Deion Sanders isn’t exactly easing the pressure on Boo Carter.
The former Tennessee defensive back is already trying to reboot his career in Boulder after a messy exit from Knoxville, but Sanders went big when talking about what comes next. In a recent interview with Phillip Dukes, the Colorado coach said Carter has first-round talent written all over him in either the 2027 or 2028 NFL Draft.
“Let me tell you something man, that kid right there is going to be a first-rounder either this year or next year whichever one he chooses,” Sanders said with conviction while on with Phillip Dukes. “I want to keep him, he knows that. I love him, I love him for life, and I love him for who he is and who he's trying to become.”
That’s a massive vote of confidence for a player whose Tennessee story unraveled last summer. Carter was away from the team for a while, skipped workouts, and was eventually dismissed in November after what the source describes as rumors that he wasn’t happy in Knoxville and reports of issues with teammates and a divided locker room.
Now the focus shifts to Colorado, where Sanders is counting on Carter to make an impact in 2026 and, beyond that, raise his draft profile. Sanders says the change is already underway.
“Boo's got it man,” Sanders said. “Boo is probably the best athlete on the team.
Boo has playmaking ability. If you add that with study and preparation, he's going to be hard to deal with, but he has to understand what that means.
And the best thing ever, he came to me and said, 'Coach, I want you to watch film with me.' So, we sat in the office and we watched the whole practice, and I said, 'You see this?
You see that? Look where they're lining up at, tell me what you're going to get.'”
Sanders clearly sees a player worth investing in, especially if Carter keeps leaning into the film work and the preparation he asked for. But the first-round talk feels miles ahead of where things stood not long ago. After the way his SEC stint ended, Carter has to re-establish himself before anyone starts penciling him in that high on draft boards.
For Tennessee, the chapter is closed. Josh Heupel already gave Carter one last chance before the dismissal, and the Vols have moved on to a new defensive setup under Jim Knowles, with 5-star quarterback Faizon Brandon expected to be in the mix for the starting job.
As for Carter, the upside is obvious. The timing of Sanders’ declaration? That’s a different story.
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