STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The availability of Penn State’s defensive end, Abdul Carter, for the upcoming College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame remains uncertain. However, both his teammates and coaches are optimistic about his chances of playing. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (13-2) are set to face the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (13-1) in the Orange Bowl, but Carter’s status is still unclear after he suffered an unspecified upper-body injury during last week’s Fiesta Bowl, where Penn State secured a victory over Boise State with a score of 31-14.
Coach James Franklin addressed the situation on Saturday, expressing cautious optimism. “At this point, I don’t think there’s anything that is stopping him from playing,” he stated. He emphasized that the key factor will be how well Carter can perform leading up to the game. “His mentality is great. He’s got a big smile on his face and he’s excited about this week,” Franklin added, acknowledging that it was still early to make a definitive call on Carter’s condition.
Carter’s injury occurred in the first quarter of the Fiesta Bowl, where he was seen leaving the field to assess the situation in the injury tent. Though he briefly returned for a series, he ultimately did not continue past halftime. In his three years with the team, Carter has never missed any games. This season, he has excelled, compiling 21½ tackles for loss, which places him second among all players in the FBS. Additionally, he leads the Nittany Lions with 11 sacks and ranks fourth on the team with a total of 63 tackles.
Franklin praised Carter’s positive attitude. “His attitude is great. His mentality has been really good. We’ll see,” he remarked, highlighting that the week’s practice will be crucial in determining the player’s fitness for the game. Following a day off on Saturday, the team is scheduled to resume preparations on Sunday as they gear up for their pivotal match against Notre Dame.
While Carter and fellow starting defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton have been key contributors throughout the season, Penn State has seen other players stepping up as well. Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert have been instrumental in the defensive end rotation, and freshman Max Granville has also increased his involvement in recent games, showcasing the depth and resilience of the team’s defense as they approach this crucial contest.