Ron Carpenter (defensive lineman)

{{Infobox NFL biography

|name=Ron Carpenter

|number=70

|position=Defensive tackle
Defensive end

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1948|6|24|mf=y}}

|birth_place=High Point, North Carolina, U.S.

|height_ft=6

|weight_lb=261

|height_in=4

|college=NC State

|draftyear=1970

|draftround=2

|draftpick=32

|pastteams=* Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|1970|1976}})

|highlights=

First-team All-American (1968)
2× First-team All-ACC (1968, 1969)

|statlabel1=Sacks

|statvalue1=45.5

|statlabel2=Fumble recoveries

|statvalue2=10

|pfr=CarpRo20

}}

Ronald Nelson Carpenter (born on June 24, 1948) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina State Wolfpack.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070208134804/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CARPERON02 Ron Carpenter Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com]}}

Early life

Carpenter was born on June 24, 1948, in High Point, North Carolina. He attended Thomasville High School. He played college football at North Carolina State University.{{Cite web |title=Ron Carpenter Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CarpRo20.htm |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=London |first=Mike |date=2023-09-14 |title=High school football: Hornets vs. Bulldogs usually means excitement |url=https://www.salisburypost.com/2023/09/14/high-school-football-hornets-vs-bulldogs-usually-means-excitement/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Salisbury Post |language=en}} Duke football captain Jim Dearth said Carpenter was the toughest opponent he ever faced in the Atlantic Coast Conference, observing Carpenter's ideal combination of size, strength, agility and quickness at tackle.{{Cite web |title=James Dearth Obituary (2009) - Birmingham, AL - AL.com (Birmingham) |url=https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/birmingham/name/james-dearth-obituary?id=22876521 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Legacy.com}}{{Cite web |date=October 18, 1969 |title=Clemson Official Program, ACC Comments, The Best ACC Player I Ever Faced ... |url=https://open.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/fball_prgms/article/1085/&path_info=clemsonuniversit00cle_glq.pdf}}

Professional football

The Bengals selected Carpenter in the second round of the 1970 NFL draft (32nd overall).{{Cite web |title=1970 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1970/draft.htm |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played defensive tackle and defensive end for the Bengals from 1970-76. The Bengals' first round selection in 1970 was future All-Pro defensive tackle Mike Reid, whom Carpenter would play alongside at tackle from 1973-74, with Carpenter at right tackle and Reid at left tackle.{{Cite web |title=Mike Reid Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/ReidMi00.htm |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} They unofficially had 23 sacks between them in 1973.

Carpenter has been unofficially credited with 45.5 sacks for his career, and had 10 fumble recoveries. In 1973, he led the Bengals' defensive linemen in tackles and was second in sacks.{{Cite journal |last=Marshall |first=Joe |date=September 16, 1974 |title=AMERICAN CENTRAL. |journal=Sports Illustrated |volume=41 |issue=12}}{{Cite web |title=1973 Cincinnati Bengals Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/1973.htm |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} His highest sack total came the following year, when he tied for second most sacks in the NFL with 13.{{Cite web |title=1974 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1974/leaders.htm |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} In 1975, he was tied for third in the NFL with four fumble recoveries.{{Cite web |title=1975 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1975/leaders.htm |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

During a critical late November 1976 game between the Bengals and defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers, played in heavy snow conditions, Reid blocked a Roy Gerela field goal attempt. However, the Bengals lost the game 7–3.{{Cite journal |last=Jenkins |first=Dan |date=September 6, 1976 |title=SMASHING THROUGH THE SNOW |journal=Sports Illustrated |volume=45 |issue=23}}{{Cite web |title=Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals - November 28th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197611280cin.htm |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

His playing measurements were 6 ft 4 in (1.93m) and 261 lb (118 kg).

References

Category:1948 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football defensive tackles

Category:Cincinnati Bengals players

Category:NC State Wolfpack football players

Category:20th-century American sportsmen