CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Season: 2022: Joined Deion Barnes (10 TFL, 6 sacks; 2012) as the only Penn State freshmen to record 10-plus tackles for loss and 6-plus sacks in a season...Was one of eight linebackers (10 instances) to put up 10-plus tackles for loss and 6-plus sacks in a season at Penn State...Became the first PSU linebacker since Dan Connor (15 TFL, 6.5 sacks; 2007) to reach the milestone.
Game: 2024: Posted four tackles for loss against Illinois (9/28), the first Penn State player to do so in a game since Yetur Gross-Matos against Iowa in 2018...Also posted four tackles for loss against Washington (11/9).
2024 • JUNIOR SEASON
Awards: Midseason: Named a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Bednarik Award, the Lombardi Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Weekly: Earned Bednarik Award Player of the Week and Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week honors (11/12)...Named the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy Defensive Player of the Week (Illinois - 9/28)...Earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors (Illinois - 9/28). Preseason: Named to the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy, Reese's Senior Bowl and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch lists.
Season: Has started 10 games...Owns 45 tackles (29 solo), 17.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and three pass breakups...Named the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Game three times (Kent State - 9/21; Illinois - 9/28; Washington - 11/9).
Rankings: Leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss (17.5; 2nd nationally) and is tied for third in sacks (8.0; T-7th).
at West Virginia (8/31): Made a solo tackle. Bowling Green (9/7): Posted seven tackles (5 solo) with one tackle for loss and a pass breakup...The pass breakup came on a batted down pass on fourth down in the second quarter. Kent State (9/21): Notched a solo sack in the second quarter...Added a half-tackle for loss later in the quarter. Illinois (9/28): Finished the game with a career-high four tackles for loss...Added two sacks and a forced a fumble on a sack late in the fourth quarter, which was recovered by Smith Vilbert...Also had a pass breakup. UCLA (10/5): Made three stops, including 1.5 tackles for loss. at USC (10/12): Recorded a solo sack and added a half-tackle for loss in the third quarter...Finished with five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup. at Wisconsin (10/26): Collected three tackles, including two solo. Ohio State (10/2): Recorded two sacks, with solo sacks in both the second and third quarters...Finished with four tackles (2 solo). Washington (11/9): Notched six tackles, including five solo...Tallied four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble...He had two tackles for loss, including a strip-sack, in the first quarter. at Purdue (11/16): Made a team-high five tackles (all solo) to go with two tackles for loss...Both tackles for loss came in the second quarter.
2023 • SOPHOMORE SEASON
Awards: Postseason: Earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and second-team from the media...Tabbed second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated...Named Penn State's Keystone Award winner on defense along with Kevin Winston Jr. Preseason: Named to the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Nagurski Award watch lists...Earned PFF All-American honorable mention recognition.
Season: Started all 13 games...Made 48 tackles (25 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, five pass breakups and five quarterback hurries...Named the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Game (Maryland, 11/4).
West Virginia (9/2): Recorded a sack to force a turnover on downs in the fourth quarter...Added a quarterback hurry. Delaware (9/9): Made four tackles (3 solo) and added a quarterback hurry. at Illinois (9/16): Intercepted a pass in the first quarter and returned it 18 yards, the first pick of his career...Added a pair of tackles. Iowa (9/23): Made three tackles. at Northwestern (9/30): Broke up a pass and made a solo stop...Added a quarterback hurry. UMass (10/14): Posted three tackles, including a tackle for loss. at Ohio State (10/21): Made a career-high nine tackles (5 solo)...Added a pass breakup. Indiana (10/28): Tallied five tackles. at Maryland (11/4): Posted a team-high six tackles, a solo sack in the first quarter and a pass breakup. Michigan (11/11): Made three tackles (2 solo) to go along with a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Rutgers (11/18): Posted five tackles (2 solo), a half-sack and a quarterback hurry. at Michigan State (11/24): Tied his career high with two sacks, registering one in the second quarter and another in the third quarter...Finished with three solo tackles and added a quarterback hurry. vs. Ole Miss (12/30): Made three tackles and broke up a pass.
2022 • TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON
Awards: Postseason: Earned All-Big Ten second team honors from the media and third team laurels from the coaches...Named a Phil Steele All-Big Ten second team selection...Earned spots on ESPN.com, Pro Football Focus, On3 and 247Sports' True Freshman All-American teams...Tabbed an FWAA and College Football News Freshman All-American...Named ECAC Defensive Rookie of the Year...Named Penn State's Keystone Award winner along with Kalen King and Juice Scruggs. Midseason: Was a finalist for the Maxwell Football Club's Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Season: Appeared in 13 games, making six starts...Tallied 56 tackles (36 solo) with 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups and five quarterback hurries... Led the team in sacks and was second in tackles and tackles for loss...Earned the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Week twice (Maryland, 11/12; Rutgers, 11/19).
Rankings: Finished fourth in the Big Ten in sacks (6.5), tied for sixth in forced fumbles (2) and tied for 11th in tackles for loss (10.5)...Paced all Big Ten freshmen in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles, and was second in tackles (56)...Among FBS freshmen, was third in tackles for loss and tied for third in sacks.
Ohio (9/10): Made five tackles (2 solo). at Auburn (9/17): Tied for the team lead with six tackles (all solo)...Forced his first career fumble in the second quarter, which was recovered by Jonathan Sutherland...Recorded his first career sack in the third quarter. Central Michigan (9/24): Finished second on the team with five tackles (4 solo) to go along with a pass breakup. Northwestern (10/1): Made two tackles, including a tackle for loss. at Michigan (10/15): Recorded five tackles (4 solo) and added a tackle for loss. Minnesota (10/22): Made the first start of his career...Totaled eight tackles (3 solo)...Picked up a half sack. Ohio State (10/29): Recorded four tackles (3 solo)...Added a sack. at Indiana (11/5): Made two tackles...Added a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup. Maryland (11/12): Led the team with seven tackles (3 solo)...Added a sack, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. at Rutgers (11/19): Recorded four total tackles (3 solo), including two tackles for loss and a sack. Michigan State (11/26): Set his career high in tackles for loss (3) and sacks (2)...Totaled seven tackles (5 solo). vs. Utah (1/2): Made a solo stop.
HIGH SCHOOL
Four-time letterman for head coach John Steinmetz at La Salle College High School...Team captain and MVP as a senior...Guided La Salle College to a 9-2 record his senior season and a PCL Championship...Invited to play in the All-American Bowl...Finished a two-time all-state honoree...Was a three-time All-Philadelphia Catholic League selection...Made 78 tackles (53 solo) as a senior, with two sacks, 10 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two passes defended...Rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports, On3, Rivals and ESPN...Ranked the No. 295 prospect, No. 29 linebacker, and No. 10 player in Pennsylvania by 247Sports...Was the No. 225 player nationally, No. 23 linebacker and No. 7 prospect in Pennsylvania by On3...Rated the No. 218 recruit nationally, the No. 20 outside linebacker and No. 6 player in Pennsylvania by Rivals...Graded the No. 37 linebacker, No. 44 recruit in the region and No. 11 player in Pennsylvania by ESPN...Also lettered in basketball at La Salle College as a power forward.
PERSONAL
Full name is Abdul Jabar Carter....Son of Tina and Christopher Carter...Has two sisters, Cheryl and Cianie, and two brothers, Hakim and Isaiah...Enjoys video games, working out, shooting pool, playing chess and studying his linebacker position in free time...Has spent time as a volunteer tutor...Has the goal of playing in the NFL...Would like to major in computer science at Penn State.