CFB Coach: PSU Got 'Brand Love' in 1st 2024 CFP Bracket Rankings After Loss to OSU
Nov 6, 2024
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 02: Dominic DeLuca #0 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after tackling Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium on November 02, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. Ohio State defeated Penn State 20-13 (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Despite losing to Ohio State last Saturday, Penn State surprisingly still received the No. 6 spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings.
A Power 4 head coach provided a potential explanation while speaking to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, saying he believes name recognition played a factor in the Nittany Lions' placement within the top 12.
"I think there's some brand love there," the coach said. "At least Texas (No. 5 and also 7-1 without any Top 25 wins) is playing in the SEC."
While the loss to Ohio State was the first of the season for Penn State, the team doesn't have much of a resume to impress voters. None of the Nittany Lions' seven wins came against teams in the CFP Top 25. Also, the team is sitting ahead of a pair of undefeated squads in No. 8 Indiana (9-0) and No. 9 BYU (8-0).
BYU has more CFP Top 25 wins (2) than the four teams ahead of them -- Indiana, Tennessee, Penn State, Texas -- combined (1).
Penn State will try to bounce back from its loss to Ohio State and prove that it is worthy of its ranking when it faces Washington (5-4) on Saturday night.
Video: James Franklin Has Heated Exchange with PSU Fan After Loss to Will Howard, OSU
Nov 2, 2024
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 02: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium on November 02, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Penn State head coach James Franklin appeared to argue with fans at Beaver Stadium on Saturday after the No. 3 Nittany Lions lost 20-13 to No. 4 Ohio State.
Video shared by ESPN's Adam Rittenberg shows Franklin speaking with a fan on his way toward the tunnel after the game.
Penn State coach James Franklin had a spicy exchange with a fan on his way off the field following another loss to a top 10 opponent. pic.twitter.com/zJYUXleZck
A closer video of the incident shared by StateCollege.com's Seth Engle showed Franklin asking for the fans' names.
"If you're going to be man enough to talk, what's your name?" Franklin is seen asking the fans, before ringing Penn State's victory bell and leaving the field.
James Franklin responded to heckling Penn State fans after the loss to Ohio State: “If you’re gonna be man enough to talk, what’s your name?” pic.twitter.com/kILxOn8UqU
Franklin told reporters after the loss that he gets why fans are frustrated (h/t Rittenberg.)
"We get an unbelievable crowd here. We get unbelievable support," Franklin said, per Rittenberg. "You don't do that without passion, and there's great things that come from that, and there's hard things that come from that. That's part of the job, and I own it all."
The Penn State coach continued: "There's nobody that's looking in the mirror harder than I am. Ninety-nine percent of the programs across college football would die to do what we've been able to do in our time here. But I also understand when you're at a place like Penn State, there's really, really high expectations."
Franklin concluded: "I get it, I totally get it."
Since hiring Franklin in 2014, Penn State has recorded five 11-win campaigns but holds a record of just 1-13 against top-five opponents.
Penn State is also 1-10 against Ohio State during Franklin's tenure. The Nittany Lions have lost eight straight against the Buckeyes since they last won the matchup in October 2016.
The Nittany Lions climbed out to an early 10-point lead on Saturday after an opening-drive field goal was followed by a pick-six thrown by OSU quarterback Will Howard.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was unable to keep the momentum going for the home team as he finished the game having gone 12-of-20 for 146 yards and a pick.
The Nittany Lions got the ball on the Ohio State one-yard line while facing a seven-point deficit with more than five minutes left on the clock, but Franklin and Allar were unable to get the ball into the end zone.
The ball went back to Ohio State. Howard, who completed 16 of 24 pass attempts for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception to lead the Buckeyes to the win, appeared to mock Allar after a fourth-quarter first down that put the game out of Penn State's reach.
The Nittany Lions have no remaining games scheduled against ranked opponents. Penn State will look to bounce back from the team's first loss of the season next Saturday during a home game against Washington.
