What Penn State Football signees are poised to make biggest impact in 2022?
By Nick Kreiser
![Medina quarterback Drew Allar passes against Lakewood St. Edward in Div. I, regional football final at Byers Field at Robert Boulton Stadium in Parma. [Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal] Photo taken Friday. Nov. 19, 2021.Medinafb 11 21 5](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F528d0cded4128804ba2098e368e2d7a248d8da9f3218bf64cffef02294af45d8.jpg "Medina quarterback Drew Allar passes against Lakewood St. Edward in Div. I, regional football final at Byers Field at Robert Boulton Stadium in Parma. [Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal] Photo taken Friday. Nov. 19, 2021.Medinafb 11 21 5")
Penn State Football linebacker – Abdul Carter
Outside of maybe quarterback, linebacker was one of the positions with the least amount of depth for the Nittany Lions in 2021, and now that they are losing Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith, there is a lot of opportunity for underclassmen to step in and see playing time.
Abdul Carter is the highest-ranked linebacker in Penn State’s 2022 class, so he has a great chance to see a lot of playing time as a true freshman.
Curtis Jacobs returns at the strong-side linebacker position, but the middle and weak-side will be up for grabs.
The only returning non-starter who has seen playing time in close games will be Charlie Katshir. Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King are two young linebackers who have seen minimal playing time in their young careers who will provide some competition for Carter.
Carter has all the physical tools to see playing time from day one, though he may need some time to develop and adjust to the college game between the ears. Hopefully, Manny Diaz is able to help him progress quickly in that regard.
If that happens, Abdul Carter can and most likely will see a lot of playing time in 2022, either as a starter or as a backup.