Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter has turned an NCAA suspension into a steady stream of support for cancer research.
Carter was ruled out for the first game of the 2026 regular season after the NCAA handed down the punishment over a $427 flight that was paid for during the pre-draft process. After he returned to college and removed his name from the NFL draft, he paid back the flight in good faith. Even so, the NCAA still moved forward with the suspension.
Instead of letting that sit as just a setback, Carter made it fuel for something bigger. He is donating $427 for every tackle he records this season to cancer research, a cause that matters deeply to him because of his family history and because his girlfriend is currently battling cancer.
The donations have piled up quickly. ESPN reported that Carter’s pledge goes beyond tackles, with the full breakdown tied to his production.
Through the season so far, he has logged 43 tackles, two sacks, no interceptions or forced fumbles and no touchdowns. That adds up to $19,361 in donations so far, with five regular-season games still left on Tennessee’s schedule.
His performance in the win over Alabama added another chunk to the total. Carter finished that game with five tackles and a sack, which pushed his donation commitment up by another $2,635.
Now Tennessee shifts to South Carolina, where the Vols will hit the road this week. FanDuel’s opening line on Sunday morning made Tennessee a 2.5-point favorite.
The Vols are listed at -137 on the money line, while the Gamecocks sit at +114. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
ET, with the game slated to air on either SEC Network or ESPN.
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George MacIntyres second career start came in one of the biggest settings in college football, and Tennessee left Neyland Stadium with a win over Alabama to match it. The quarterback handled the workload well enough to keep the offense moving, finishing 21 of 31 for 197 yards while navigating a game that demanded patience, poise and a lot of help around him.
Afterward, MacIntyre talked through his own performance and kept coming back to the same theme: what mattered most was the way Tennessee responded when the game got tense. He also made a point to single out teammates, including freshman wide receiver TK Keys, as the Volunteers showed the kind of resilience that can define a season long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
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There was also encouraging detail on the defensive side, where Jeremiah Telander led Tennessee with a 73.0 grade in just 18 snaps. Edwin Spillman and S Dejuan Lane also stood out, and Lanes night included both an interception and a fumble recovery, the kind of disruptive production that can swing a game and give the Vols more to build on as they move deeper into the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Matthews Gave Tennessee Fans One Alabama Moment To Debate
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The play also drew a response from Alabama defensive back Bray Hubbard, who acknowledged the hit was illegal but said he was fine and not worried about his status for the next game. For Tennessee, the bigger takeaway was Matthews overall impact, since he led the team in both catches and receiving yards with seven receptions for 85 yards in a 26-10 win that gave the Vols plenty to feel good about beyond a single controversial snap. [Read more 🡒]