Arion Carter’s offseason has been anything but ordinary. In fact, it might be the wildest month any Tennessee Volunteer has had in recent memory.
Draft declarations, portal entries, medical setbacks-and now, national recognition. It’s a rollercoaster that ends with Carter’s name being mentioned among the top linebackers in college football, and spring practice hasn’t even kicked off yet.
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach recently released his way-too-early All-America projections, and while Carter didn’t land a starting spot, he was firmly in the conversation. Auburn’s Xavier Atkins took the projected linebacker slot, with Texas Tech’s Ben Roberts and Carter both earning honorable mention nods. For a player who’s had to fight through injuries and uncertainty, that kind of recognition speaks volumes.
Let’s not forget: Carter has racked up 144 tackles over the past two seasons, despite dealing with injuries that would’ve sidelined most. That kind of production, even at less than 100%, is hard to ignore. And now, with a clean slate and a new defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles, Tennessee is doubling down on linebacker play as a cornerstone of its 2026 defense.
Knowles, who steps in after the Vols made sweeping changes to the defensive staff post-Music City Bowl, has already pointed to the linebacker unit as one of the most cohesive groups on the team. That’s a big deal considering the turnover elsewhere on the staff.
Tim Banks is out as defensive coordinator. Anthony Poindexter joins as co-DC.
And while most of the defensive assistants waited to see if they’d survive the shake-up, William Inge-who called plays during the bowl game-remains in place as linebackers coach.
Inge’s room is now loaded. Carter returns.
So does Jadon Perlotte, Edwin Spillman, Jeremiah Telander, and Jaedon Harmon. Add in Amare Campbell, the Penn State transfer who played under Knowles last season, and you’ve got a group with a mix of experience, upside, and familiarity with the new scheme.
And there’s more help on the way-freshmen TJ White and Brayden Rouse are set to arrive this summer.
Carter’s path back to Knoxville wasn’t without drama. On January 16, he withdrew from the NFL Draft-a decision rooted in medical necessity, not second thoughts.
A toe injury required surgery and a recovery window of three to six months. NFL scouts had him pegged as a Day 2 pick, but with surgery looming, his stock was bound to dip.
Staying in the draft would’ve been a gamble. Returning made sense.
But Tennessee had already moved quickly to fill the void, bringing in Campbell from the portal. That’s why Carter entered the portal himself the same day he withdrew from the draft-just in case his return couldn’t be worked out.
With the transfer deadline looming, Carter filed the paperwork as a safety net. Ultimately, the Vols found a way to bring him back.
Now, Tennessee has the best of both worlds: a former team captain and All-SEC linebacker in Carter, and a battle-tested transfer in Campbell who already knows what Knowles expects. That kind of depth and continuity at linebacker is rare in college football, especially in today’s era of constant roster churn.
Carter’s mention in ESPN’s early All-America projections isn’t just a pat on the back-it’s a signal that he’s still very much on the national radar. And for Tennessee, it validates the decision to re-integrate him into a defense that’s undergoing a major identity shift under Knowles.
If Carter can return to form post-surgery-and there’s every reason to believe he will-Tennessee’s linebacker corps could be one of the most formidable in the SEC.