The Arion Carter hype train keeps chugging on.
One of the highest touted members of Tennessee’s 2023 signing class, Carter quickly impressed his coaches and teammates with his athleticism and tackling ability after arriving on Tennessee’s campus.
And as spring turned to summer and summer to fall camp, Carter has gotten more-and-more comfortable in his knowledge and understanding of Tennessee’s defense.
“The kid is a worker, first and foremost,” Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks said Friday. “He has a tremendous amount of confidence, he believes in himself, and he believes in what we are teaching. I love this kid; he is going to play a ton for us. The steps and the growth that he has shown coming from spring to our fall camp have been tremendous.”
Carter’s rise to SEC contributor as a freshman has been meteoric. At this time a year ago, the Smyrna native was a three-star recruit committed to Memphis.
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But after a dominant high school senior season that earned Carter the Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year, top SEC schools came calling. Carter, who finished as the No. 129 prep player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings, committed to Tennessee over Alabama in December.
“I think it is a testimony to just how hard the kid works and how committed he is to being great,” Banks said of Carter’s rise. “We are excited about him; we think he is right where he needs to be as he continues to grow as a freshman. Just like with all the guys, there is a learning curve that is expected, but if I know him like I think I do, he is going to push through that curve, continue to grow and get even better as the season progresses.”
Tennessee coaches aren’t the only ones raving about Carter’s potential impact on the field this season. The 6-foot-1, 227-pound inside linebacker has been on multiple Preseason Freshman All-American lists as well as SEC impact freshman lists.
The Vols release their first season depth chart Monday and Carter will likely be a second team inside linebacker. Carter is behind seniors Aaron Beasley and Keenan Pili but is pressing hard to get early playing time at a position Tennessee wants to rotate at.
Tennessee’s first two games of the season, Virginia and Austin Peay, gives Carter an opportunity to adjust to college football. Kickoff between the Vols and Cavaliers at Nissan Stadium is at noon ET. ABC is broadcasting the game.
