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Penn State-Notre Dame injury updates: Latest on Abdul Carter, Jeremiyah Love, before the Orange Bowl

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•01/07/25•

GregPickel

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Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter (left) and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. (Photos: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

UPDATE: This story was originally published on Tuesday. There is a Wednesday update on both players. Click here to read that story.

Original story:

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. — There were no negative updates about the status of two key injured players, one for Penn State and the other for Notre Dame, on Tuesday when both teams arrived here for a College Football Playoff semifinal showdown that is set for Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). It will still remain to be seen how effective both Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter are assuming both suit up. But, assistant coaches who spoke from both sides shined a positive light on their players’ outlook as kickoff approaches.

“I believe, in his mind, the way he’s practiced this week, he’s ready to go,” Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock told reporters at the Le Méridien Dania Beach hotel, according to multiple media outlets.

Love, a sophomore from Missouri, has rushed for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns this season while also hauling in 25 passes for 226 yards and two scores, tweaked his right knee in the Fighting Irish’s regular season finale and then reaggravated it during the team’s Sugar Bowl victory in New Orleans that led it to this upcoming date with the Nittany Lions. He practiced the last two days but did so with a brace on his right knee. Whether or not he’ll wear it on game day is not yet clear.

Latest on Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter

Carter, a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten defensive player of the year, suffered an upper body injury that seemed to be to either his left arm or shoulder in the second quarter of the Fiesta Bowl. He did not return to action. Since, the junior has posted Star Wars themed social media messages indicating that he is healing and could play.

Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen was asked for the latest on his status Tuesday. He deferred a more complete update to head coach James Franklin, who speaks next on Wednesday. But, he did say that Carter is “doing everything that he can do” to be ready to play, per Sports Illustrated.

“Anytime you’ve got a guy that is kind of like an eraser, that’s pretty special,” Allen said, per SI. “You plug him into places. You put him in different position. Aand it’s fun to create different ways to create issues for the offense. But other times, it’s just the simple things. Just let him just go rush quarterback, you know.”

Franklin will share the latest on Carter Wednesday morning. That news conference, which takes place alongside ND coach Marcus Freeman, is at 9 a.m. ET. If Carter cannot play, Amin Vanover, Max Granville, and Smith Vilbert will all see more work. That is similar to Fiesta Bowl plan, of course, with Carter out.

“We’re very confident in those guys,” Allen said, per SI. “We’ve got a lot of guys, whether they’re older, younger or everything in between, and just a good plan for that. [We’re] excited about whatever that creates for them, and if they’re called upon, they’ll be ready.”

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