impact in 2022. Running back Nick Singleton took home the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year award, but you can make an argument that linebacker Abdul Carter had an even bigger impact on Penn State’s run to the Rose Bowl.
Despite playing just 25 total snaps in the first two games of the season, Carter finished second on the team in tackles (56) and tackles for loss (10.5), as well first in sacks (6.5) and forced fumbles (2). Considering he didn’t arrive on campus until June, Penn State couldn’t have asked for much more from the Philadelphia native.
Now, entering his sophomore season, Carter has been recognized by scouts and media outlets across the country as one of the nation’s best-returning linebackers. Pro Football Focus was the latest outlet to do so Wednesday, ranking him as the eighth-best linebacker returning for the 2023 season.
“The No. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as [Micah] Parsons, NaVorro Bowman and LaVar Arrington all rocked the ‘stix.’
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“So, when it was announced that Carter, a true freshman, would also wear that number, it raised some eyebrows. He quickly proved he deserved that honor, as his six sacks and three forced fumbles were tied for sixth among all linebackers in the country.”
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Carter finished the 2022 season with an overall defensive grade of 76.2 by PFF. That ranked him fourth on the team out of Penn State’s regular defensive contributors. Edge rusher Chop Robinson was the team’s highest-ranked player last year with a grade of 90.6. He, too, was recognized by PFF last week as the third-ranked returning edge rusher for 2023.
But for Carter, his debut season couldn’t have gone much better. Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz gave his thoughts on Carter while in California for the Rose Bowl.
“I’m just proud of the way that he developed through the course of the year. Certainly, he made some flash plays early on like at Auburn. But, there’s a difference between flashing and being a real guy down after down,” Diaz said. “And I think the second half of the season, I thought he got better and better, helped us as a defense get better and better.
“The trick now is that obsession with improvement can’t stop because he played well for a freshman. Next year, playing well for freshmen will not be enough in year two. So that’ll be his challenge. And this bowl will be a bridge to that like it is for a lot of our guys.”