James Franklin Ripped as Big-Game Fraud by CFB Fans as Allar, PSU Lose to Howard, OSU
Nov 2, 2024
STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 02: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium on November 02, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The James Franklin-led No. 3 Penn State football team lost yet another big game Saturday, falling 20-13 at home to the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Since Franklin's arrival in 2014, Penn State has gone 1-14 against Top 5 teams and 3-18 versus Top 10 teams. The Nittany Lions are also 1-10 against Ohio State, with the lone win occurring in 2016.
The wind went out of Penn State's sails after Ohio State executed a successful goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter, stopping the Nittany Lions from potentially tying the game at 20.
With 6:43 left, Penn State had the ball with 1st-and-goal from the three-yard line, down 20-13. Three straight runs up the middle netted two yards before Drew Allar threw an incomplete pass to Khalil Dinkins to turn the ball over on downs.
Ohio State then ran the ball for 10 straight plays after getting possession on its own one-yard line, earning four first downs in the process. A Will Howard seven-yard run was the final blow, and Ohio State finished the game in victory formation.
Penn State had all the momentum after Zion Tracy's 31-yard pick-six and the ensuing PAT put the Nittany Lions up 10-0 with 5:37 left in the first quarter.
Penn State went three-and-out but seemed ready for another chance after stopping Ohio State on 3rd-and-11 on the next Buckeye drive. But cornerback Elliot Washington II was called for taunting following an incomplete pass, extending the drive.
An unsportsmanlike penalty is called on Penn State here and gives OSU a first down pic.twitter.com/igtqIOcZQz
On its next drive, the Buckeyes nearly took a two-score lead when Will Howard ran toward the end zone. Officials initially said he scored a 13-yard touchdown run, but replay showed that safety Zakee Wheatley forced a fumble. The ball floated over the pylon, meaning a touchback and Penn State's ball.
A touchback is ruled after review of the Will Howard fumble
Penn State made a valiant effort to take the lead on its last drive before the half, reaching the Ohio State three-yard line with 13 seconds left. But Davison Igbinosun made the play of the game, sniping quarterback Drew Allar's pass to Harrison Wallace III for an interception.
Davison Igbinosun went from getting a stiff arm to the face to making one of the most wild interceptions of the season 🤯@ohiostatefbpic.twitter.com/FxTeR8v9Td
Both teams traded field goals and then punts to start the second half. Ohio State's Jayden Fielding then hit another field goal to put OSU up 20-13, although not before a borderline call that was ruled an incomplete pass instead of a fumble recovered by Penn State.
After review, the pass is ruled incomplete and the call on the field is overturned
PSU then drove downfield, catapulted by Tyler Warren's 33-yard run. That led to the goal-line stand and Ohio State's successful efforts to run out the clock beginning from the shadow of its end zone.
From a single-game perspective, this was brutal for Penn State, who had the win there for the taking.
The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, whether justified to be called or not, extended a drive that led to seven points. Igbinosun's interception killed a drive that could have led to seven points. The fumble that wasn't led to an OSU field goal instead of Penn State potentially going downfield for more points. The Ohio State goal-line stand prevented seven more points. And for those scoring at home, Penn State had 1st-and-goal from the three-yard line twice and scored zero points.
From a larger point of view, it's just more of the same under Franklin.
It's hard to overcome mistakes, untimely decisions and poor execution that often against the No. 4 team in the nation. But Franklin's teams, despite having the talent to win, keep coming up short in the program's biggest moments. It's been the difference between competing for a College Football Playoff berth and landing in what amounts to a consolation high-end bowl game every year.
This year, Penn State has the safety net of a 12-team CFP as opposed to a four-team one, and chances are the Nittany Lions will find themselves there so long as they win out against four Big Ten Teams they'll be favored against.
