James Carpenter is an American college football defensive tackle for the Indiana Hoosiers.

He committed to play college football for the James Madison Dukes, joining the team as a walk-on.

[1][2] During his first three seasons from 2019 through 2021, Carpenter appeared in 16 games with 13 starts, where he totaled 36 tackles with seven and a half being for a loss, two sacks, two pass deflections, and an interception.

[6] In week two of the 2023 season, Carpenter notched four tackles with one and a half being for a loss, and a pass deflection, in a win over Virginia.

[8] Carpenter finished the 2023 season starting all 13 games for James Madison, where he notched 53 tackles with nine being for a loss, four sacks, four pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.