When Texas Tech tight end Jett Carpenter realized he was putting football over faith, he knew he needed to reprioritize his life.
“I mean, there was just a point in my life where I’m pouring in all this time into football, and what time am I pouring into the one who gave me these abilities?” Carpenter said on the Sports Spectrum “What’s Up” podcast. “Because I’ve been blessed to go out with these athletic abilities and these opportunities, and so who am I to sit here and pour all my time into the thing that has been given to me when I’m not pouring any time into the one who provided these things for me?”
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“And so I think that that was kind of a mental maturity moment for me of like, you’re tired, you’re sore, your knees hurting, but like at the end of the day, do you want a relationship with Him [God] or not? Do you want to grow in your faith?” the tight end, who has Proverbs 3:4-6 written in his Instagram bio, reflected.
“Like, it’s a choice and it’s a free will. I mean, that’s such a big thing that comes with Christianity and in our faith. It’s up to you if you want it or not, you know. And He wants our love and our attention and our relationship, but it comes down to us wanting it as well,” Carpenter emphasized.
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Before Carpenter landed at Texas Tech, he spent five seasons at Eastern Washington University and one year at Nevada University.
“We took a shot, and I entered the portal one more time. When Tech called, that’s a pretty big deal,” Carpenter told The Daily Toreador. “…Getting to know this coaching staff and what high level they’re going to hold us to, and the high level that I’m going to be held to, I mean, that’s why I ended up here, because my goal is to make it to the NFL.”
The athlete shares a special bond with Tech tight end coach Josh Cochran that extends beyond the field.
“I’m a man of faith,” Carpenter said. “God is number one. That’s a big factor of my deal, too. He [Cochran] is also very religious. Getting a coach that not only wants to push you to be the best man but can also lead you spiritually is a big deal for me too.”
Now, with his faith at the forefront of his final collegiate year, Carpenter can focus on chasing his dream of making it to the NFL.
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