Scout.com > Football Recruiting Five stand out for OL James Carpenter Story URL: http://recruiting.scout.com/2/788299.html Yancy Porter SuperPrep.com Sep 8, 2008 The former Hephzibah (GA) standout landed at Coffeyville CC and has not looked back. "I started every game at left tackle as a freshman," added James Carpenter. "I made 1st Tam All-Jay Hawk Conference and Region 6 All-American." The transition from high school to junior college is tough on some but Carpenter has taken it all in stride. "It is a lot faster here, but I am a lot stronger now. You have to be able to stay strong and get use to the fast defensive ends." The 6' 5", 305 pound believes his athleticism allows him to excel at arguable the toughest position on the field, left tackle. "I am very athletic because I played hoops my whole life, and I have great feet. I (lettered) all four years in high school in both sports (football and basketball)." Coffeyville won against Air Force's JV team this past Saturday which evened their mark to 1 - 1 after a disappointing 19-10 loss to Navarro CC (TX). "I think we are back on track now. I know my pass blocking felt a lot better." College coaches were allowed to start making phone contact on September 1st. James has heard from quite a few of them. "I got a couple, but I signed with Iowa State (out of high school) so I do not get too many. I get one each week from Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Iowa State, and Oklahoma called me last night. I get some calls from South Carolina too. You know, mainly the schools who have offered me. All of those schools have offered me except for Oklahoma. They (Okl) want me to come over there for a game and take an official visit. They said we will see what happens from there." Did James set up the visit with Oklahoma? "No, not yet, but we are talking about getting one set up. I have only set up one visit altogether though." Carpenter inked with Iowa State at the last minute out of high school. "They got on me real late in high school. I really liked their coaches. I think they are gelling. They won Saturday over South Dakota State. I am going to take my official visit on October 18th. I have never been up there even though I signed with them, so I am excited to see what it is all about." James has developed a nice relationship with Ole Miss' offensive line coach, Mike Markuson. "We talk a lot on the phone. He wants me to take over the left tackle spot next year. Michael Oher is graduating so they are looking to fill the spot, and they think I can be that guy. They play in the SEC, and I think Ole Miss is on the rise. I think they are going to win some games. You know they got (Houston) Nutt, so they are going to win." Carpenter was impressed with Oklahoma State's facilities and coaches from an earlier unofficial visit. "I took an unofficial visit there, and I loved the facilities, and I have been talking to coach (Joe) Wickline a lot. I think he has a good plan for me if I go there. He will coach me up and win some big games in the Big 12." South Carolina presents him with a chance to play right around the corner from where he grew up. "I also took an unofficial visit there, and I liked everything about it. It is only an hour from my house, and I have a lot of friends who go to school there. They play in the SEC and (Steve) Spurrier is there. There is a lot I like about them." It is not surprising that the four schools who have offered James have built the closest relationship with him." "I mean, all four of the schools that offered me, from Iowa State to Coach Wickline (OSU), to coach Hunt (S.C.), to Coach Markuson (OM). They are all cool and people I consider personal friends of mine. I couldn't go wrong with any of those schools." James graduates in December and will be looking at a few factors when it comes decision time. "I want to get my degree and make it to the league. I want to be able to get along with the coaches and have a chance to start right when I get there. I only have two years so I do not want to sit around too much. I just want to go where I basically feel comfortable and go with the school who has the best offer on the table, all around." Copyright © Scout.com and SuperPrep.com