HOUSTON – Chris Carpenter was off to the races, and absolutely no one was going to catch him.
Certainly, not the vain pursuit of the Temple Owls. Or Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
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The Texas-San Antonio standout return specialist and wide receiver finished tied for the national lead in kickoff returns for touchdowns with a pair of long-distance scores.
He helped the Roadrunners lead the nation with a 32.8 kickoff return average as he took back five kickoffs for 261 yards for an average of 52.2 yards per return. He took it to the house 97 yards against Temple. He returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score in a dominant win over Coastal Carolina in the bowl game. And Carpenter contributed 39 catches for 479 yards and a touchdown.
Carpenter ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at his campus Pro Day workout, the fastest among the Roadrunners who worked out for 21 NFL teams. His speed, in game situations, is clearly faster, though.
“I feel like I left a pretty good impression, I competed,” Carpenter told KPRC 2. “I feel like I add value in a special teams role. I really do feel like I can be a part of somebody’s team and add value.”
UTSA @UTSAFTBL wide receiver and return specialist Chris Carpenter @ChrisCarp06 @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/9ByQINjTnU
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 29, 2025
Carpenter, a Jacksonville, Texas native, returned 19 punts for 88 yards. He started a career-high 10 games at wide receiver. He had 115 yards and a touchdown on seven catches against Tulsa and 108 yards on four catches in an upset win over Memphis and had six catches apiece in games against East Carolina and Florida Atlantic.
Carpenter excelled for the scouts, especially in the 40-yard dash.
“Our guys had some great days,” coach Jeff Traylor said. “I’m very happy for our defensive kids, but it also scares the heck out of me because I know how much we’re losing. Obviously, the only offensive players we have out here is Chris Carpenter and CJ, those two will be losses, but the majority of our kids were defensive football players that have had great careers here.”
Carpenter is widely regarded as a Day 3 draft target, meaning he could be drafted between the fourth and seventh rounds.
He had a short shuttle of 4.2 seconds.
“It went good,” Carpenter said. “I like special teams. I even punted in high school.”
Carpenter majored in multidisciplinary studies. When he’s done playing football, he would like to coach and be a teacher.
Growing up in Jacksonville, Carpenter was raised by his mother, Delanna Hollis, an elementary school teacher and church pastor.
Among his mentors: high school position coach Randall Canaby and Traylor.
“He’s a great guy,” Carpenter said of Traylor. “I love him. He recruited me. He’s been like a second father to me.”
Carpenter began his career at Colorado where his roommate was future New England Patriots first-round draft pick and starting cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
A former honorable-mention All-Conference USA selection, Carpenter returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against Texas Southern in his first season at UTSA. He returned a punt for a touchdown against Rice two seasons ago.
In high school, he caught 97 passes for 1,448 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 323 yards and three touchdowns. He was named all-district. He excelled in track, running the 200 meters in 21.0 seconds.
Joining the NFL, Carpenter wants to make an impact on the field and in the community.
“I’m a person who genuinely cares about people,” Carpenter said. “I’ve always been a family person. Family is true and dear to me. I’m a person who will add value to whatever they have going on with their franchise. At the end of the day, I want to be somebody who can give back and is resourceful at anything at any position.”
When he’s not playing football, Carpenter spends time with friends and family. And he’s the father of a three-year-old boy named Amari.
“I love spending time with him,” Carpenter said. “Being a father is special.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
