After Peach Bowl run-in, Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart join forces on Giants

The hit was made, and also an impression.Abdul Carter, meet Jaxson Dart.“I definitely got a good shot at him,’’ Carter said Friday. “But he’s tough.He got right back up, kept playing throughout the whole game.

So, I knew right there he was a good player.’’The “good shot’’ went down Dec.30, 2023, in Atlanta, site of the Peach Bowl, Dart’s Ole Miss facing Penn State and Carter. Dart was sensational, passing for 379 yards and three touchdowns, plus he ran for another TD.

He also took a licking, courtesy of Carter. Ole Miss won, 38-25.Who could have envisioned that these two would end up together, as first-round picks for the Giants? Carter, as expected, went No.3 on Thursday night.

Dart hung around on the board until the Giants traded up into the first round and selected him with the No.25 overall pick.It is telling that they both recall the on-field collision the same way. Carter, rushing from the middle — he was an inside linebacker back then stormed in and created a clear lane for himself. Dart faded back but was leveled by Carter with full chest-on-chest impact.

Dart tried to get the throw off and his arm did come forward as he lost the ball, which was recovered by the Nittany Lions. It was correctly ruled an incomplete pass.“I remember he got after me early on in that game,’’ Dart said. “I remember game planning for him and just seeing his skill set was such an elite level.I actually told my family before this that I hope I get the chance to play with him, because I know how great of a player he is.

I’ve seen what his teammates have said about him and how he’s able to set a culture for the team, and I see it the exact same way.’’The almost strip sack of Dart is included in most Carter highlight reels.“I’m a big fan of Jaxson,’’ Carter said.“He ended up winning that [Peach Bowl] game, but just seeing how accurate he was just dishing the ball out, I knew he was a good quarterback.“He beat us, so if you...