Arion Carter taking on larger role for Tennessee defense in 2025
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Arion Carter piled up 68 total tackles during the 2024 season, including 29 solo tackles. His impact as a sophomore was huge, and he helped Tennessee get back to the College Football Playoff.
The linebacker returns as a junior in 2025 with much bigger expectations. He is the Volunteers’ leading returning tackler, for one, and he’ll be looking to help lead a defense that needs to replace some key voices. Tennessee is also trying to return to the Playoff with a different starting quarterback, so stability on the defensive side of the ball will help.
Carter chipped in 1 interception and had 6 passes defended last fall, so he showed off his versatility. His linebackers coach, William Inge, is pushing Carter to take another step (or 2) this fall, and that means leading the way on the field and in a leadership role.
After Saturday morning’s practice, Inge spoke to reporters about what he expects from the Tennessee native who has the chance to become a Volunteers great.
Here is some of what Inge said about Carter:
I think that what you see, he’s been probably consistent. It’s still been the same scenario. When you come here in the morning, he’ll be the first one here. You come here at night, he’ll be the last one leaving. Now, I think from a leadership standpoint, what he’s done is really turn into the player-led organization part of the program. He’s making sure the rest of the guys are doing some of those things. So, it’s not just him dealing with the linebackers, but him also dealing with the secondary, D-line, O-line and just his communication that he has around the guys on the team. And that’s what you want when you take the next step in leadership. And he’s also doing the same thing we talk all the time where in order for you to be a dominant linebacker, dominant player that’s known, it is about leadership and production and he’s producing on the field as well.
Inge also spoke on Carter and fellow junior linebacker Jeremiah Telander taking that next step this fall:
I think just for them being consistent at the point of attack, that is our No. 1 mission. When you’re at the point of attack, you have to be able to make your play. And that’s been our main sight now, is getting to the point of attack and now let’s not just make the tackle, let’s create a takeaway. And that’s how you take the next step.
The progression of both linebackers will be huge in determining if Tennessee will take that next step as a program this fall.
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Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
