Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter, projected by many experts to be selected within the first five picks of the 2025 NFL Draft, will not participate in workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week due to a shoulder injury. However, Carter will attend the league’s physical examinations and conduct interviews with teams during the event. This shoulder issue is not new, as he played through it during the Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, but he has recently been cleared to resume training.
Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, informed ESPN that his client plans to be ready for the Nittany Lions’ Pro Day. “We fully expect Abdul to be recovered in time to work out at his pro day at Penn State, and he will perform at a very high level,” Rosenhaus stated. He will also provide a letter from Dr. Dan Cooper to all 32 NFL teams, confirming that Carter has been cleared to begin training again.
Carter is not the only top prospect opting out of workouts at the combine; running back Ashton Jeanty and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, both regarded as first-round talents, will also be absent. Many analysts consider Carter the top defensive end in this year’s draft and potentially the best defensive player overall. During the season, he recorded 24 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four passes defended, playing a vital role in Penn State’s Big Ten championship and their College Football Playoff run, which ended against Notre Dame.
Mock drafts from various sources have Carter projected as high as the first or second overall pick, while others have him ranked as low as seventh.