James Franklin finally provides a bit of clarity to Abdul Carter’s status for the Orange Bowl

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is expected to play in the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame.

Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11)
Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter will officially be a “game-time decision” according to James Franklin. The 11th-year head coach of the Nittany Lions finally shed some light on a murky situation in his final press conference before Penn State’s Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, telling reporters, “We anticipate Abdul playing, he’s doing everything he possibly can to play.” 

Carter, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a surefire first-round NFL draft pick this spring left Penn State’s Fiesta Bowl CFP quarterfinal victory over Boise State with a left arm injury that he suffered in the second quarter. The former linebacker has been arguably the country’s most impactful pass rusher since moving to the defensive line this offseason and has not missed any games this season. 

Earlier this week, Carter’s cryptic, Star Wars-themed social media post hinted at a potential return for the Orange Bowl, but Franklin seems to be confirming that he’s going to give it a go on Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium. 

Aside from Carter’s injury, and long-term injuries such as the one suffered in Week 2 by Kevin Winston Jr. whose Penn State career is over, the Nittany Lions are heading into this matchup with Notre Dame considerably healthier than the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame will be without its best defensive lineman, Rylie Mills, who suffered a season-ending injury in the Irish’s CFP first-round victory over Indiana. They will also be without star cornerback Benjamin Morrison and could have a diminished version of running back Jeremiyah Love, who was limited against the Hoosiers and in the quarterfinal Sugar Bowl win over Georgia last week.

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