Penn State football star Abdul Carter facing misdemeanor assault charge

Penn State football star Abdul Carter is facing a misdemeanor assault charge following a confrontation with a tow truck driver in March, according to reports from StateCollege.com on Wednesday. Carter is accused of pulling the driver from the truck and throwing him to the ground during a dispute in College Township last month. The junior is expected to play a critical role for the Nittany Lions defense in 2024 after shifting from linebacker to defensive end this spring.

Penn State star defender Abdul Carter facing misdemeanor assault charge following altercation

According to reports from Geoff Rushton of StateCollege.com on Wednesday afternoon, star Penn State defender Abdul Carter is facing assault charges after an altercation that occurred outside the Aspen State College apartment complex last month.

Carter is accused of forcefully pulling a tow truck driver from his vehicle and throwing him to the ground after his Dodge Challenger was parked outside the complex without a permit. Per Rushton’s report, the police have portions of the assault on video. The victim reportedly suffered a non-displaced rib fracture.

On Wednesday, Abdul Carter was officially charged with a second-degree misdemeanor count of simple assault and a summary count of harassment. A preliminary hearing is set for May 22. As of Wednesday evening, neither Penn State nor Carter’s legal representation have commented on the matter.

This is the second time this year that the Penn State football star has had a run-in with the law. In August, Abdul Carter was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after a smoke detector was set off at Nittany Apartments caused by the standout defender smoking marijuana in his room.

Abdul Carter is set to take on an even bigger role for Penn State football in 2024, switching from linebacker to defensive end this spring. Carter has 16 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in two seasons as a Nittany Lion.

“I know Abdul is excited about it, and we’re looking forward to having an opportunity to work with him, but it is a big change. He’s never really done this before, and it is a big change,” James Franklin said of the change at the start of spring practice.

“It’s not just like you make the decision to move, and you snap your fingers, and automatically, you’re a defensive end. It’s a different world the closer you get to the ball, just like it’s a different world if you move back to the secondary. We’re excited about watching his development and growth, and it should be exciting.”