In the immediate aftermath of Penn State’s 27-24 backbreaking loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal on Thursday night, the Nittany Lion's best player officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. After being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in his first season playing defensive end, Abdul Carter is leaving Happy Valley following his legendary junior season.
Carter suffered a left shoulder injury in Penn State’s Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal victory over Boise State which knocked him out of that game. While the injury obviously limited him against Notre Dame, Carter was still dominant as a pass rusher, essentially with only one arm. Rushing primarily from the right side, not his usual spot on the left, Carter finished the game with one sack, seven quarterback pressures, and two tackles for loss.
The 6-foot-3 252-pound junior was clearly the best player on the field on Thursday night and all but cemented his status as a top-10 or even top-five draft pick this spring. He is currently the No. 2 overall player on ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s draft board only behind Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
In an anticipated move, Carter has signed with NFL superagent Drew Rosenhaus, who was also his NIL agent throughout the final season of his college career.
Penn State consensus All American defensive end Abdul Carter has entered the 2025 NFL Draft and hired Drew Rosenhaus, Robert Bailey and Jason Rosenhaus to represent him. “I expect Abdul will be one of the top picks of this draft and a future All Pro,” Drew Rosenhaus said. pic.twitter.com/cvkatLTqHV
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2025
Nobody in the Penn State program will be shocked by this move, in fact, it was most shocking how willing Carter was to play with an injury so close to the draft. While it is a monumental loss, Penn State has already begun preparing for life without Carter, adding former PA four-star recruit Enai White in the transfer portal. White left Texas A&M after three underwhelming seasons. He will likely pair with Dani Dennis-Sutton, a former five-star, also in the 2022 recruiting class with Carter, as a formidable edge rushing duo.