Tennessee LB Arion Carter to miss 2 games following NCAA suspension for $427 flight
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The NCAA has suspended Tennessee linebacker and team captain Arion Carter for the first 2 games of the 2026 season after Carter’s agent paid for a $427 flight to a NFL pre-draft training facility. That means Carter will miss Week 1’s matchup against Furman and, more importantly, Week 2’s matchup at Georgia Tech.
Carter originally decided to enter the 2026 NFL Draft following a strong junior season with the Vols. In doing so, the Vols linebacker hired an agent and, through that agent, purchased a $427.48 flight to the aforementioned training facility. Later, Carter withdrew from the draft for following a flare up of a previous foot injury, terminated his contract with his agent and repaid the $427 flight.
Here’s a statement from Vols head coach Josh Heupel regarding Carter:
According to a report from Adam Sparks of Knox News on Wednesday, Carter’s was found to have committed a Level III violation. The original suspension for Carter was set to be 3 games, but a Tennessee appeal brought the suspension down to 2 games. For those wondering, Tennessee’s 3rd game of the 2026 season will be played in Knoxville against Kennesaw State.
In December of 2025, the NCAA provided the following memo to players looking to test the NFL Draft waters:
“You, your family or your friends are not permitted to receive any benefits from an agent,” the NCAA memo said, via Knox News. “Examples of material benefits include money, transportation, dinner, clothes, cell phones, jewelry, etc. Please note that benefits may also include, but are not limited to, activities such as tryout arrangements with a professional team and coordinating tryout schedules.”
Carter is one of Tennessee’s best defensive players, but the Vols are perhaps deeper at linebacker than any position on the field, offense or defense. Penn State transfer Amare Campbell is slated to start alongside Carter when SEC play kicks off, but the Vols also have capable linebackers who saw time last year including Jaden Perlotte, Edwin Spillman and Jeremiah Telander.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
