Central's newest player

Ryan Carpenter signs with the Wildcats to play football

Ryan Carpenter played on both sides of the ball for Moses Lake High School.

His new head coach at Central Washington University is planning to ask him to learn three positions on the field.

"There is a little pressure because the change from high school to college can be tough," said Ryan. "I'm planning to get a playbook and start learning the positions."

Ryan's recruitment was an opportunity of his own making that began with sending game tape to football coaches "all over." Central's coach, Beau Baldwin, took notice of Ryan when he was still working at Eastern Washington University but when the Wildcats offered him a head coaching position, Baldwin went and took his desire to recruit Ryan with him.

"Central is a good opportunity for me," said Ryan. "At most colleges you go in and play one position, so getting to play three means I can probably play the position I most want — running back." Ryan says running back is the position most natural for him and the one he most enjoys because it gives you an edge on your opponents to have the ball.

Ryan says he is excited about the prospect of college and playing football in Ellensburg.

"I'm looking forward to being on my own and it's exciting knowing those coaches wanted me to play for them," he said.

When Ryan headed to Ellensburg for his official visit to meet with coaches and current players, he said he thought the incoming recruit class had an opportunity to establish a different relationship with their head coach.

"My visit was kind of different because coach Baldwin is new," Ryan said. "We're really the first players to get to talk to him and get to know him."

His impression of the campus and facilities was one he called "amazing" after seeing the remodeling that has been done on the Central campus.

But not everything about college life sounds as thrilling.

"It'll be weird to live with someone else, I'm the kind of person that needs to get to know someone," Ryan said of his upcoming stint in a dorm. "It's nice to know that I won't go hungry though, that I won't have to worry about cooking for myself."

After college Ryan wants to continue to be involved in sports or something more active, even if it's not on the field.

"I'd like to get my degree in biology and transfer to Eastern or UW for physical therapy," he said. "I took a class this year that made physical therapy look more attractive to me."

As for Ryan's mindset about his work on the field, the National Football League is a distant thought but one that would ideally have him as a running back for the Chargers.

"The best part of football is when you're in a situation where you're not at your peak and you see the team work together, come back and regroup," Ryan said.