Nittany Lion's season not a total loss
Kyle Carter's stats have taken a hit since he was a freshman All-America, but he finished his low season on a high note.
WHEN PENN STATE tight end Kyle Carter looks at the record books 10 years from now, he won't see this season's 7-6 mark and just think of the wins and losses.
He'll remember a year of personal frustrations ending in jubilation.
When Carter arrived at Yankee Stadium last Saturday, the redshirt junior hadn't scored a touchdown in 25 games. But that changed when it mattered most.
The 6-3, 241-pound Carter used his size to haul in the final touchdown of the Nittany Lions' overtime win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl to end an individually disappointing campaign by celebrating with his teammates.
"Finally," Carter said with a smile. "Finally."
Statistically, 2014 - and 2013, for that matter - wasn't kind to Carter, a former William Penn standout from Bear, Del., who had made a big splash as a redshirt freshman in 2012.
Finding his way in the tight end-heavy offense of then-coach Bill O'Brien, Carter was a consensus first-team freshman All-America, with 36 catches for 453 yards and two touchdowns.
He put up those numbers despite missing three of the final four games because of injury.
From there, though, his impact has steadily declined.
As a redshirt sophomore, Carter had 18 catches for 222 yards and a touchdown. This season was even worse: 13 catches for 123 yards in the regular season.
"This whole season has been a learning experience," Carter said. "It didn't go the way I wanted the whole year. But to be able to finish strong like that gives me a positive taste."
The touchdown was reminiscent of 2012 Carter: going up on a smaller defender, positioning his body properly and using his frame to his advantage.
Down by six in overtime and facing a third-and-7 from BC's 10-yard line, the Lions ran a fake wide-receiver screen wheel route.
With freshman wide receiver Chris Godwin split out wide and Carter in the slot, the two fooled the defensive backs in single coverage.
Godwin's screen drew his cornerback and made Carter's man slightly hesitate, giving the tight end the ability to loop around for an end-zone wheel route.
By time Christian Hackenberg's pass reached Carter, BC defensive back Ty-Meer Brown had Carter covered well. But the 6-foot Brown couldn't do anything to nullify Carter's size.
"He was matched up on a smaller guy," Hackenberg said. "He was able to go up and make the play. That was awesome for Kyle."
Carter finished the Pinstripe Bowl with three catches for 30 yards and the score. The number of receptions tied his season high - indicative of the kind of season he had.
Penn State coach James Franklin said the low statistical output from Carter this season didn't matter: He wouldn't trade that touchdown snag for 20 other catches throughout the year or more yards.
Carter came through when Franklin, Hackenberg and the rest of the Lions needed him. That's all the coach cares about.
"I'm really happy for him," Franklin said. "He's an example of how things aren't always going exactly how you imagined them to go, but you keep working hard, keep a positive attitude, good things will come."
Fortunately for Carter - and everyone else in blue and white at Yankee Stadium - he experienced the latter on Saturday.