News Flash: Penn State Star Abdul Carter Inks Multi-Year Shoe Deal with New Balance Ahead of 2025 NFL Draft
In a major development that cements his status as one of college football’s rising icons, Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter has signed a multi-year shoe deal with New Balance — a landmark move that blends the new era of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities with the traditional endorsement path of NFL-bound stars.
Carter, a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, reportedly met with several top athletic brands during the spring in Los Angeles. Sources close to the negotiations reveal that the standout Nittany Lion was strategic in targeting a partnership that could grow with him as he transitions from college stardom to professional dominance. Ultimately, New Balance — known for its recent aggressive moves in the athlete endorsement space — secured the deal.
The agreement is being hailed as both a NIL and pre-draft NFL arrangement, allowing Carter to cash in on his brand power while still playing college football. It’s also a calculated move by New Balance, which has been steadily building a roster of elite athletes across various sports to compete with giants like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour.
Carter is expected to be a centerpiece in New Balance’s marketing campaigns over the next several years, with insiders suggesting he will become one of the faces of their performance football line. The company reportedly plans to release a signature product line tied to Carter as early as the 2025 NFL season.
The linebacker has already made waves at Penn State with his freakish athleticism, leadership, and game-changing presence on the field. Now, he’s proving just as savvy off it — leveraging his rising fame into a high-value brand partnership that could set the tone for a new generation of college athletes navigating the NIL landscape.
With the NFL Draft on the horizon, Abdul Carter’s star is rising fast — and New Balance is betting big on his future.
