Tennessee football hasn’t often played freshmen under head coach Josh Heupel. That’s particularly been true on the defensive side of the ball where only a few Vols have earned limited roles and none of them have earned starting positions.
But that could change this season with freshman defensive back Boo Carter. The Chattanooga native is in the midst of a fierce battle to be Tennessee’s starting STAR after veteran Jourdan Thomas suffered a season ending knee injury earlier in fall camp.
On3 sports and 247sports are both buying into the Boo Carter hype, listing the Tennessee defensive back on their Preseason True Freshman All-American Teams this week.
“Simply put, Boo Carter is a baller,” On3’s Charles Power wrote. “He is an outstanding football player and one who plays with just an aggressive mentality and has a penchant for making plays. He is a versatile defensive back who appears to be set to see significant snaps and perhaps a starting role in Tennessee’s defense this fall.
“He is capable of covering slide receivers, running backs, tight ends and is just an aggressive ball -hawking type of presence in the secondary. Boo Carter was a do-it-all player at the high school level and one who I think with continued focus on the defensive side of the ball has a lot of potential and looks to have parlayed a very strong senior season into a great start in Knoxville.”
More From RTI: Tennessee Announces Checker Neyland Game Against Florida For 2024 Season
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 former Bradley Central do-it-all star ranked as the No. 4 athlete in the 2024 cycle and the No. 3 player in the state of Tennessee.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound defensive back is competing with Christian Harrison for the Vols’ starting STAR spot though both players will likely earn playing time early in the season.
“Boo’s played really well,” Heupel said after the Vols’ first fall scrimmage. “I thought the last couple days even leading into the scrimmage have been his best day just within the scope of what we do defensively, playing within the framework of that and making plays at the same time. He’s a young guy that needs to and will continue to get better every day, but he’s a dynamic playmaker.”
Harrison is the veteran player in the competition having already spent multiple years in Tennessee’s program learning the Vols’ defense. His floor is likely higher that Carter’s but his ceiling isn’t as high as the incredibly talented freshman.
Tennessee has one tune up game against Chattanooga before things get serious against North Carolina State in the second week of the college football season.
