In Abdul Carter, Penn State analyst Dan Connor sees differentiators
Abdul Carter has garnered his share of attention in the five short months he’s been on Penn State’s campus. A June addition from the Nittany Lions’ Class of 2022, the true freshman linebacker was atop the recruiting radar before his enrollment, immediately impressed with his testing numbers, then inserted himself as a fixture on the position depth chart in preseason camp.
And that was before he took his first game snap at Penn State.
Backing up the hype with on-field production to match, Carter’s ascent hasn’t come out of the blue. But, according to Penn State defensive analyst and two-time first-team All-American Dan Connor, the physical attributes that separate Carter from his peers aren’t the only things that have unlocked the door to so much early success this season.
“He’s obviously incredibly talented; he’s as talented a guy as you’ll ever see. He’s 6-4, 230, can rush the passer, he runs 4.4,” Connor told host Steve Jones this week on the Penn State Coaches Show. “The thing that impresses me most about Abdul is his approach to the game. He’s very mature for a kid who’s probably 18, maybe 19 years old. He’s mature and deliberate in his preparation.”
Abdul Carter’s first impressions
With 18 tackles, Carter is second on Penn State’s defense in tackles through the first five games. His 2.0 TFL, sack, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble have all filled out the statistics sheet, too.
That the production has come on just 134 defensive snaps, largely working behind Curtis Jacobs, is notable. And that it has all taken place after being booted from his first career game on his first defensive snap in Penn State’s win at Purdue on Sept. 1 makes it more so.
But in the eyes of Connor, in his first year as an analyst returning to his alma mater but in his eighth year of coaching after a six-year playing career in the NFL, it’s Carter’s thirst for information that is most noteworthy.
Aligning seamlessly with a culture that has impressed defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, the position group checks the underlying boxes that create opportunities for success.
“He’s like the rest of the room; they want to know every possible answer before a game. They’re not gonna leave any stone unturned. He’s gonna get every answer,” Connor said. “But he approaches the game like a pro. He takes his time in the meeting room, he asks the right questions. He gets extra work anytime he can off the field, the mental side of it. And, he practices hard. So, he’s gonna keep getting better.”
Next steps
Rated second nationally this week by ESPN as one of the country’s top true freshmen through the first five weeks of the season, Carter’s climb is only expected to continue moving forward.
Described by Penn State head coach James Franklin as “a name that everybody’s pretty excited about at LBU,” the balance of Carter’s big production in a short amount of time against his future potential will continue to generate enthusiasm. Not least of all, that includes Connor.
“He’s a huge weapon,” Connor said. “And he’s gonna be an exciting guy to follow these next couple of years.”
