#WeAre pic.twitter.com/lXe5WGOzo0
— Abdul Carter (@ab22j) August 1, 2021
THE SKINNY
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 235 pounds
Hometown/High School: Glenside, PA (La Salle College)
Ranking: ★★★★ (0.8958 247Sports Composite)
Notable Offers: South Carolina, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Ole Miss, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, USC.
THE TALE
If you read that offer list, you have probably concluded that this was a big target for the Nittany Lions. Not only is Abdul another Pennsylvania prospect in a cycle where the coaching staff is making a point of keeping all the PA talent in house, Penn State needed another linebacker in the class. Abdul was happy to oblige.
Carter is the ninth best player in Pennsylvania, the 36th best linebacker in the country, and the top ranked prospect at Penn State’s annual Lasch Bash event. Normally we’d have to wait until after Lasch Bash to get the flurry of commitments in, but this time around, Abdul is already the 24th commitment of the class, most of which came in July. Carter’s addition maintains Penn State’s status as the second-ranked class in the country to date, increasing the chances it’ll finish in the top 10 when it’s all said and done.
OUTLOOK
Linebacker was one of the few positions in the 2022 class with only one true commitment in Keon Wylie. Although, JUCO safety Tyrece Mills could very possibly end up playing SAM for the Nittany Lions.
When he arrives on campus Carter will likely be a redshirt player before having an opportunity to make an impact as a redshirt freshman in the fall of 2023. Carter should be able to be strong against the run while also being a pass rushing threat for Brent Pry and the Nittany Lions.
Another factor that will work in Carter’s favor is the state of Penn State’s linebacker depth chart when he arrives on campus. If Brandon Smith has the season many are expecting of him and he turns pro, without hitting the transfer portal, the Nittany Lions may have just five scholarship linebackers on their roster when the 2022 recruiting class arrives in Happy Valley.