Abdul Carter had a great collegiate career with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Coming out of La Salle College High School, the edge rusher spent three seasons under James Franklin. Carter declared for the 2025 NFL Draft and is considered one of the top defensive prospects.
The Penn State star was one of several Nittany Lions players invited to this year’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Ahead of his professional career, the edge rusher made a bold claim about his draft.
Abdul Carter Makes Bold 2025 NFL Draft Claim for Himself
Carter was one of the players to speak first with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. During his interview, the Penn State edge rusher made a bold claim about himself and his draft stock.
According to reports, Carter claimed that he should be the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He also went on to state that his dedication and commitment to the game make a strong case for himself as the “best” prospect to enter the league this year.
“I feel like I’m the best player in the country, and the best player should be picked first,” Carter said. “It’s the work I put in with my dad, who trained me, and all the sacrifices I made. I know I’m the best.”
Abdul Carter told reporters today he’s 90% recovered and will ramp up toward his pro day. As far as No. 1…
“I feel like I’m the best player in the country and the best player should be selected No. 1.” https://t.co/euNuCBVfeP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2025
Carter’s stats do speak for themselves. He was a key player on defense for James Franklin during his three-season stint with the Nittany Lions. Several draft experts project him to be a top-five pick and potentially the first defensive player to be drafted in April.
During the 2024 season, Carter played a major role in Penn State’s 13-3 campaign, advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinal. Unfortunately for Carter, their quest for a natty came to an end following an Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame.
He finished his final collegiate campaign with a tally of 68 total tackles, 12.0 sacks, and 24 tackles for loss. He was honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American.
Carter’s NFL Draft Stock in Question After Potential Surgery
Despite being invited to the Scouting Combine, the Penn State pass rusher will not participate in the workouts. This is because he is recovering from a lingering shoulder injury he suffered during their Fiesta Bowl victory over Boise State. He was cleared for practice but is holding out until his Pro Day in March.
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However, his draft situation has become a bit more complicated after a new report from NFL insider Adam Schefter. According to Schefter, Carter has a stress reaction on his right foot and might possibly need surgery. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, shared a statement on the situation.
Tests today revealed that potential No. 1 pick Abdul Carter has a stress reaction in his right foot and the Penn State standout will need to decide soon whether to have surgery, sources told ESPN.
“There are mixed opinions on whether he needs surgery, and we will figure that out… pic.twitter.com/9nyRyjFxlG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2025
“Tests today [Feb. 26] revealed that potential No.1 pick Abdul Carter has a stress reaction in his right foot and the Penn State standout will need to decide soon whether to have surgery, sources told ESPN.”
“‘There are mixed opinions on whether he needs surgery, and we will figure that out in the near future,’ Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus said Wednesday night at Indianapolis, site of the NFL’s annual scouting combine.”
On Feb. 27, it was reported that Carter will forego the surgical procedure and prepare for his Pro Day, as advised through his medical consultation, per Schefter.
After missing out on the NFL Combine workouts, Carter’s Pro Day will be significant for him to boost his draft stocks. It will be interesting to see how this surgery situation is perceived by teams who have an eye on drafting the edge rusher in April.