It remains uncertain whether Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter will be ready to play when the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (13-2) face seventh-seeded Notre Dame (13-1) in their College Football Playoff semifinal. However, his teammates and coaches are hopeful.
Carter, named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, sustained an unspecified upper-body injury during Penn State’s 31-14 victory over third-seeded Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl last week, casting doubt on his availability for Thursday’s Orange Bowl against the Fighting Irish.
“At this point, I don’t see anything that would stop him from playing,” Penn State coach James Franklin said Saturday. “But it really depends on how well he can play. We’ll see, but his mindset is positive. He’s smiling and excited for this week. It’s just too early to make a call.”
Carter appeared to suffer an arm or shoulder injury in the first quarter of the game against Boise State. After briefly returning for a series following time spent in the sideline injury tent, he left the game for good in the second quarter.
Carter has never missed a game in his three-year career. This season, he ranks second among all FBS players with 21.5 tackles for loss. He leads Penn State with 11 sacks and ranks fourth on the team with 63 total tackles.
“His attitude has been fantastic,” Franklin added. “He’s approaching things the right way. Ultimately, it will depend on how he feels and how much practice he gets during the week.”
Franklin noted that Penn State began preparing for Notre Dame on Friday and will practice on Sunday after a day off on Saturday.
While Carter and fellow starting defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton have been key contributors all season, Penn State has also seen strong performances from others. Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert have been part of the rotation throughout the season, and freshman Max Granville has increased his playing time in the last four games.
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