UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State freshman linebacker Abdul Carter was tabbed as a Finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award on Thursday.
Carter is one of five finalists, joining Ole Miss' Quinshon Judkins, North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Harold Perkins Jr. and Georgia's Malaki Starks.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, in its fifth year, is presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the outstanding freshman player in college football.
Abdul Carter · Fr. · LB · 6-3 · 233 · Philadelphia, Pa. · La Salle College High School
- Has played in all 12 games this season, making six starts.
- Was named second-team All-Big Ten by the media and third team by the coaches.
- Selected to the Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Team.
- Tied for the lead among FBS freshmen in tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (6.5).
- Carter paces Power Five freshmen in tackles for loss and is tied for the lead in sacks.
- He leads the Nittany Lions in tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles (2), while ranking second in total tackles (48).
- Since 2000, Carter and Dan Connor (15 TFL, 6.5 sacks; 2007) are the only Penn State linebackers to put up 10+ tackles for loss and 6+ sacks in a season and Carter and Deion Barnes (10 TFL, 6 sacks; 2012) are the only Penn State freshman with 10+ tackles for loss and 6+ sacks in a season.
- He has registered five or more tackles in seven games this season.
- Carter made a six stops (all solo) at Auburn, tying for the team lead. Carter added his first career sack, and tackle for loss, and forced a fumble in the second quarter, his first career forced fumble.
- Making his first career start, Carter collected a career-best eight tackles against Minnesota.
- Carter had four tackles and a solo sack vs. Ohio State.
- Carter tallied seven tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and two QB hurries against Maryland.
- The freshman collected two tackles for loss, including a solo sack, at Rutgers.
- Carter registered career highs with three tackles for loss and two sacks against Michigan State. He tied for the team lead with seven tackles.
- Carter has at least a half-sack in five of his last six games and at least a half-tackle for loss in seven of his last eight games.
The winner of the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award will be announced on December 29. The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Gala in March 2023.
Penn State Football Recognized As Award Semifinalists/Finalists
Abdul Carter: Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award (Finalist)
Sean Clifford: Jason Witten Man of the Year Award, Wuerffel Trophy
Manny Diaz: Broyles Award
Joey Porter Jr.: Bendarik Award, Jim Thorpe Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy
Chris Stoll: Mannelly Award (Finalist)
Jonathan Sutherland: William V. Campbell Trophy
No. 8/7 Penn State finished the regular season with a 35-16 win over Michigan State to improve to 10-2 overall and 7-2 in Big Ten action.
The Nittany Lions reached 10 wins in a season for the 25th time and reached 10 wins in the regular season for the 20th time.
With Saturday's win, Penn State reached 10+ wins for the fourth time in the James Franklin era and earned seven Big Ten wins for the seventh time in program history.
The 2022 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.