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University of Minnesota Athletics
Carpenter Kicks Way Into History
9/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
A few curious fans and media pundits raised an eyebrow when 2015 Lou Groza semifinalist Ryan Santoso moved from kicker to his more natural position of punter prior to the 2016 season. Santoso led Minnesota in scoring in 2014 (81 points) and 2015 (82 points), making 29-of-39 career field goals and 76-of-77 point after attempts.
However, the Gophers needed a punter after Peter Mortell graduated and took his program-best 44.0 career average with him. So Santoso - and his outrageous hang time - moved to punter, which meant that Minnesota needed to find a kicker for this season.
Enter Emmit Carpenter.
The Green Bay, Wis., native is a redshirt sophomore and grew up on the same street as Mortell. Prior to this season he had never kicked a collegiate field goal. In fact, he had never been part of the travel party before this season.
So you can imagine he was a little excited when he trotted out onto the turf at TCF Bank Stadium against Oregon State for his first career field goal attempt. The fact that it came with two seconds left in the first half in a 14-14 game under the lights only increased the scope of his opportunity.
"I would be lying if I said I did not say I had some butterflies," said Carpenter. "But I was excited to be out there and have the opportunity. I trusted my preparation and trusted the thousands of footballs that I have kicked to get to that point. I knew that Payton would give me a good snap, that Jacob would give me a good hold and the guys up front would give me some time."
As the clock struck zero, a crowd of 44,582 watched as Carpenter's first career field goal attempt banked off the left upright and through to give Minnesota a 17-14 lead.
It was an exciting moment, but one that Carpenter didn't see.
"It came off my foot really straight and it didn't break until maybe 5-10 yards before the uprights, so I did not know it was going to hit the post," said Carpenter. "I didn't even see it hit the post. Then we get in the locker room and guys were saying, 'You were cutting that pretty close,' and I had to ask them what they were talking about. I couldn't see over the big guys up front. At least it bounced the right way."
Through two games, Carpenter leads Minnesota in scoring with 22 points. He is a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals and has made all of his 10 point-after attempts.
He followed up the Oregon State game with a memorable performance against Indiana State. Carpenter made a TCF Bank Stadium record seven point-after attempts and connected on all three of his field goals. They weren't chip shots either, as he made kicks from 42, 44 and 45 yards. His 42-yarder was like his kick against Oregon State, as it was the final play before halftime.
"It's good for me to get out there and get some experience," said Carpenter.
While Santoso has moved from kicker to punter, his influence in the kicking game is still felt.
"I cannot even describe how much Ryan has helped me in the last few years," said Carpenter. "The game against Oregon State was the first game that I had traveled too. Sitting in the hotel all day Thursday was kind of tough. It was good to have him there and learn from him about what the process is to get ready for a game and how to prepare yourself."
Against Indiana State, Carpenter may have become the first Gopher in program history to make three field goals in a game that traveled at least 40 yards or more. Athletic department research yields close cases, but nothing that definitively matches Carpenter.
On Sept. 10, 1994, Mike Chalberg made two 39-yard field goals and a 40-yarder against Pacific. Just one week later on Sept. 17, 1994, Chalberg made field goals from 39, 40 and 44. On Oct. 18, 1997, Adam Bailey hit field goals from 52 and 50 yards out. Chip Lohmiller connected on a 49-yarder and a program 62-yard field goal on Nov. 22, 1986, against Iowa.
"Coach Claeys has really empathized this year that once we reach the 30-yard line they want that to pretty much be automatic points," said Carpenter. "I have been working a lot on that, from the 35-50 yard range to make sure that that becomes as automatic as it can for me. I just have to keep pounding them out. I think I will have some big opportunities down the road and just have to make sure that I come through."