But fans understandably have little-to-no confidence in Franklin being able to meet the moment, especially after a brutal home loss against an Ohio State team that hasn't been as powerful as others in the program's past.
Fans and analysts pointed out the disappointment afterward, noting the coach's struggles in big moments and specifically calling into question the play-calling on Penn State's final drive at goal-to-go.
James Franklin is a fraud for running the same exact play there
— Multiverse Capt. Pete Mitchell (@Tweets_n_Nike) November 2, 2024
James Franklin with 3 straight runs right up the middle and then a poorly designed pass with a OT in motion 😂 dude is such a fraud with the game on the line
That goal line stretch was James Franklin’s coaching career at Penn State in a microcosm. He’ll get you 95% of the way there and fail miserably when needed the most.
Look I'm not a Penn State fan so what do I care but like if you can't break through and win a home game against Ohio State *this* year you really have to accept that James Franklin is just never gonna be able to take you over that hill, right?
— one dozen rats at a keyboard (@PanasonicDX4500) November 2, 2024
the strangest part about James Franklin being 1-forever against top five teams in a decade is how Penn State seemingly just does not care
Penn State will stay home this week and welcome Washington into Happy Valley on Saturday, Nov. 9. The team then closes out the regular season with road games against Purdue and Minnesota before hosting Maryland.
All four of those teams are unranked. Franklin is 82-13 at PSU against unranked teams.
Drew Allar Reportedly Expected to Start for PSU vs. OSU Despite Leg Injury
Nov 1, 2024
MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 26: Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
There is good news for Penn State regarding Drew Allar's leg injury going into Saturday's huge showdown with Ohio State.
Per Pete Nakos of On3.com, the junior quarterback is expected to start for the Nittany Lions after sitting out the second half of last week's victory over Wisconsin.
Nakos noted Allar has been on track to play throughout the week, but he was sharing reps with Beau Pribula during practices in the event he was unable to go.
The injury occurred during Penn State's final offensive possession of the first half. Allar went back to the locker room before his teammates and was on the sidelines wearing a brace on his knee.
Penn State was trailing 10-7 at the time of the injury. After the two teams traded punts on the first three possessions to open the second half, the Nittany Lions got some much-needed momentum on Jaylen Reed's 19-yard pick-six off Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke.
Pribula led Penn State on back-to-back touchdown drives on its next two offensive possessions to seal a 28-13 victory.
Allar was getting work in on the practice field Wednesday during the portion open to the media.
Head coach James Franklin was coy when discussing Allar's status after that practice session.
"At this stage, no new information for you guys," Franklin told reporters. "But so far, so good. Getting both Beau and Drew a ton of reps in practice."
Allar is off to the best start of his career this season. He has thrown for 1,640 yards, 12 touchdowns and has a 71.3 completion percentage in seven games.
Saturday will be the biggest test of the season for the Nittany Lions so far. Ohio State is the fourth-ranked team in the nation, but has struggled in its past two games with a one-point loss to Oregon and a narrow 21-17 win over Nebraska last week.
Penn State (7-0) is currently ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 poll, its highest ranking since October 2017 (No. 2). That season also saw the Nittany Lions start 7-0 before losing back-to-back games against Ohio State and Michigan State.
Franklin is 1-9 in his coaching career against Ohio State, including an 0-5 mark since Ryan Day took over as Buckeyes head coach in 2018. His lone victory was in October 2016 in the famous Block Six game when Grant Haley returned a blocked field goal 71 yards for a touchdown late and a 24-21 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State and Penn State will kickoff from Beaver Stadium at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Penn State's Drew Allar Will Be Game-Time Decision for Ohio State Game Amid Injury
Oct 28, 2024
MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 26: Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Penn State head coach James Franklin believes quarterback Drew Allar could be a game-time decision for Saturday's contest with Ohio State.
Franklin told reporters Monday he believes Allar, who's dealing with a left knee injury, is experienced enough to where he doesn't need to be rushed into practice in order to get on-field reps. He can rest up and still be ready for Saturday if necessary.
