Hall of Fame
A two-sport athlete at Miami, Carpenter is one of just 11 in Miami football history to earn First-Team All-MAC distinction three times, seizing the awards from 1990-92. He continues to hold the record for most interceptions in a career and a season as Carpenter amassed 16 career interceptions and twice recorded seven interceptions in a season (1990 and 1991), which ties five others. Carpenter also is the career record holder for interception return yards (361) and finished with the top two single-season marks in that category with 197 in 1991 and 164 in 1990, which now rank second and third, respectively. A four-year letterwinner in football, he played in the Hula Bowl following his senior season, earning Defensive MVP honors following the game. Carpenter was named to the Cincinnati Enquirer's All-Millennium Team in 2000.
In addition to his prowess on the gridiron, Carpenter was also a standout on the track where he earned two letters. Carpenter helped the Red and White to a MAC Championship in 1993 and was a part of the MAC Champion 4x400-meter relay that season. He also was a part of the school-record 4x100-meter relay that clocked a time of 40.64 in 1993, which continues to serve as the record in the event.
After Miami, he went on to play football professionally in the NFL from 1993-99 with the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and St. Louis Rams in addition to stints in the Arena League (1998-04) and World League (1995, 1997). Carpenter and the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.
