Penn State Edge Rusher Abdul Carter, Projected Top-Five Pick, Credits Philadelphia for His Toughness

Abdul Carter, the Penn State edge rusher expected to go among the first five selections in Thursday's NFL draft, says his Philadelphia upbringing is a major reason for the way he plays.

Carter was born and raised in the city and starred at La Salle College High School before moving on to Penn State. At Penn State he wore No. 11, a number previously worn by Nittany Lions standouts such as Micah Parsons and LaVar Arrington, and he cemented his place in that lineage.

Last season, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Carter was named the Big Ten's defensive player of the year. He also helped Penn State reach the semifinals of the College Football Playoff before declaring for the draft.

Speaking on Chipotle's Unwrapped series, Carter described what his hometown means to him. "It's probably where I got my grit, my edge," he said. "I try to take that to the way I play. I feel like Philly shaped that a lot."

His love of football began at age 8, and by his account the sport first showed itself through offense. "I pretty much scored every time I touched the ball. From there on out, I knew football was meant for me," he said.

Carter has long trained with his father, Christopher. He recalled early workouts that included lifting weights in the family living room, running around the block and sprinting up hills. "I wouldn't be here without him. I trained with him my whole life," Carter said, adding that the work they put in largely got him to this point.

Asked what excites him most about his current position, Carter pointed to the chance in front of him. He said he is aware that millions of children around the world would like to be in his place, and he tries to treat the moment as a blessing.

His approach, he said, is to take things one day at a time, without looking too far ahead or too far back. "Just keep my head where my feet are," Carter said.