2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: James Carpenter, Defensive Tackle, Indiana
| Critical Factors | ||
| 1st Step Explosion | Play Strength | Pass Rush |
| 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Positional Factors | ||
| Shed Ability | Hand Use | Body Control |
| 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Agility | Tackling | FBI |
| 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Discipline | Motor | Toughness |
| 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Point of attack | Agility to change directions |
| Consistently disrupts plays | Pass-rushing |
| Effective against Double teams | Limited lateral mobility |
Overall
Carpenter is a dependable and disciplined defensive tackle who thrives in controlling the line of scrimmage. He uses his strength and leverage to consistently disrupt offensive linemen and hold his ground, excelling as a run-stopper. While his pass rush is functional, it lacks the explosiveness to win one-on-one matchups consistently. He projects best as a two-down player who can anchor against the run and provide occasional interior pressure.
Run Game
Carpenter is a force in the run game, using his strength and discipline to dominate at the point of attack. His ability to absorb double teams without losing ground is critical for maintaining defensive integrity. He excels in gap control, ensuring running lanes are sealed and allowing linebackers to make plays. Carpenter’s leverage and hand placement allow him to disengage from blocks efficiently, though his limited lateral mobility slightly hinders his ability to chase plays outside the tackle box. His presence consistently disrupts offensive plans in short-yardage scenarios, making him a valuable run defender.
Pass Game
Carpenter’s pass-rush ability centers on his power and relentless effort. He can collapse the pocket with a strong bull rush, forcing quarterbacks off their spots and disrupting the timing of plays. While he lacks elite pass-rush moves, his hand strength and active motor enable him to capitalize on secondary efforts and breakdowns in protection. He shows flashes of effectiveness with rip and swim moves but needs to improve his technique for greater consistency. Carpenter’s interior presence adds value by forcing quarterbacks to adjust under pressure, contributing indirectly to the pass rush. With refinement, he can potentially increase his sack production and overall impact in passing situations.
Last Word
Carpenter is a rotational defensive tackle who excels in run defense and offers situational value as a pass rusher. His toughness and discipline make him a reliable contributor on early downs.
One-Liner: Dependable run-stopper with toughness and discipline to control the line of scrimmage.
Grade: 6.6 – Ceiling: 6.8 (25%) Floor: 6.2 (35%) Round: 4th
Best Fit Teams:
1. New England Patriots
The Patriots’ defense emphasizes strength at the point of attack and gap integrity, which fits Carpenter’s skill set well. His ability to absorb double teams and hold his ground would give New England a reliable presence against the run. His power and ability to generate interior pressure would also provide value in passing situations.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers’ defensive front values toughness and strength, both of which Carpenter possesses. His ability to hold his ground against the run and create push in the pocket would complement Pittsburgh’s attacking defensive philosophy. Carpenter’s motor and toughness would align well with the Steelers’ defensive identity.
3. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens value defensive linemen who can control the line of scrimmage and disrupt running lanes. Carpenter’s ability to handle double teams and generate interior pressure would fit well in Baltimore’s multiple-front defensive scheme. His size and strength would provide immediate value in early-down situations.
Hunter Kirkhope is an experienced sports data analyst with a strong background in scouting and live data collection. He currently works as a Live Data Analyst at Sports Info Solutions (SIS), where he scouts collegiate football athletes and writes detailed scouting reports based on performance analysis. His expertise includes collecting and analyzing real-time data from USFL games and Division I college football programs, including the University of Akron, Ohio State University, and the University of Pittsburgh.
Hunter’s work at SIS includes providing valuable insights to optimize team performance and inform strategic decisions using industry-standard tools such as Banjo and Connect Teams. He has demonstrated his analytical skills by tracking live statistics for March Madness 2024 and 2025 games and completing a sports analytics certification course through a mock college football game evaluation.
In addition to his professional experience, Hunter has a strong educational foundation in sports analytics and data science. He is pursuing a degree in Sports Data Analytics and Statistics at the University of Akron, where he has excelled in courses like Programming for Data Science, Survival Analytics, Statistical Data Management, and Advanced Statistical Computing. He has also competed in the 2023 and 2024 Cleveland Cavaliers Hackathons, applying his data analysis skills in a competitive environment.
Hunter’s background includes managing game-day operations and logistics as part of the Akron Facilities Staff, as well as serving as the Head Field Crew Manager for the Twinsburg Baseball League. His experience in coordinating events, managing personnel, and maintaining professional environments reflects his strong leadership and operational skills.
Hunter’s technical proficiency includes working with tools like SAS, SPSS, R, Python, C++, and Matlab, along with a deep understanding of sports data collection and performance analysis. His analytical approach and hands-on experience make him a valuable asset in the field of sports analytics and scouting.