Tennessee football landed one of its most highly touted remaining targets in the 2023 class Wednesday as four-star linebacker Arion Carter committed to the Vols over Alabama and Ohio State in a ceremony at his high school.
Carter was a late riser in the 2023 recruiting cycle, impressing coaching staff and recruiting rankers alike with his massive senior season at Smyrna High School. The inside linebackers dominant season was good enough to win 6A Mr. Football honors in the state of Tennessee.
Carter ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 159 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The instate product also ranks as the 13th best linebacker in the country and the 2nd best player in the state of Tennessee.
The blue chip recruit’s commitment gives Tennessee pledges from the top two players in the Volunteer State. Fellow Rutherford County native Caleb Herring committed to Tennessee back in the spring.
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Carter was a long time Memphis commit before backing off his pledge in November following fall visits to Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee. Once de-committing from Memphis, Carter took both an unofficial visit and official visit to Alabama as well as an official visit to Knoxville the first weekend in December.
The 6-foot-1, 215 pound linebacker’s official visit at Tennessee came the same weekend as Herring’s.
Tennessee beating out the Crimson Tide for Carter marks the second time in recent weeks that Josh Heupel and his staff have beat out Alabama for a blue chip defensive commit. The Vols recently beat out Alabama and Georgia for five-star defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs.
Carter’s commitment gives Tennessee 25 total commits, 14 on the defensive side of the ball and three at inside linebacker.
With the early signing period a week away, Tennessee’s recruiting class ranks No. 9 nationally according to the 247sports team rankings.
