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It's not for James Carpenter to worry about who held his position before he did. That he may be Alabama's best answer to the question of who will replace Outland Trophy winner Andre Smith can't be his concern.
Newcomer James Carpenter wasted no time in establishing himself during spring practice.
The transfer from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College was good enough to command a first-team presence throughout spring drills with the Crimson Tide, and for now, that's about all anyone in his position could have hoped for.
But make no mistake - he is a key figure at the key position of a key unit. Alabama's 2008 offensive line was thought to have held the Crimson Tide's fortunes in its collective hand because of all its experience. This year, the offensive line may play the same crucial role because of its inexperience.
But count Jared Powers as one man who won't be a bit surprised if Carpenter flourishes in a starting role. Powers was Carpenter's offensive line coach at Coffeyville last fall. As part of a new coaching staff, it was Powers' only season to work with the 6-foot-5, 305-pound tackle.
"I would say he is the most complete offensive tackle I've ever had," said Powers. "I've had Anthony Boudreaux, who was 6-9 and 370, Kyle Burkhart at Southern Miss, I've coached against [former Oklahoma standout and NFL draftee] Phil Loadholt. Some of those guys may have been bigger, faster, or had better feet, but at the time I saw them, none of them had a better combination of all those things than James did."
No amount of success for Carpenter will shock John Bowen, either. Bowen, head coach at Hephzibah (Ga.) High, knew Carpenter long before Powers did. Carpenter played a guard position in a Wing-T offense under Bowen at Hephzibah. And in the Wing-T, with its endless variety of traps and counters, quickness is just as important at the guard position as size and strength are.
"He trapped a lot, and not always the easy trap at center," Bowen said. "A lot of times we asked him to pull, lead the opposite off tackle hole, his man wasn't always in front of him. He had to go get somebody."
Bowen said he didn't quite realize how special an athlete Carpenter was until he tried him on special teams. As a member of Hephzibah's punt coverage unit, Bowen said Carpenter was among the first players downfield.
"That was really an eye-opener," Bowen said.
Bowen took the Hephzibah coaching job after the 2004 season when Carpenter was a sophomore. At that time, he was already nearly as big as he is today, and also played basketball for the Rebels. Bowen remembers a shy, reserved kid who kept to his own business. But he also remembers a player who knew early on that he wanted to play big-time college football.
And a few times when Carpenter's quiet nature gave way to assertiveness.
"We were playing Glenn Hills his senior year and he came up to me at halftime, and he hardly ever talked," Bowen said. "I don't remember exactly what he said, but he was upset we weren't running the ball directly behind him. It kind of took me off guard. That kind of showed the way he bloomed late."
Carpenter also struck Powers as the quiet type, but again, someone who took his business seriously.
James Carpenter started for two seasons at left tackle at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
"He talked so little, I wasn't sure he even liked me at first," Powers said. "But once you invest some time in him, you see that's just his nature. But physically, he was extremely talented from the beginning. He has every tool, and a great motor. He's always in the picture at the end of the play."
While Carpenter established himself immediately in spring drills on UA's first offensive line, competition will continue in fall camp. It will come not only from Alfred McCullough, who worked in the second group at left tackle, but also from incoming five-star freshman D.J. Fluker. Alabama coach Nick Saban said in the spring that he was pleased with Carpenter's progress, but noted his pass blocking has more room for improvement than his run blocking.
It's of little surprise - opportunities to pass block were few and far between in high school, and not much more frequent than that his first year at Coffeyville.
"A lot of the stuff we did passing was play action," Bowen said. "We did have some run and shoot elements, but that's not true five-step pass protection."
As a freshman at Coffeyville, Carpenter was also in a run-dominant scheme. It wasn't until last season, his first under a new coaching staff and Powers, that he got a chance to play in a balanced offense.
"He didn't give up a sack here the whole year and I think we threw the ball around 250, 300 times during the season," Powers said. "For his first time really pass protecting a lot, he did a great job. He picked up the footwork, the hands, the little intricacies of pass blocking. At first he thought that pass blocking was for softer guys but he learned you can be aggressive, you just have to let them approach you first."
This guy is just our Ace in the hole. Since we're bringing back to high quality starters to the OL, having this guy seemingly be able to step in and have pretty high quality experience and almost make it seem like we have 3 returning starters is just a major plus and THE reason I don't worry about the OL as much as the rival fans want us to. And if DJ is good enough to beat him out and we can put him somewhere else, well it may put our line at an elite level again
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This guy is just our Ace in the hole. Since we're bringing back to high quality starters to the OL, having this guy seemingly be able to step in and have pretty high quality experience and almost make it seem like we have 3 returning starters is just a major plus and THE reason I don't worry about the OL as much as the rival fans want us to. And if DJ is good enough to beat him out and we can put him somewhere else, well it may put our line at an elite level again
This is what I'm waiting to see. I wasn't one of the ones who predicted him to come in and win the LT spot although I was hopeful. If he can make enough of a impact this fall and win the spot, Carpenter can be moved to RG where he'll be just as good. Then we're talking about a damn good offensive line this season!
Yeah lets hope that happens. It would be nice but there will still be holes in the line maybe just experience i hope not though i hope you right as rain
Carpenter is the forgotten man for many Bama fans right now.
Everyone is thinking that Fluker will just waltz in and steal a starting job away, but I can tell you this right now that JC isn't gonna let it happen without a fight. He's already SEC ready and the real deal at LT. I am excited to see him play.
IF Fluker comes in and takes the job....and I say he will early.....I just hope Saban doesnt get sentimental and not make drew davis earn that right tackle job....cuz if Carpenter is as solid as they say he is, he should have the RT
IF Fluker comes in and takes the job....and I say he will early.....I just hope Saban doesnt get sentimental and not make drew davis earn that right tackle job....cuz if Carpenter is as solid as they say he is, he should have the RT
Like I've said before, my dream scenario would be Fluker being good enough at LT to move Carpenter to RT and Davis in at RG where he can focus more on run blocking. And I don't think CNS would have a problem doing that even if he were sentimental (and I'm not sure he's the type) to Davis seeing as he'd still get the opportunity to start. And if Davis has any chance in the NFL it would be at guard and not tackle.
Like I've said before, my dream scenario would be Fluker being good enough at LT to move Carpenter to RT and Davis in at RG where he can focus more on run blocking. And I don't think CNS would have a problem doing that even if he were sentimental (and I'm not sure he's the type) to Davis seeing as he'd still get the opportunity to start. And if Davis has any chance in the NFL it would be at guard and not tackle.
I agree. If Fluker earns a spot at left tackle then Carpenter is definently not taking a ride on the pine. I like your scenario the best with Fluker and Carpenter at the tackles with Johnson at a guard. Insert Vlachos at center and plug in one of the many other good guards we have to choose from and we got ourselves another finely tuned machine in the line.
12 National Titles
21 SEC Titles
56 Bowl Games
31 Bowl Victories
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Article on James Carpenter 
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