Colorado’s Travis Hunter revolutionized recent conversations around college football with his dynamic ability as a two-way player. Skeptics and believers alike watched Hunter’s rise under Deion Sanders, leading to a Heisman Trophy and an expected Top 5 pick in this spring’s NFL Draft.
While Hunter’s playstyle hasn’t often been replicated, Tennessee might just have a two-way player of its own on the roster who’s about to enter his second year on Rocky Top.
Rising sophomore Boo Carter made an impact on the Vols’ defense during his first year in Knoxville as a defensive back who started the final six games at the STAR safety position. Prior to his arrival at Tennessee, Carter was a highly-touted prospect from Chattanooga Christian and Bradley Central as a two-way player at different positions on offense and defense.
Tennessee opted to start Carter in the secondary as a freshman but with a lack of depth in the receiver room this upcoming season, Carter has been granted reps on both sides of the ball during spring camp. It’s not a guarantee as to what will happen this fall, but it is a sign of Tennessee’s trust in Carter’s athleticism.
While speaking to the media after the Vols’ second spring camp scrimmage on Monday morning, head coach Josh Heupel pulled back the curtain on some of Carter’s progress this spring.
“When you do that, there’s a whole other workload that you got to take on,” Heupel said about Carter getting reps on both sides. “Because you got to understand what’s going on, on both sides of football. And he’s done a really good job. Spent a lot of extra time in here learning what we’re doing offensively, being able to handle the structure of the offense. We’re intentional on what positions we’re putting him in during the course of practice, today during the scrimmage and trying to manage that side of it.”
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As a freshman with Tennessee in 2024, Carter tallied 38 total tackles, 28 solo tackles, one sack, and one interception from the STAR secondary position. He also returned 12 punts on the year for 198 yards and came close to breaking off one or two for the endzone. That’s another added element of Carter’s game, one that gives optimism that his ability can translate to an SEC offense if needed.
“He’s worked hard,” Heupel said. “And you can look at him as a punt returner, to see the skillset when he has the ball in his hands, that he’s got a chance to be a dynamic playmaker.”
While Tennessee projects to have a rotation featuring Chris Brazzell, Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley, and Amari Jefferson, the Vols’ lack of major depth could provide Carter with an X-Factor type of opportunity with Nico Iamaleava’s offense. We’ll just have to see how things continue to unfold during camps this off-season.
“He’s primarily a defensive back, but I love seeing Boo on offense during the little chances we do,” Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava said about Carter early into spring camp. “I love seeing that man go to work.”
Iamaleava also added that Carter, a big-time trash talker on the field, brings his patented personality to the offense when he does get reps. Carter’s energy is infectious for the other receivers on offense, something that Iamaleava is pleased with.
“It’s great having Boo,” Iamaleava said.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Football spring camp coverage. The Vols will host the 2025 Orange & White Game this Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium.
Here’s a look at Boo Carter’s high school senior season wide-receiver highlights:
