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WATCH: Abdul Carter Has A Message for College Football

Abdul Carter just put the college football world on notice.

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Abdul Carter
Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Abdul Carter (11) tackles Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) during the first half of the NCAA Division I football game at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch Ncaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Penn State Nittany Lions © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

STATE COLLEGE, PA — Abdul Carter quickly became one of the best defensive players in college football as a true freshman in 2022. By season’s end, Carter had established himself as the next great in line at Penn State’s “Linebacker U.”

And apparently, Abdul Carter is just getting started.

Abdul Carter Sends Message to College Football before Spring Ball

Penn State football starts spring practice this week as the university comes back to life after the mid-semester break. And although he may have had the week off, Abdul Carter wasn’t taking it easy.

Carter took to social media over the weekend to share insights into his workout habits. He also used the opportunity to send a not-so-cryptic message to the college football world. In the first video, Carter noted that while his peers may be living it up on a beach somewhere, he was using spring break to improve himself.

In the second video, Abdul Carter made it clear that his dedication is second to none.

Carter joined fellow second-year player Drew Allar by showing that spring break is about more than just having a good time.

Abdul Carter Can Have a Monster 2023 Season

It comes as no surprise that Abdul Carter takes his offseason workouts seriously. Carter put on over 15 pounds in Penn State football’s latest roster update. He was also one of the many players that stood out during Max Day at the end of winter workouts two weeks ago.

The question is, how much can Carter improve in 2023?

Carter had 56 total tackles, including 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks last season. He became the first Penn State linebacker to have at least 10 tackles-for-loss and 6 sacks in a season since Dan Connor in 2007. Carter was only the second freshman to ever reach the 10 tackle-for-loss and 6 sack milestone in Happy Valley, joining current Penn State analyst Deion Barnes.

But Carter’s 2022 is really put into perspective when he is compared to the last great Nittany Lions’ linebacker to wear the “double sticks” – Micah Parsons. Before Parsons became one of the best defensive players in the NFL, he had an abbreviated but meteoric rise at Penn State. Parsons was a wrecking ball on the defensive side of the football for the Nittany Lions.

But Abdul Carter’s collegiate career may quickly pass that of Parsons. In 2022, Carter had as many sacks as Parsons throughout his career at Penn State. While it may not be entirely fair to compare the two yet, Carter is showing he is well on his way to a historic career in the Blue and White.

More to Prove?

Even before these videos dropped, the rest of the college football universe was already taking note of Abdul Carter. Carter was one of two Penn State freshmen to earn FWAA Freshman All-American honors last season. He was also named the second-best linebacker in all of college football for the 2023 season last month by On3 Sports.

More importantly, this driven, “nose-to-the-grindstone” mentality is one we’ve heard reiterated out of Lasch numerous times this offseason – and it’s only March. The Penn State football team clearly appears focused on showing that it can accomplish higher goals than its 2023 Rose Bowl victory.



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Matt is a co-owner and Editor in Chief of Basic Blues Nation. Launched in 2022, Basic Blues Nation is one of the fastest-growing websites covering all Penn State athletics, with over 3.5 million readers in 2023. Matt is also a credentialed member of the Penn State football beat, and is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.

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