James Carpenter
Offensive Line (2007-2008)

James Carpenter's journey to Coffeyville and the NFL began in Hephzibah, Georgia, where he attended Hephzibah High School. During his high school career, Carpenter played offensive guard for the Rebels, showcasing his athletic potential early on. Despite being considered a two-star recruit by Scout.com, ranking as the 193rd offensive guard nationally in 2007, he drew limited college interest, with Iowa State being his sole offer.

Carpenter initially committed to Iowa State, but academic challenges led him to Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. There, he distinguished himself by starting every game at left tackle for two seasons, earning All-Conference honors twice and being named to the NJCAA All-American first team in 2008. His stellar performance at Coffeyville elevated his profile, and Rivals.com rated him as a four-star recruit, ranking as the 32nd junior college prospect in 2009.

Although he remained committed to Iowa State, Carpenter explored other options and ultimately chose the University of Alabama to play under head coach Nick Saban. At Alabama, he faced the demanding task of replacing All-American left tackle Andre Smith. Demonstrating resilience, Carpenter started every game at left tackle in 2009 and 2010, contributing to Alabama's undefeated season and national championship victory in 2009.

Following his college success, Carpenter entered the NFL Draft. He was selected 25th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, becoming the fourth tackle chosen that year. His rookie season was promising, but an ACL injury ended his season prematurely. He continued to face injury setbacks but was part of the Seahawks' historic Super Bowl XLVIII-winning team in 2014.

In 2015, Carpenter signed a lucrative four-year contract with the New York Jets, where he consistently started all games through 2016 and 2017. In 2019, Carpenter joined the Atlanta Falcons on a four-year deal, becoming their starting left guard.

In 2021, Carpenter had brief stints with the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints, contributing on practice squads and active rosters.

Throughout his career, James Carpenter demonstrated perseverance and dedication, overcoming injuries and adversity to carve out a notable NFL career marked by team contributions and a Super Bowl championship.