Edge
Junior (now in NFL)
Former Penn State edge defender. Carter's 2024 season produced 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks; the Giants selected him third overall in 2025. Those are historical Penn State figures, not 2026 roster production.
Abdul Carter is a former Penn State edge defender, not a member of the 2026 college roster. He began his Penn State career at linebacker before moving to defensive end, where his speed and disruption produced one of the program's strongest recent pass-rush seasons.
In 2024, Carter started all 16 games and recorded 68 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Penn State named him its 15th unanimous consensus All-American; the Big Ten named him Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year. His 23.5 tackles for loss ranked third on Penn State's single-season list when the school recapped his career.
The New York Giants selected Carter third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. For Penn State readers, his 2024 production is a historical benchmark for the current edge group, not a projection for any one successor. A current defensive end must build his own game record; high-school ratings or a roster listing cannot replace Carter's proven college tackles for loss.
Sources checked October 7, 2026