Freshman All-American defensive back Boo Carter remains away from the Tennessee football team, and it is unclear if he will report to Knoxville for training camp when Volunteers players are due on July 29.
The rising sophomore is arguably Tennessee’s top returning defensive player, and the Knoxville News Sentinel reported that after he missed numerous team activities, Carter was confronted by team leaders. Sources told CBS Sports that an altercation occurred on July 16 between Carter and teammates, and that Carter has not been with the team since.
Coach Josh Heupel is likely to lean on his team’s leadership council to make an ultimate decision on whether Carter will be welcomed back — though sources have indicated that Carter might opt not to return to the team at all.
A program source told CBS Sports that Carter’s absence is “not a Nico (Iamaleava) situation” and has nothing to do with name, image and likeness nor revenue-share compensation. Instead, the tension between the two sides stems from what Tennessee and its leadership council consider multiple team rule violations.
Tennessee star misses ‘numerous’ team activities, confronted by team leaders ahead of fall camp, per report
Jordan Dajani
While he’s been away from the team, Carter has also obtained new representation, hiring Omar Cooper (who also represents Utah Jazz first-round pick Ace Bailey), according to a post on Cooper’s Instagram feed. Bailey and Carter — both from Chattanooga, Tennessee — are childhood friends. When reached for comment by CBS Sports, his (apparently) former agent, Isaac Conner, highlighted the lack of clarity in the situation with his response.
“I did represent Boo. However, I’m not sure I still do,” Conner wrote in a text message. “He has been non responsive and so has his mother. They posted something about Omar Cooper representing him and advising him now.”
Carter’s mother, Shareca, nor Cooper responded to a request for comment. Tennessee declined comment. Tennessee’s players finished workouts Thursday and have a short break before camp begins next week. Heupel is scheduled to speak to the media next July 29.
Internally, Tennessee views the potential loss of Carter as even more impactful than when Iamaleava flew the coop.
Should the situation end up with Carter not returning to Tennessee, Colorado would be a school to watch as a potential destination, sources told CBS Sports. The Buffaloes were a factor in his high school recruitment and would, in the vein of Travis Hunter, likely afford Carter the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball, which he did in high school and sparingly in spring practice for the Vols, at running back. Carter also returned punts for the Vols as a freshman.
The transfer portal is closed and Carter would not be allowed to enter the portal until the winter. However, players have managed to transfer outside of the portal in recent memory. Among the notable players to do so include Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin to Miami) and Jake Retzlaff (BYU to Tulane). Neither player officially entered the transfer portal. Instead, they withdrew from school and opted to walk on at their next program, utilizing a NCAA loophole within its transfer ruleset. Wisconsin recently sued Miami for tampering with Lucas, who had signed a lucrative two-year revenue share contract with the school before leaving.
Carter posted 38 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and an interception as a true freshman. He emerged as a starter midway through the season for the Vols and started the final six regular season games.
The Tennessee native, a top 150 recruit in the 2024 class, flirted with entering the transfer portal earlier this offseason but never officially entered.
