Hall of Fame
Rob Carpenter spent his first four years with the Houston Oilers and was selected to the all-NFL Rookie Team his first year. He was traded to the New York Giants in 1981 and ranked eighth on their all-time rushing list prior to spending his final season with the Los Angeles Rams. In nine years in the NFL, he gained more than 4,300 rushing yards. A three-year letterman at Miami as a running back from 1974-76, Carpenter played on two Mid-American Conference championship teams in 1974 and 1975. he was voted the "Outstanding Offensive Player" in both Tangerine Bowl games as Miami defeated Georgia and South Carolina.
His junior and senior years he was selected first team all-MAC and received All-America honorable mention. Carpenter is one of only three Miami players to rush for 1,000 or more yards in two seasons. He gained 1.022 yards as a junior and followed with 1.064 yards in 1976. Bob Hitchens and George Swarn are the only other Miamians to have accomplished that feat. He ranks fifth on Miami's career list with 2,789 rushing yards and 168 points scored. Carpenter was voted the "Outstanding Offensive Player" in the East-West Shrine Game in Palo Alto, Calif., in 1977.
Following graduation, he was drafted in the third round by the Houston Oilers.
