Abdul Carter shows how Combine works
Medical setback reminiscent of Glenn Dorsey in 2008
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Just as football fanatics — including scouts and coaches — were preparing to watch the popular Underwear Olympics at the Indiananapolis Combine Thursday, they were rudely reminded of the original reason for this event — and it had nothing to do with the 40-yard dash, bench press, or vertical jump.
“We created the combine so we could give all the players medical tests in a single, controlled environment,” recalled former Atlanta Falcons general manager Ken Herock, a key figure in creating early combines. “Before we had the combine, players were getting multiple tests with no consistency. We needed a single source to find out the truth.”
That truth revealed this week that Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter, rated by many as the No. prospect in the 2025 draft, has a “stress reaction” in his right foot. He pulled out of the combine workouts. The 6-2, 252 outside linebacker could undergo a surgical procedure in which a small screw would be inserted into Carter’s foot to help expedite the healing was an option.
However, Carter and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, were advised by doctors to forego the surgery at this point. They hope he will be good to go on March 28 at Penn State’s Pro Day. If not, he still should have plenty of time to have the surgery, which then requires about eight weeks of recovery.
"I couldn't be more confident that this will be a non-factor where he's drafted," Rosenhaus told ESPN. "He will put on a show at his pro day."
We’ve seen this before.
During the 2008 Indy Combine, LSU’s outstanding defensive tackle, Glenn Dorsey, was held out of workouts after his medical check. Our NFL Draft Scout comrade Howard Balzer broke the story.
There already were concerns over a lingering stress fracture from 2006. Dorsey spent nearly ten hours being examined at an Indianapolis hospital before he was pulled from the workouts. Like Carter, he said he would verify his talent at his Pro Day.
On March 27, 2008, he did exactly that.
Dorsey participated in all of the testing and drills, including an intense and lengthy series of individual position-specific drills at the end of the session. He posted times of 5.13 and 5.15 in the 40, did 27 reps in the bench press and had a vertical leap of 25½ inches.
Dorsey was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft and signed a five-year, $51 million contract with $23 million guaranteed. Dorsey played five years with the Chiefs and three with the San Francisco 49ers.
Carter is rated as the first or second pick by most and the third by a few. NFL Draft Scout rated him No. 2 overall as of February 26. Rookie pay is predetermined by draft pick, regardless of position. All first-round players receive a four-year contract, and the team can exercise an option for a fifth year by early May of the third season.
In an interview before medical results were announced, Carter admitted that being the top pick is. …. well, let him say it:
“Yeah, it's very important for me. That's one of the goals I made before the season. Something I always talked about, it’s what I worked for and I feel like I’m getting close to that. Just got to keep working, keep putting the effort in and accomplish my dream. (How realistic do you feel like it is to go No. 1?) I feel like it’s very realistic. I feel like I’m the best player in the country and the best player should be selected No. 1.”
According to spotrac , the No. 1 pick is slotted to make $43,010,000 over the four years with No. 2 getting $41,108,290 and No. 3 receiving $39,898,136. I’d be happy with the difference in pay between any of those spots. But it is big business to stay in the top 10. The No. 11 package is for only $22,264,062, per spotrac. Excuse the “only.”
Most scouts or personnel people we talked to believe Carter’s draftability will not be impacted by this medical issue.
“Worst case scenario is that he gets the surgery and is ready to play within eight weeks,” Herock said.
“Sure, you gotta think he will be fine,” said four-time Super Bowl linebacker Matt Millen. As a Penn State alum, Millen has a little extra interest in Carter, but he doesn’t give him a free pass.
“He’s a pretty good player,” Millen understated. “He needs to get stronger with his hands. He has a great burst and a good change of direction. Plays too high at times but is a better athlete than his competition. He should adjust quickly and be legit, but may struggle in a power game versus the run.”
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Carter’s Indy Q&A before word of injury
Highlights:
(What's your best pass rush?)
I would say my ghost rush. I feel like all my pass rush moves are really my best. I like to switch it up a little bit.
(After that last game that you played, you had already established yourself through that pass rush. Why was it so important even though you were injured to play in that game?)
I just felt like my teammates needed me. I couldn't have played, but I felt like leave it all out there and give us the best opportunity to win and I feel like that’s what I did and if I had to do it again, I’d make the same choice.
(Your versatility is viewed as a strength, but what position do you enjoy most?)
Yeah, definitely defensive end, edge rusher, but I feel like I can play wherever my coaches need me, and wherever they feel the need, that’s where I’ll play.
(How would you describe your style to play, what you bring to a team?)
I think I bring energy, effort, versatility. I feel like when the biggest moments come around, that’s why I play at my best.
(can you put a number, percentage on your health?)
Yeah, probably about 90% right now, but these next couple months, this next month, I feel like it's really going to start getting close to a hundred.
(Can you be a franchis player?)
Yeah, I feel like you definitely need a franchise edge rusher. If you look at all the great teams, all the great teams that won Super Bowls, you have that one standout, great defensive player and I feel like I’m that.
(great pass rusher)
The one that comes to mind when I first think of one is Von Miller.
Yeah, he's one of the guys that I study. Just his bend, his get-off, the way he can ghost rush, the way he set up his moves and then at the biggest moments in the biggest games, Von Miller stepped up and delivered.
(when you line up at line of scrimmage, what are you first looking at?)
Well, based on my film study, I pretty much know what I'm going to get, so it's really just about playing the game, being consistent throughout the game, setting them up throughout the game and that's where I start to take over.
Well, based on my film study, I'm already coming in with a pass rush plan, so basically what he give me throughout the game I might start the game speed, speed, speed, turn into inside, turn into power, so it's all about what he give me. Then I just take over from there.
(leadership)
I feel like I could bring a lot in terms of leadership. That's something I had to step up into this year at Penn State, one of our captains went down, so I had to be a lot more vocal, a lot more just bringing the team behind me and just being the example that people can watch, just setting the pace.
Who were the best offensive linemen that you went against and how did you feel about adjusting to playing them?
Probably definitely the Oregon offensive line. The way they schemed us, the way they came out with tempo, different looks, definitely gave us a lot of fits.
Are you planning on attending the draft in Green Bay and what are your thoughts on the draft being in a place like Green Bay?
Yeah, I do plan on being at the draft in Green Bay. It's really just me living out my dreams. Being able to walk on that stage. I really can't wait.
How do you think your value in the draft maybe weighs against a different position?
Yeah, like I said, defensive players impact the game just as much as the quarterback. I feel like me, myself, and all the best defensive players in the country need to just start speaking out about that more. We just as important to the game as the best quarterback.
Who are the top 5 edge rushers today?
I would say, one, Micah Parsons; two, Myles Garrett; three, T.J. Watt; four, I probably say Jonathan Greenard; and at five, somebody who, well, before he got hurt, he probably would've been one this year, but Aiden Hutchinson.
Afer whom do you model your game?
Yeah, I definitely tried to model my game after Micah, just watching him being at the same school. I've been watching him pretty much my whole career. Von Miller is also another guy I like to study a lot, and TJ Watt.