Tennessee Receives Disappointing Update On All-SEC LB

Although Carter confirmed he will return to college for one final season in 2026, that won't be at Tennessee.

According to On3's Steve Wiltfong, "Carter notified his old head coach Josh Heupel, linebacker coach William Inge, and he emailed the athletic director Danny White" about his decision to withdraw, noting he won't play for the Volunteers next season.

Carter mentioned other factors that played into his decision.

“Just the simple fact of me being able to go and finish my degree — I only have a couple credit hours left,” Carter said. “I’ll be the first in my family to graduate college. I just want to go and have a full season healthy.”

Carter revealed he played through turf toe during the 2025 season, limiting his effectiveness despite leading the team with 76 tackles (six for a loss) and adding 1.5 sacks in 10 games.

“I had been dealing with turf toe in my feet all year and wasn’t able to play to my expectation,” Carter said. “Being able to come back and have a full year of training and sharpening my tools and being a better linebacker is important.”

While Carter entered the portal and will leave the Volunteers, he spoke positively about his time at Tennessee and acknowledged the difficulty of leaving the program.

“Tennessee has truly become home for me,” Carter wrote in his initial draft declaration. “Playing for the Power T meant everything to me.”

Carter also acknowledged his preference for the 2026 season, saying he'd like to remain in the Southeastern Conference.

“I would love to stay in the SEC,” Carter said. “But I’m willing to go anywhere.”

The late news confirmed the removal of one of Tennessee’s most productive defenders from the 2026 roster for good. This will force the Volunteers to replace a second-team All-SEC linebacker who logged 161 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 22 starts during his three-year career.