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University of Minnesota Athletics
Future Gopher Q&A: Hayo Carpenter
3/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Throughout the winter and spring, GopherSports.com has been bringing you interviews with future Gophers who signed letters of intent earlier this year. Next up is one of the top wide receivers in the junior college ranks last year -- Hayo Carpenter. GopherSports.com caught up to the dynamic playmaker on the phone over the weekend. The following is a transcript of that interview:
GopherSports.com: Now that signing day is over and you’ve had some time to reflect, has it all sunk in that you’re officially a Golden Gopher?
Hayo Carpenter: It actually all sunk in when I traveled to Minnesota and I knew that is where I wanted to be.
GopherSports.com: Talk about the recruiting process and what made you decide to come to Minnesota?
Hayo Carpenter: The recruiting process was great. The coaches made me feel like it was a family atmosphere. I had the chance to meet Eric Decker and it means a lot, getting the chance to play under him and learn from him. Also, I am looking forward to the new recruits coming in and meeting Adam Weber, who was there when I visited. It was exciting for me to be a part of something like that.
GopherSports.com: Coming in from junior college, do you feel any pressure to come in and produce right away?
Hayo Carpenter: I guess there is always pressure when you are going somewhere else. They are bringing you in and want you to produce. I think that doing what I know how to do, playing football, I don’t think there is too much pressure because I have Eric Decker helping me and I am helping him. But I do feel some pressure.
GopherSports.com: Is there anyone you like to emulate or pattern your game after?
Hayo Carpenter: Steve Smith, because he is small and I am not that big of a receiver. But he plays like he is bigger. I just like the way he competes. I try to compete. Just because I am not that tall doesn’t mean I can’t do what taller players can do.
GopherSports.com: You were extremely successful in junior college, do you think you can continue that at the Big Ten level?
Hayo Carpenter: I really think I can. It is all about competition for me. If I don’t produce like I did the year before, I will feel like it wasn’t a successful season, so I am always trying to compete to be better and to produce.
GopherSports.com: What are you thoughts on TCF Bank Stadium?
Hayo Carpenter: I love it. It is a very beautiful stadium. I toured the stadium on my visit. It will be a very fun place to play.
GopherSports.com: Do you realize you’ll be among the first group to play your entire Minnesota career at the new stadium?
Hayo Carpenter: It means a lot to me. After visiting the stadium, I thought about it, I have the opportunity to be the first person to ever score a touchdown and to be the first person to accomplish all the other stats. That is something that I will always be a part of. I think about it a lot. I really enjoy the fact that I get to do that.
GopherSports.com: What are your goals for your first season with the Gophers?
Hayo Carpenter: I am shooting for 1,800 yards and 12 touchdowns for my first year with the Gophers.
GopherSports.com: What are your long-term goals for your college career?
Hayo Carpenter: To be one of the best receivers ever to play for the Gophers. To achieve that goal, I can’t let things get to me. I just have to play my game, know how to play it, and do everything right.
GopherSports.com: What have you been up to since Signing Day?
Hayo Carpenter: I have been running and working on getting faster. I have been working on speed and strength. I have been to the gym and working on school and that’s basically it.
GopherSports.com: Did you play any other sports growing up? When did you decide to focus on football and why?
Hayo Carpenter: I played soccer growing up. I played soccer until I got to middle school. Then in middle school, I switched to basketball. They never let me play football until I got to high school because they said I was too small. They finally gave me a chance to play in high school. The point where I wanted to focus on football was in the middle of my freshman year. I had to move up to varsity because one of the players got hurt and I was performing well at the freshman level. My coach assured me I could do it and I told him I really wanted it and that I could do it.
GopherSports.com: What’s your favorite thing to do if you have a day to yourself to do anything you want?
Hayo Carpenter: Relax, hang out at the house, go shopping, go to the mall. Nothing too big.
GopherSports.com: What music are you listening to most right now?
Hayo Carpenter: I listen to a bunch of music. I listen to everything from country, to rap and R&B. It just depends what mood I am in. The one song I listen to before everything; before games and working out is “Heart of a Champion.”
GopherSports.com: Seen a good movie lately? Favorite movie or movies ever?
Hayo Carpenter: The best movie I have seen lately is “Taken.” It was a good movie, I liked it. I like watching action movies. Once again, it all depends, but I mostly watch action movies or comedy.
GopherSports.com: Favorite type of food? If you had to choose your favorite meal, what would it be?
Hayo Carpenter: Pizza and fast food. My favorite meal would have to be coca-cola, spaghetti and bread sticks on the side.
GopherSports.com: What is one TV show that you can’t miss?
Hayo Carpenter: The NFL Network. I like it because it is about players moving up, the competition in college and replays of old games.
GopherSports.com: Is there anything you’d like to say to Gopher fans who will be reading this?
Hayo Carpenter: I am very excited to get out there. They are actually the reason why I wanted to come to Minnesota, because I like the fans and the way they rally for the team. When I get out there, hopefully I can do big things for us.
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