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Penn State Football: 4 players who will define the second half of the season

By Alec Whitaker

Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lion players sing their alma mater following the competition of the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lion players sing their alma mater following the competition of the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 01: Abdul Carter #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a defensive play against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 01: Abdul Carter #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a defensive play against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

4. LB Abdul Carter

One true freshman who has shocked many with his play so far this season is linebacker Abdul Carter. 

Carter has played well so far this season, outside of one rough play against Northwestern where he got lost in coverage and then missed the tackle resulting in a touchdown. Despite being a true freshman, Carter looked like a man amongst boys against Auburn and its daunted SEC speed.

Carter is currently backing up Curtis Jacobs at the Will position. The problem is that Jacobs and Carter look like Penn State’s best two linebackers this year, but they play the same position, making it difficult to have both on the field at the same time.

Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz has started to experiment with putting both on the field on third and long plays and let them go after the passer with Isaac and Robinson. This has worked, but it would be nice to find a way to get them both out there more consistently.

It’s possible that this exact issue was a point of emphasis for Diaz over the bye week.

Carter has looked like Penn State’s best linebacker at times this season and that’s huge considering there were a lot of question marks with this group outside of Jacobs.

This defense will go to an entirely new level if the staff finds a way to have Jacobs and Carter on the field together more often.

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