Receiver May Leave Syracuse Early for NFL
Following the lead of two other recent Syracuse receivers, junior Rob Carpenter may pass up his final year of eligibility to enter the National Football League draft in 1991, according to a report published today.
Carpenter told the Syracuse Post-Standard that he has been considering leaving Syracuse a year early since this summer.
The 1988 transfer from Notre Dame has played less than two full seasons with the Orangemen but already is sixth in school history in receptions (61), is tied for seventh in touchdown receptions (8) and is sixth in receiving yardage (1,230).
Carpenter said he was leaning toward the NFL at the season’s outset, but an ankle injury he suffered in Syracuse’s second game of the year “kind of dampened” his plans.
Now fully recovered, he said he faces a difficult choice again.
“Now I see myself coming around and being able to play the type of ball I’m able to play. . . . It’s just going to be a tough one at the end of the season,” Carpenter said.
Syracuse Coach Dick MacPherson said he has not discouraged Carpenter from leaving school early, but he does not want to discuss the subject now.
“I think that’s something you do after the season,” MacPherson said.
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