Tennessee reportedly makes final decision on Boo Carter
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter was suspended from the Volunteers’ game against New Mexico State on Saturday, with Josh Heupel declining to elaborate on the reason other than that Carter failed to meet the program’s “standard.”
However, it appears that Carter has played his last down for the program. According to On3’s Austin Price, the sophomore is no longer with the team. It reportedly comes after a meeting with the team’s coaching staff.
A former 4-star in-state recruit, Carter made an immediate impact on the Tennessee defense. As a true freshman in 2024, he made 38 tackles, 3.0 tackles for a loss, and logged an interception.
While there was speculation that he might enter the transfer portal after a single season in Knoxville, he remained with the program. Through nine games in 2025, he was credited with 25 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and three forced fumbles.
However, in the offseason, Carter reportedly missed several team workouts, leading leaders on the team’s roster to try to set him straight amidst fears that it would turn out like the Nico Iamaleava saga. Josh Heupel, during SEC Media Days in July, stated that Carter was still with the team but still had “things (he had) to accomplish to get back on the field.”
Fast forward to Sunday, and it looks like Heupel’s patience with Carter has run out.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
