Abdul Carter Reacts to Award Snub

Abdul Carter was nominated for a national Defensive Player of the Year Award and didn’t win it, and he reacted to that news.

Carter was one of four finalists for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player.

The other finalists were Texas DB Jahdae Barron, Michigan DT Mason Graham and South Carolina EDGE Kyle Kennard.

In a decision that will make a lot of Penn State fans— and some non-Penn State fans, too— scratch their heads, Kennard ended up winning, it was announced Monday night.

Our 2024 winner is Kyle Kennard from @GamecockFB, the school's first National Defensive Player of the Year. https://t.co/LQUuebp0ey pic.twitter.com/Xkxwpa0Hba

— Nagurski Trophy (@NagurskiTrophy) December 10, 2024

Although Kennard had a great season, as evidenced by his 11.5 sacks, this seems like an interesting choice.

NUMBERS DON’T LIE

Abdul Carter would tally two sacks and two tackles-for-loss against Maryland.

Here Are the numbers.

Carter: 60 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 10.0 Sk, 2 FF
Kennard: 28 tackles, 16 TFL, 11.5 Sk, 3 FF

Abdul Carter did not win the Bronco Nagurski award tonight. Instead, South Carolina's Kyle Kennard did so.

Carter: 60 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 10.0 Sk, 2 FF
Kennard: 28 tackles, 16 TFL, 11.5 Sk, 3 FF

I know who I voted for 🤷‍♂️

— DylanCallaghanCroley (@RivalsDylanCC) December 10, 2024

Additionally

Carter: 51 pressures, 31 hurries, nine QB hits (Per Pro Football Focus)
Kennard: 36 pressures, 21 hurries, five QB hits.

CARTER’S RESPONSE

Abdul Carter strikes the Heisman pose.

Not long after word got out that Carter didn’t win the award, he sent two tweets in an apparent reaction.

“Bet, I gotta go harder,” he wrote.

“It’s not obvious yet?? BET,” he added four minutes later.

Penn State DE Abdul Carter reacts to being snubbed for the Nagurski Award (best defensive player). pic.twitter.com/QsiZNONxcH

— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) December 10, 2024

Carter felt he deserved consideration for an award much bigger than the Nagurski.

“I feel like, (Boise State RB) Ashton Jeanty, Travis Hunter, they are great players in their own respect but I impact the game just as much, if not more than them,” he said. “I feel like defensive players should start getting the same recognition, and we don’t. The Heisman is the top player in the country, the best player in the country, and I feel like I’m that.”

Jeanty and Hunter were two of the four finalists for the Heisman, along a pair of QBs in Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Miami’s Cam Ward. Carter and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren weren’t among the finalists

Carter is up for the Chuck Bednarik Award, another Defensive Player of the Year honor, along with Hunter and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. That award winner will be announced Thursday, Dec. 12.