Tennessee freshman linebacker Arion Carter has been one of the most talked about names from the Vols’ 2023 fall training camp.
The former four-star prospect from Smyrna, Tennessee enrolled at Tennessee last December and has been working towards his first fall ever since.
While he was a noticeable player during spring camp, Carter burst into the headlines from the start of fall training camp with his size, speed, and just the overall polished look of his game early on.
“Arion is an explosive kid,” Vols linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary said on Tuesday. “Super athletic. He was committed to a Division I school as a running back. You see the athleticism there.”
Carter continued that workman’s effort all throughout fall camp and looks to have earned himself an opportunity with the defensive unit beginning this Saturday in the season opener against Virginia.
“But the poise, the maturity, he has shown all those things which has put him in line to play early,” Jean-Mary continued on to say. “He will play on Saturday and get a chance to go out there. I am excited to go out and see what he can do in a full first college football game.”
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Tennessee released their week one depth chart on Monday morning with Carter at the co-backup spot alongside sophomore Kalib Perry and behind starting Will linebacker Aaron Beasley. Between Beasley, Carter, and Perry, and adding in middle linebackers Keenan Pili, Elijah Herring, and Jeremiah Telander, Tennessee has a solid handful of guys that could take snaps on the field this season. Some more than others, sure, but all will likely have an opportunity at some point.
“We want those guys to give everything that they have, empty their tank, and play a hundred miles an hour, knowing that they could come back to the sideline, rest, and get a chance to go back,” Jean-Mary said on Tuesday. “I feel like for us, we always want to be the fastest and freshest team going into the fourth quarter. I think the only way you can do that is if you get those guys the rest that they need. I should not say rest. Give them the breaks because if we are getting in the eighty-play range, it is hard for guys to do that consistently and be able to play at their highest level.”
Tennessee and the Vols’ linebackers room will begin the season this Saturday against Virginia in the season opener. The game will be played at 11:00 a.m. CT/12:00 p.m. ET in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.