WATCH: James Franklin breaks down Drew Allar’s status ahead of @PennStateFball’s matchup against @OhioStateFB
“I think Drew has played enough football that’ll go all the way up to game time when we make that decision.” pic.twitter.com/EbroBcTnZk
Allar headed for the locker room in the second quarter shortly before halftime. While he tried warming up before the third quarter, he was unable to return against Wisconsin.
"It was, is he going to be mobile enough to give us a chance to run the offense the way we need to run the offense? And it really came down to Drew," Franklin said after the game. "I asked him to be very, very honest with me. And we just didn't feel like he was going to move well enough to go. And even throwing it at the end of the half was challenging."
Allar has thrived under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. His 234.3 passing yards per game, 174.6 quarterback rating and 71.3 percent completion rate are all up noticeably compared to 2023.
This is what Nittany Lions fans were expecting of a player who was a 5-star recruit coming out of high school.
Missing Allar would be a potentially massive blow for the Penn State offense.
Backup quarterback Beau Pribula performed well in relief against Wisconsin. He finished 11-of-13 for 98 yards and a touchdown.
But it largely goes without saying that Ohio State figures to pose a stiffer test to a player, for as much as he has seen the field as a sophomore, with 44 career passing attempts.
Because the mobile Pribula is a different style QB compared to Allar, Franklin could use this situation to his advantage. The Buckeyes coaching staff will have to make some modifications to its defensive game plan to account for the running threat Pribula would pose in a high-usage role.
Drew Allar Suffers Injury in Penn State Win vs. Wisconsin, Status vs. Ohio State TBD
Oct 27, 2024
MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 26: Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar suffered an apparent knee injury during Saturday's win over Wisconsin that puts his availability for next week's battle against No. 4 Ohio State in question.
Allar was seen walking off the field with a limp in the second quarter.
Allar came out of the tunnel for the second half and practiced throwing on the sideline, but did not return to the game. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula finished out the win in his stead.
Drew Allar came out of then tunnel and began throwing, before walking over to James Franklin and talking. He then took his helmet off and talked to his teammates. Looked like he wiped away tears a couple times. pic.twitter.com/lnlGtCU42M
Allar had gone 14-of-18 for 148 yards and a touchdown prior to his injury.
Heading into Saturday the Penn State quarterback had completed a college career-high 70.5 percent of his passes through six games. His 1,492 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions helped lead the Nittany Lions to a 6-0 season-opening record and a No. 3 ranking in the AP poll.
Now 7-0, Penn State is gearing up to host No. 4 Ohio State next Saturday.
Penn State has not won a game against Ohio State since October 2016, a contest highlighted by a Buckeyes field goal attempt that was returned for a game-winning touchdown in the final minutes of the game.
Since the Block Six, Penn State has dropped seven straight games to Ohio State.
The good news for the Nittany Lions is that their roster depth shone on Saturday night, as the Buckeyes were trailing by three points when Allar left the game.
Pribula then went 11-of-13 for 98 yards and a touchdown, adding 28 yards on six carries, while safety Jaylen Reed made key defensive plays in order to lead Penn State to victory.
Penn State's chances of improving to 8-0 are highest if Allar is able to return. Should he be sidelined next Saturday, the Nittany Lions will need another big game from Pribula in order to get back on the winning side of the rivalry.
PSU's Franklin Calls Tyler Warren '1 of the Best Players' in CFB After Historic Game
Oct 13, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Tyler Warren #44 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a pass and is tackled by Kamari Ramsey #7 of the USC Trojans during the fourth quarter at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Following a 33-30 victory over the USC Trojans, Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin had high praise for his senior tight ends Tyler Warren.
"I've been talking about him being the best tight ends in college football," Franklin told reporters. "But the reality is, he's now part of a conversation of one of the best players in all of college football."
