Abdul Carter

Abdul Jabar Carter (born January 2, 2004) is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, earning unanimous All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024. Carter was selected by the Giants third overall in the 2025 NFL draft.

Abdul Carter

No. 51 – New York Giants
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(2004-01-02) January 2, 2004 (age 21) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	248 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school:	La Salle (Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania)
College:	Penn State (2022–2024)
NFL draft:	2025: 1st round, 3rd pick
Career history
New York Giants (2025–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Unanimous All-American (2024) Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2024) 2× First-team All-Big Ten (2023, 2024) Second-team All-Big Ten (2022)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Carter was born on January 2, 2004, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[1] He attended La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.^[2][3] As a senior, he made 78 tackles with 10 tackles for loss.^[4] Carter was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football for Penn State over offers from South Carolina and Ole Miss.^[5] Following the end of his senior season, he played in the Big 33 Football Classic.^[6]

As a native of North Philadelphia, Carter grew up a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, attending their Super Bowl LIX victory in New Orleans with his father in 2025.^[7][8]

College career

Carter enrolled at Pennsylvania State University in June 2022 shortly after graduating high school.^[9] He was ejected for targeting in his collegiate debut against Purdue.^[10] Carter served as a key reserve at linebacker at the beginning of his freshman season.^[11][12] He made his first career start in Penn State's seventh game of the season against Minnesota.^[13] Carter finished the season with 56 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, a team-leading 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four passes broken up and was named second-team All-Big Ten Conference.^[14] In 2024, Carter was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American.^[15][16] He declared for the 2025 NFL draft following Penn State's loss in the 2025 Orange Bowl.^[17]

College statistics

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Fumbles				Interceptions
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	FF	FR	Yds	TD	Int	Yds	TD	PD
2022	Penn State	13	6	56	36	20	6.5	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
2023	Penn State	13	13	48	25	23	4.5	1	0	0	0	1	18	0	5
2024	Penn State	16	16	68	43	25	12.0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
Career		39	39	172	104	68	23.0	5	0	0	0	1	18	0	13

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span
6 ft 3+3⁄4 in (1.92 m)	250 lb (113 kg)	33 in (0.84 m)	9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m)
All values from Pro Day[18]

Carter was selected by the New York Giants third overall in the 2025 NFL draft. On May 22, 2025, Carter signed a 4 year, $45,255,180 fully-guaranteed contract.^[19]

Personal life

Carter is Muslim, and wore a Thawb on draft day.^[20] He is nicknamed "Darth Vader" after the character of the same name from the Star Wars franchise, notably donning the moniker on his eye black during games.^[21]

In April 2024, Carter was charged with a misdemeanor for assaulting a tow truck driver who was towing Carter's car for parking without a permit. Carter was accused of forcefully pulling the driver from his truck, throwing him to the ground and not allowing him to get up, leaving the driver with a fractured rib. Carter was placed in a year long pre-trial intervention program in July.^[22]