Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter (11) pretends to conduct the Blue Band as they play the alma mater following a White Out football game against Iowa Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in State College, Pa. The Nittany Lions shut out the Hawkeyes, 31-0.
Abdul Carter DE/EDGE Penn State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Abdul Carter DE/EDGE Penn State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/07/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (99%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 02/07/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (99%*) | |
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| Overall Rating: | 91.1 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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65% |
| Pass Rush: |
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100% |
| Run Defense: |
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83% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Top 5
Overall Rank:
#3
Position rank:
#1
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 1784 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chop Robinson - Penn State |
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99% |
| Drake Jackson - USC |
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87% |
| Kayvon Thibodeaux - Oregon |
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84% |
Draft Profile: Bio
La Salle College High School product Abdul Carter arrived at Penn State as a four-star recruit and immediately turned heads with his explosive athleticism. The Philadelphia native made an instant impact as a true freshman in 2022, racking up 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while playing primarily as an off-ball linebacker. His trajectory continued upward as a sophomore before Penn State's coaching staff made the inspired decision to move him to edge rusher in 2024, unleashing one of college football's most devastating pass rushers.The position switch proved transformative, as Carter exploded for 17.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks in just 10 games as a junior. His rare combination of speed (4.48 forty) and explosiveness had offensive tackles looking foolish all season, particularly in statement games against Illinois and Washington where he notched four tackles for loss in each contest. The scary part? He's only scratching the surface of his potential as an edge defender.
While a misdemeanor assault charge in April 2024 raised some red flags, Carter completed a rehabilitation program and maintained his focus on the field. He capped his collegiate career by earning unanimous All-American honors and being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, cementing his status as one of the premier defenders in the 2025 draft class.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Super athletic - Made Bruce Feldman's Freak's List at #43. He Wrote: "Carter flashed spectacular talent as a true freshman, making 10.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks and breaking up four passes. At 6-3, 250, Carter clocked a 4.48 40, had a 4.35 shuttle and broad-jumped 10-7. He also power-cleaned 350."
- Freakish first-step explosion jumps off the tape - consistently beats tackles to their spot and forces QBs to abandon clean pockets before routes can develop
- Displays exceptional bend and ankle flexion around the edge, maintaining speed while running impossibly tight angles that leave tackles grasping at air
- Natural violence as a tackler - generates explosive power through his hips and has forced multiple fumbles with bone-crushing hits in the backfield
- Background as an off-ball linebacker shows up in his spatial awareness and ability to sniff out screens and outside runs
- Closing burst in pursuit is special - routinely runs down plays from behind that most edge rushers wouldn't dream of affecting
- Has flashed an emerging cross-chop move that, combined with his explosiveness, could become virtually unblockable with refinement
- Shows serious competitive toughness - played through a shoulder injury in the College Football Playoff without any noticeable dropoff
- Length and athleticism create cleanup opportunities even when initially blocked - multiple sacks came from pure hustle and range
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Still developing a complete pass rush plan - relies heavily on pure athleticism and needs significant growth in terms of counter moves
- Play strength is a work in progress - can get washed down the line against double teams and struggles to set a firm edge
- Hand usage in pass rush is inconsistent - timing and placement of initial strike need refinement to maximize his physical gifts
- Pad level rises when attacking upfield, giving offensive tackles too much surface area to land their punch
- Tackling form can break down in space, leading to missed opportunities to finish plays he creates with his disruption
- Arrested after after a confrontation with a tow-truck driver in 2024. Although this looks like a one off.
Scouting Report: Summary
The team that drafts Carter will be getting an ascending talent with legitimate All-Pro potential as a weak-side edge rusher. His combination of explosiveness and bend is rare, drawing comparisons to Von Miller coming out of Texas A&M. While he'll likely begin his career as a designated pass rusher while he develops the strength and technique to be a three-down player, Carter has shown the work ethic and rapid development curve to suggest he'll maximize his considerable physical gifts.The position switch to edge rusher unleashed Carter's natural talents, and his production despite his inexperience at the position is remarkable. Smart defensive coordinators will deploy him primarily as a wide-9 technique early in his career, allowing him to pin his ears back and hunt quarterbacks while he develops a more complete arsenal of rush moves. By year two or three, Carter projects as an every-down force who can wreck games as both a pass rusher and run defender.
In a pass-first league, Carter's ability to affect the quarterback while still ascending technically makes him a legitimate option for the first overall pick. His athletic testing numbers are off the charts, but more importantly, the explosiveness translates directly to the field. He's shown enough polish to contribute immediately while possessing the tools to develop into a franchise cornerstone on defense. The misdemeanor charge requires thorough vetting, but all signs point to it being an isolated incident rather than a pattern of concerns.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
How other scouting services rate Abdul Carter (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
4.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
1.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.