It’s still too early to know if Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter will be able to play in the Orange Bowl when the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (13-2) face the seventh-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-1) in their College Football Playoff semifinal. However, both his teammates and coaches remain hopeful.
The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year sustained an unspecified upper-body injury during Penn State’s 31-14 win over third-seeded Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. This injury leaves his status for Thursday’s Orange Bowl uncertain.
“At this point, I don’t think there’s anything that is stopping him from playing,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said on Saturday. “But it’s just going to come down to how he is able to play. And we’ll see, but his mentality is great.
He’s got a big smile on his face. He’s excited about this week. But it’s too early to say at this stage.”
Carter seemed to suffer a shoulder or arm injury in the first quarter against Boise State.
After leaving the field and spending some time in the injury tent on the sideline, Carter briefly returned for a series before leaving the game for good in the second quarter.
In his three years at Penn State, Carter has never missed a game. He ranks second among all FBS players with 21 1/2 tackles for loss this season. Carter also leads Penn State with 11 sacks and is fourth among the Nittany Lions with 63 total tackles.
“His attitude is great,” Franklin said. “His mentality has been really good. We’ll see. But I think he’s taking the right approach and mentality, and really it’s going to come down to how he feels and how much practice he’s able to get during the week.”
Penn State began preparing for Notre Dame on Friday and will practice on Sunday after taking Saturday off.
While Carter and fellow starting end Dani Dennis-Sutton have been consistent performers all season, Penn State has also had success with other players. Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert have contributed to the defensive end rotation, and freshman Max Granville has seen an increase in his playing time over the last four games.
