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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Ever since Abdul Carter left the Fiesta Bowl last week with an upper-body injury, his status for Thursday night’s Orange Bowl has been a hot topic.
Speculation ran rampant after Carter, Penn State’s outstanding defensive end, was not seen Sunday at practice.
Nittany Lions coach James Franklin described Carter’s availability for the College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame as a “game-time decision” on Wednesday.
“We anticipate Abdul playing,” Franklin said. “He’s doing everything he possibly can to play. His approach has been awesome. He’s lived in the training room. It’ll be a game-time decision. We’ll see.”
Carter, a consensus first-team All-American, leads Penn State with 21.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, he’s projected to be a first-round draft pick in the spring.
“He’s a really, really, really good player,” Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard said. “He’s going to get after it. He plays really hard with a high motor. He’s not scared to lean into somebody and blow up a play.
“He’s really good with his hands. He’s a longer guy and he knows how to use his length. Being able to play against him is less of a challenge and more of an opportunity to prove ourselves again.”
Carter, a high school star at La Salle in Philadelphia, was injured on the first play of the second quarter against Boise State. Fellow defensive ends Dani Dennis-Sutton, Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert stepped up and helped hold Ashton Jeanty, the nation’s leading rusher, to 104 yards on 30 carries.
“We’re very confident in those guys,” Lions defensive coordinator Tom Allen said. “When he went out in the second quarter, I don’t believe they got a first down the rest of the half. Our guys did a great job. If they’re…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-notes-abdul-carter-044600906.html
Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.
Publish date : 2025-01-09 04:46:00
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