ASU's Carpenter aims to build on, improve legacy

Brandon Gibson spent some of his summer in California, where the Washington State wide receiver was presented with a chance to work out with Rudy Carpenter.

His first reaction: Spend time with the sideline-gesturing, helmet-throwing, opponent-jawing, blood-spitting Arizona State quarterback? Are you nuts?

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"I thought he was a jerk," Gibson said. "Against us, he threw a touchdown and turned to our bench and screamed and flexed. That's the perception a lot of people have of him, but he thrives on that....

"You take your time to get to know him, and you see he's a different guy. He likes to joke and have fun. Working out with him, you get to see a side of him a lot of opponents don't see."

The unapologetic on-field oozing of emotions has defined Carpenter during a turbulent college career, for good and ill. While it has helped fuel his rise to the top of ASU's career passing charts, it has made the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder a lightning rod for indignation from opponents and, sometimes, Sun Devil fans.

An offseason at various camps and functions was an eye-opener, as Carpenter learned that Gibson was not the only one who characterized him as "a crazy dude, a nutball," as the quarterback put it.

As a result, Carpenter has been thinking about the legacy that he will leave at ASU. The résumé is lengthy, with a streak of 31 straight starts, a top-three ranking in every school career passing category, three wins against Arizona and three bowl appearances.

To Carpenter, perception does not rank as high in importance as individual and team successes. But how he is perceived matters to him.

"It's frustrating for me, because to be honest, off the field, I'm really laid-back and quiet," Carpenter said. "I don't say and do a whole lot. I keep to myself. I think those things happen because I'm not afraid to say what I believe is the truth. I always don't say the politically correct things.

"But I also think I'm an easy target since I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I get mad and fiery and do things quarterbacks don't do. But I just want to win. I think it gets misconstrued that I'm a crybaby when I'm just competitive."

Carpenter knows that the circumstances in which he won the starting quarterback job in 2006 - when his two extra years of eligibility became a hole card in his camp competition with senior Sam Keller - will shadow him, perhaps for as long as he plays football.

Freed from the shackles of the controversy that dogged him for all of '06, Carpenter was stellar last season, despite pass-protection breakdowns that led to a school-record 55 sacks allowed.

He led the Sun Devils to 10 wins, but the final image of 2007 was from a loss against Texas in the Holiday Bowl, with the Longhorns' sideline yelling, "Rudy!" in derision. That was in response to Carpenter's supposed trash-talking during bowl functions, an allegation never substantiated.

"I don't think he did that with Texas, but people can say what they want," second-year coach Dennis Erickson said. "People know that he's very emotional, and they try to take advantage of it. But he's got that part of his game more under control now. He understands what he can and can't do on the field.

"For him to continue to get better, he has to handle things that happen on the field. And he will. He's running the show."

When Carpenter takes the first snap, ASU is 21-10. He is nine victories shy of tying Danny White for the most in school history by a starting quarterback.

"I'm not going to lie," Carpenter said. "I know where I stand in regards to a lot of the ASU records, and I have a shot at a couple of Pac-10 records.

"But the thing I think about the most, the thing that keeps me going every day, is that I really want to be the all-time winningest quarterback at ASU. I want to be the first one to beat Arizona four times. Those things are the most important to me."

During the offseason, Carpenter ate six meals a day to bulk up 20 pounds to his current weight. If he stays at or near 225 throughout the season, the bigger frame should enhance his NFL draft stock.

Carpenter ranks among the top senior quarterbacks in the nation and, if he stays healthy, will be drafted in April. While he works on the perception, he is comforted by this reality: Nothing has prepared him for the next level more than the adversity he has faced in Tempe.

"Sometimes, I wonder why everything can't happen smoothly and great, like it happens for other guys," Carpenter said. "I've had ups and downs and everything in between. When it comes to the NFL, I know that I can handle any adversity and deal with being mentally prepared to play in that league....

"I really learned to just be me and do what I do. I work hard, and I know that if I can go home at the end of the day and look at myself in the mirror and know I gave everything, in football and in life, I'm happy with that."

ASU's all-time career passing leaders:

Completions

1. Andrew Walter 777

2. Jake Plummer 632

3. Rudy Carpenter 586

4. Jeff Van Raaphorst 503

5. Ryan Kealy 477

Yards

1. Andrew Walter 10,617

2. Jake Plummer 8,827

3. Rudy Carpenter 7,998

4. Ryan Kealy 6,912

5. Danny White 6,717

Touchdowns

1. Andrew Walter 85

2. Jake Plummer 65

 Rudy Carpenter 65

4. Danny White 64

5. Mike Pagel 48

Ranking the QBs

Considering that the 2008 season has not yet begun, it is difficult to compile a definitive list of the top quarterback prospects for the '09 NFL draft class. Here is an early sketch on what the scouts see:

Seniors

1. Cullen Harper, Clemson

2. Curtis Painter, Purdue

3. Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State

4. Nathan Brown, Central Arkansas

5. Hunter Cantwell, Louisville

6. Tom Brandstater, Fresno State

7. Todd Boeckman, Ohio State

8. Chase Daniel, Missouri

9. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech

10. Brian Hoyer, Michigan State

Underclassmen

1. Matt Stafford, Georgia (Jr.)

2. Tim Tebow, Florida (Jr.)

3. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (So.)

4. Dan LeFevour, C. Michigan (Jr.)

5. Colt McCoy, Texas (Jr.)