WATCH James Franklin’s breakdown of Penn State’s 33-30 OT win over USC, with shoutouts of TE Tyler Warren and K Ryan Barker pic.twitter.com/1dK5ISBnvO
The 6'6" senior had 17 catches, which set a Penn State single-game record and tied the FBS record for tight ends. He also recorded 224 yards, the second most by any Penn State player in a single-game, along with one touchdown against the Trojans
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 12, 2024
Warren and the Nittany Lions have a bye week coming up.
Drew Allar, Penn State Hailed by Fans as Legit Contender After Comeback Win vs. USC
Oct 12, 2024
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball against Easton Mascarenas-Arnold #4 of the USC Trojans during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Penn State has escaped a major upset bid.
A late touchdown forced overtime and a key defensive stop set the table for a game-winning field goal from Ryan Barker to secure the victory and improve to 6-0 on the season.
The Nittany Lions were down 20-6 at halftime but the offense exploded for 24 second-half points to force overtime. USC managed just 10 points in the second half and was unable to convert on a field goal that would have given the team a lead late in the final quarter.
Trojans quarterback Miller Moss went 20-of-34 for 220 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Running back Woody Marks led the ground game with 111 yards on 20 carries.
Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar went 30-of-43 for 391 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Tight end Tyler Warren had 17 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown, nearly reaching his previous totals from the season.
Fans took to social media to praise the Nittany Lions for the gritty win and project their College Football Playoff chances.
No. 4 Penn State rallied and escaped with a 33-30 OT win at Southern Cal, but the ViewFromVegas is Nittany Lions did NOT cover after closing as 3.5-point road favorites; earlier, No. 7 Alabama held off South Carolina 27-25, but also didn't cover as 21.5-point home chalk @VSiNLive
Great tough win by Penn State. Remains undefeated with one more game (Wisconsin) before the big showdown with Ohio State! Drew Allar has a chance to turn up this QB class if he can perform at a high level.
Penn State should retain a high ranking and now have a quality win over an opponent that has solid victories over Wisconsin and LSU.
Penn State will take on the Badgers next week in a tune-up for a high-profile matchup against Ohio State the following week.
Dani Dennis-Sutton NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Penn State EDGE
Oct 9, 2024
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 31: Dani Dennis-Sutton #33 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes the quarterback during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl game against the Boise State Broncos at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'5"
WEIGHT: 272
POSITIVES
— Good size and thick frame with long limbs.
— Quick to get his hands up out of his stance and takes on blocks with his hands as a run defender.
— Has solid upper body strength and long arms to get extension on blocks. He can win at the point of attack against tight ends and weaker offensive tackles.
— He's shown decent hand swipe and arm-over moves as a pass rusher.
— He has enough power as a rusher to collapse the pocket occasionally.
— Good pass rush motor to get coverage sacks and a hustle player, in general, to factor into gang tackles down the field.
NEGATIVES
— Heavy-footed and a clunky mover, shows sub-par athleticism.
— Below-average get-off, he's slow off the ball and lacks acceleration off the line of scrimmage.
— Often late with his hands when rushing the passer, allowing offensive linemen to make the first significant contact.
— Bend as a pass-rusher is poor, he shows lower-body stiffness.
— Plays tall and stands up out of his stance, causing him issues against offensive linemen who have good leverage.
NOTES
— Born Dec. 23, 2003
— A 5-star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports
— Injuries: 2021 (High school, dislocated elbow, missed part of season)
— 2023 Third-Team All-Big Ten; Academic All-Big Ten
— 2022 True Freshman All-American
OVERALL
Dani Dennis-Sutton certainly looks the part of an NFL defensive end with his impressive size and length. He even has a little room for growth if a team wants to add some size to him to get up to the 275-to-280-pound range.
Against the run, the Penn State product is quick to get his hands up and take on blocks. Combined with his length and solid physicality at the point of attack, he can get extension and reset the line of scrimmage against tight ends. He isn't as consistent against offensive tackles, but he has enough strength to hold his own and win against solid competition.
Dennis-Sutton has flashed a solid hand swipe move and, when he can get to the offensive tackle's outside shoulder, he has the strength to pull the shoulder down and win with an arm-over move. However, he is a clunky mover and shows some lower-body stiffness.
That will limit Dennis-Sutton's ability to win with finesse moves at the next level. He lacks twitch and quickness to make sudden moves and has below-average bend to turn a tight corner at the top of the rush. Also, he will lose outside contain on quarterbacks and doesn't have the athleticism to recover.
Overall, the Nittany Lion can be a solid defensive end for a team that uses a lot of even fronts. He profiles as someone who can be a solid run defender and occasionally contribute as a pass-rusher.
GRADE: 6.8 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round High-Level Backup/Potential Starter)
Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.
Abdul Carter NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Penn State Edge
Oct 9, 2024
STATE COLLEGE, PA - DECEMBER 21: Abdul Carter #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes during a game between SMU and Penn State at Beaver Stadium on December 21, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 250
HAND: N/A
ARM: N/A
WINGSPAN: N/A
40-YARD DASH: N/A
3-CONE: N/A
SHUTTLE: N/A
VERTICAL: N/A
BROAD: N/A
POSITIVES
— Switched from off-ball linebacker to EDGE this season. He is an impressive athlete with room to grow as a pass-rusher down the line.
— Impressive burst off the line of scrimmage to win with speed around the edge.
— Has shown a very good dip-rip move as a pass-rusher, and he has the quickness and change of direction skills to develop a good inside stick move if his use of hands improves.
— Physical and aggressive style; plays with his hair on fire and isn't afraid to run into blockers going full speed.
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— Occasionally uses his quickness to make offensive linemen miss against the run.
— Has experience in coverage and the athleticism to drop in coverage as a standup outside linebacker.
NEGATIVES
— Still raw as an edge player and learning how to play on the line of scrimmage, both as a run defender and pass-rusher.
— Needs to learn how to use his hands and arms as a rusher to add moves to his arsenal.
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— Block recognition against the run is a work in progress. He's often late to see pullers and doesn't consistently put himself in a good position to take on blocks.
— Could afford to add some size and strength to improve his anchor against offensive linemen in the run game. Also needs to take on blocks with a wider base.
— Arrested for misdemeanor assault in April 2024, attended rehabilitation program, per StateCollege.com
— 2024 Unanimous All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten
— 2023 All-Big Ten
— 2022 All-Big Ten; Freshman All-American
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OVERALL
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After primarily playing off-ball linebacker during his first two seasons in college, Abdul Carter is still relatively new to playing on the edge
Carter is an elite athlete, which gives him a high ceiling as a pass-rusher at the next level. His get-off is very impressive as he explodes off the line of scrimmage and can win with speed around the edge when times up the snap. Also, he's shown a very good dip-rip move and the potential to develop a stick move as an inside counter with his movement skills.
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However, his use of hands as a pass rusher is still a work in progress at this point. He showed growth down the stretch of the season when it came to working offensive linemen's hands, but he is more reliant on using speed and athleticism to put pressure on the quarterback right now.
This can come with more time and experience on the edge, but Carter's block recognition against the run isn't there yet, which is most noticeable against pullers. He'll often get caught staring in the backfield instead of keeping his eyes down the line of scrimmage when he's unblocked.
Additionally, Carter lacks the strength to get extension and consistently hold his ground against offensive tackles in the running game. However, he did improve in this area toward the end of the 2024 season and has room for growth on his frame to pack on some muscle.
With that, Carter can immediately contribute as a pass-rusher to begin his NFL career and should develop into a complete player with more reps on the edge.
Schematically, he'd be a good fit as a standup outside linebacker in odd fronts. He also can be used to drop in coverage occasionally, given his athleticism and background as an off-ball linebacker.
