North Philly’s Abdul Carter is drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Giants
Carter, who starred at Penn State and La Salle College High School, goes to the Giants as he stays in the same division as his hometown team.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — North Philly native Abdul Carter, who starred at La Salle High School and then for three years at Penn State, was drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Giants in the 2025 NFL draft Thursday night.
Carter, in his first season as an edge rusher at Penn State in 2024, collected 68 tackles (24 for loss), 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles, racking up numerous accolades along the way, including being named as a first-team All-American and Big Ten defensive player of the year.
By being selected No. 3 overall, Carter is the highest draft pick from Penn State since Saquon Barkley was taken No. 2 overall in 2018. His selection is also the earliest for a defensive player from the Nittany Lions since 2000, when Lavar Arrington went second overall to Washington.
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Carter, 21, grew up an Eagles fan and took his father, Chris, to New Orleans to cheer on the Birds in Super Bowl LIX. Now, Carter will get a chance to face the team he grew up rooting for twice a year as a member of the Giants.
He’ll also share opposite sidelines with former Penn State standout and Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons twice, whom he worked out with last summer and who has assumed a mentorship role in his life.
He becomes the latest player to go through the North Philly Aztecs youth football program to become an NFL player. Philly native Kyle Pitts was selected No. 8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL draft.
Carter was joined in the NFL draft green room by his parents, his cousin, and coaches that he’s had along the way.
“It’s been a long process,” Carter said Wednesday at the NFL Play 60 event. “I’ve been working for this my whole life, but just me being being able to celebrate with my family, knowing how much they did for me, that’s the most important piece.”
Warren heading to Indianapolis
Tight end Tyler Warren didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called after Carter. Penn State’s top receiving weapon was drafted No. 14 overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
Warren is the third tight end in program history to be selected in the first round, joining Ted Kwalick (1969) and Kyle Brady (2005).
Warren, 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, set Penn State records in catches (104) and receiving yards (1,233) during the 2024 seasonand won the John Mackey Award, given to college football’s outstanding tight end.
Campbell comes to Eagles
The Eagles selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell at No. 31, after trading up one spot with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Campbell, 21, a native of Erial, N.J., who played at Timber Creek Regional High star finished with 117 tackles (12 for loss), five sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception in 13 starts during the 2024 season.
Campbell, who was joined by parents Stephanie Hopkins and Mark Campbell on the red carpet ahead of Thursday’s draft, told The Inquirer the draft process has been “surreal.” He joined by numerous family members in the green room, all of whom made the trip from South Jersey to Green Bay.
At the NFL Play 60 event on Wednesday, Campbell gave a special shoutout to Timber Creek before realizing his NFL dream.
“Timber Creek, that was my first [initiation], like, ‘All right, you are a football player,’” Campbell told The Inquirer on Wednesday. “You’re getting offers; you’re doing your thing. You’re around like-minded people. …
“I just want to give a special shout-out to them because I know that they’re a little program, but you know, I appreciate that school so much. The coaches and the teachers and the principals, that whole environment that paved the way for me, and that helped me throughout my journey.”