Tennessee’s secondary enters the 2024 season in a spot that it hasn’t been in during Tim Banks’ four seasons as defensive coordinator.
In the past three seasons, the Vols have had a number of veteran defensive backs with limited ceilings. Tennessee has had depth in the back end and experience which helped limit big plays, but not overall high level or game changing abilities.
But this offseason, Tennessee lost an abundance of veterans to either graduation or the transfer portal. For a number of young defensive backs, it’s time to step into larger roles. That is most notable at cornerback where sophomores Rickey Gibson III and Jermod McCoy are the likely starters next season.
There are more veteran players poised for serious playing time at safety, but freshman Boo Carter could push for playing time. Carter’s defensive teammates were complimentary of the freshman Vol this week at SEC Media Days.
“Just the way he moves. He moves really well and makes some plays, his frame,” linebacker Keenan Pili said. “You can tell by how he carries himself he loves football, and you can tell he cares. But I’d say most importantly those talents that he carries. The sky’s the limit for him as he goes on throughout his career.”
Carter is a small defender, coming in at just 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. But what Carter lacks in stature he makes up for with his speed and playmaking ability.
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That playmaking ability is what Carter was known for on both sides of the ball during his high school career in Chattanooga. Carter ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 129 player in the country in the 2024 recruiting cycle according to the 247sports composite rankings.
The ability to make plays and force turnovers is one thing that stands out about Carter according to defensive tackle Omari Thomas.
“I feel like Boo has come in with a mindset as a young guy wanting to learn, wanting to be great, wanting to actually be on that field this year, his freshman year, and you see that in a guy who’s putting in the extra work, looking up to older guys and is always hanging out with older guys just trying to learn the way fast so he’s able to be on the field and help us,” Thomas said. “He’s a great athlete. He’s going to make a bunch of plays for us, so it’s great to see a guy like Boo doing that.”
Carter early enrolled at Tennessee back in January which allowed him to get some practice experience and get his head above water during spring practice. Still, there’s no guarantee that Carter will play early next season with veterans Andre Turrentine, Jourdan Thomas and Ja’Kobe Thomas all vying for playing time.
But Carter is another talented underclassmen in Tennessee’s secondary. If he proves ready for the SEC as a freshman it raises the ceiling of the defense.
