Later this week, the NFL scouting combine will take place in Indianapolis, and it will give teams the opportunity to get an up-close-and-personal look at many of the prospects who will be available in April’s draft.
However, not all of the top prospects will be present at the combine.
University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will reportedly pass on being at the combine, and per Adam Schefter, so will Pennsylvania State University defensive end Abdul Carter, due to a recent shoulder injury he suffered.
Penn St. DE and potential No. 1 pick Abdul Carter will not work out at the combine because he has not fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered vs. Boise State, according to his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. Carter played through the injury vs. Notre Dame in… pic.twitter.com/SJlgCMKqxl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 24, 2025
Carter is widely expected to be one of the first two to three players taken in the draft, and he has been heavily linked to the Cleveland Browns, who could end up parting with Myles Garrett after Garrett demanded a trade.
He had 12.0 sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles and 68 total tackles (43 solo) this season for the Nittany Lions, which led to him being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
Top draft prospects not attending the NFL scouting combine has become a trend, but luckily, Carter’s potential is fairly well-known across the NFL.
Some have compared him to Von Miller, a former Super Bowl MVP, and Micah Parsons, the young and prolific pass rusher for the Dallas Cowboys.
Carter is 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds, which makes him an impressive physical specimen who possesses a ton of power, and the fact that he played three years of college football and appeared in multiple bowl games means he should be more of a proven product than some other draft prospects.
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