Abdul Carter aiming to make Penn State football history in 2024

The Penn State football team is set to have another game-wrecking defense in 2024. There’s a new man at the helm this fall, former Indiana head coach Tom Allen will lead the Nittany Lion defense into battle. But he inherits a group that knows how to swarm to the football. One of the biggest keys to the season will be how Abdul Carter and his transition to defensive end will play out. But he has recently set a milestone for himself to break Penn State history.

The change was a surprise as it was announced that Abdul Carter would be transitioning from linebacker to defensive end this offseason. Now, that doesn’t mean that we won’t see Carter play some linebacker in 2024, but primarily he will be on the opposite side of Dani Dennis-Sutton who finally gets his chance to be a full-time starter this fall.

When speaking to the media recently, Carter described the single-season sack goal he set for himself.

“The Penn State record is like 15.5 so, I’m going for 16,” Carter stated.”

That record was set by Carl Nassib back in 2015 when he recorded 15.5 sacks in a single season. Arnold Ebiketie is the only Nittany Lion in the past five seasons that has come close to that number when he recorded nine sacks in 2021.

Carter feels like he can play any position on the field

© Dan Rainville/USA Today Network

While Abdul Carter will get a chance to show off his versatility this fall to NFL scouts, he has put together plenty of productive tape at linebacker. The junior from Philadephia has already accounted for 104 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. 

Now, the third-year Nittany Lion will get a chance to play a position where he can focus on disrupting the game for opposing quarterbacks. Carter recently discussed his comfort level with the transition to defensive end.

“Yeah, I feel like I can play any position on the field. So, going from linebacker to defensive end wasn’t hard at all for me, because I just know that I’m a natural football player. Wherever I line up at I feel like I can impact the game.”

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