Penn State’s run towards the nationwide championship got here to an finish Thursday evening. Consequently, the crew’s underclassmen at the moment are in a position to flip their consideration to the draft; as anticipated, one of many prime prospects within the 2025 class will flip professional.
Edge rusher Abdul Carter has determined to enter April’s draft, as famous by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The junior has lengthy been anticipated to take that route as soon as his season ended, and he’s now on observe to be one of many first gamers chosen on both aspect of the ball. Carter loved a stellar 2024 marketing campaign, the primary wherein he transitioned from inside linebacker to defensive finish.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder racked up 11 sacks throughout his first two seasons, however he surpassed that whole this 12 months. His sack throughout Thursday’s CFP semifinal loss to Notre Dame was his twelfth of the marketing campaign; Carter additionally registered 24 tackles for loss and a pair of pressured fumbles throughout the season. These totals helped him win the Massive Ten Defensive Participant of the Yr award along with consensus All-American honors. He’s the primary Nittany Lion to earn the latter honor since Saquon Barkley in 2017.
A number of edge rushers are thought-about locks to go within the first spherical, however Carter has lengthy been thought-about the most suitable choice on the place. He sits on the prime of ESPN’s Scouts Inc. board, whereas Mel Kiper slots him second total behind solely two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter. No scarcity of groups will present curiosity over the approaching months as they consider this 12 months’s prime prospects.
With the Titans, Browns and Giants occupying the highest three spots within the 2025 draft order, quarterback figures to be a place of curiosity on the prime of the board. Each Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders might hear their names known as earlier than Carter does, however as soon as groups with out an instantaneous QB want are on the clock — the Patriots and Jaguars respectively personal the fourth and fifth choices — he will definitely be a reputation to look at.
