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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Carswell Fills Many Roles
October 01, 2004 | Football
Oct. 1, 2004
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - Maybe, just maybe T.J. Carswell has finally found a position to call his own.
One of the top athletes on Bowling Green's football team, Carswell has been a special teams stalwart for the Falcons since his freshman year in 2001.
He's also played linebacker in BG's 3-4 alignment in 2002 and last season when the Falcons were playing a 4-3.
After starting at linebacker against Miami in the Mid-American Conference championship game last December, he was at safety for the Motor City Bowl game against Northwestern.
When BG's defense takes the field Saturday against Temple at Lincoln Financial Field, Carswell is scheduled to start at safety. Kickoff is at 2:05 p.m.
"T.J. always brings his 'A' game," said Falcon linebacker Teddy Piepkow. "He always plays hard. He's reliable and T.J.'s going to play fast.
"Safety's a fit for T.J.," Piepkow added. "We've got to keep the linemen off him and flow the ball outside so he can make the tackles."
In the Motor City Bowl, Carswell responded with 11 tackles, including six solos, as a safety. That was after six tackles and a blocked punt in the MAC title game against Miami.
"I like safety better," said Carswell, a 6-feet-1, 200-pound senior. "I feel comfortable now."
Playing linebacker last season gave Carswell more time on the field and he didn't mind being closer to the action, as long as the Falcons were playing a passing team.
However, against the run it was a different story.
"Eastern Michigan brought in an extra lineman and put him at tight end and he just looked for me the whole game," Carswell said. "My job is to contain. I contained, but took a beating the whole game."
He became more acclimated to safety during spring drills and in August's fall practice.
"During two-a-days I had to focus on the fundamentals, backpedaling again, breaking to the ball, keying the quarterback and stuff like that," said Carswell, who was a four-sport athlete at Wilkinson County (Ga.) High School. He was on BG's baseball team during his sophomore year. "In high school, I was told to play man-to-man defense and go get the ball, just be an athlete."
After being asked to just be a playmaker in high school, having a defensive scheme and a set of responsibilities in college was foreign to Carswell as a freshman.
"I focused on special teams; it gave me a chance to make a play," he said. "It's gotten to the point where it's real fun to be on special teams."
"He's going to run around ... that's why he's been such a great special teams player because it's all about playing fast and effort and I think that defines T.J. as a football player," Piepkow said.
Both games last December were on national television and Carswell likes when the TV cameras are present.
"I love to play on TV because everybody at home gets to watch you," the Georgia native said. "You don't have any excuses about performing better if you're on TV.
It's a chance for the team and I to showcase our talent to the nation."
The Falcons had a misstep on national television last Friday, dropping a 34-17 decision at Northern Illinois. Carswell finished with 13 tackles, including four solos, against the Huskies, but BG's defense gave up 27 second-half points.
"Basically we didn't tackle. It was a lack of concentration. We read our keys late," Carswell said about BG's effort against NIU.
Saturday's game with Temple is BG's last non-conference action this fall. There are seven MAC games remaining and Carswell says the Falcons can still be a factor in the conference, despite the tough loss to NIU.
"Our goal is still attainable," Carswell said. "If we win out and take care of our business we could be in Ford Field for the MAC championship game."
