One of Penn State’s key defensive weapons has earned a notable weekly honor. Abdul Carter, who played both defensive end and linebacker for the Nittany Lions against Illinois this past weekend, has been named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week.
Carter tallied seven tackles, two sacks and forced the game-sealing fumble in the 21-7 win over the Fighting Illini. He joins safety Kevin Winston Jr., who earned the honor after the team’s season-opening win at West Virginia, as Penn State’s second player to win the weekly award this season.
Before Winston, who is now out with a “long-term” injury, a Nittany Lion hadn’t earned the honor since Sept. 19, 2022.
It took Carter three games to find his first sack of the year, his first since switching from linebacker to defensive end. But since that sack against Kent State, Carter has been nearly unstoppable.
“I think as this goes on, as he continues to get more comfortable playing defensive end — but then as the coaches find more and more creative ways to use him, I think that’s the exciting part, that’s the fun part — I think you’re just going to see him become more and more impactful each week,” James Franklin said.
More Penn State Football
View all Penn State Football
NFL Preseason Recap: Trebor Peña Scores First NFL Touchdown, Sean Clifford Commands Bengals’ Offense
Former Nittany Lions made their mark across the league in the second week of the 2026 NFL preseason, headlined by receiver Trebor Peña grabbing his first career touchdown and Sean […]
Nittany Lions’ Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn ‘Embodies What Penn State Football Is Built On’
It was 15 seasons ago when D’Anton Lynn last stood on the Beaver Stadium turf for a fall football game as a Penn State cornerback. Lynn returns in 13 days […]
Column: Can Matt Campbell Follow Curt Cignetti’s Blueprint?
One of the major talking points of this offseason has been “who will be this year’s Indiana?” — as in, which team will seemingly come out of nowhere to compete […]
