Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter is flipping the script on his football future.
After initially declaring for the NFL Draft earlier this week, Carter has reportedly had a change of heart. Instead of heading to the pros, the standout linebacker is entering the NCAA transfer portal, signaling that he’s not quite done with college football just yet.
Carter has already informed Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, linebackers coach William Inge, and athletic director Danny White of his decision. It’s a move that reopens his recruitment and puts one of the SEC’s more productive defenders back on the market.
Let’s be clear: Carter has been a force for the Volunteers over the last three seasons. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Smyrna, Tennessee native racked up 161 total tackles and 13.5 tackles-for-loss during his time in Knoxville. He’s been a reliable presence in the middle of Tennessee’s defense, showing both sideline-to-sideline range and a nose for disrupting plays behind the line.
This past season, Carter posted 76 tackles, 6.0 tackles-for-loss, and 1.5 sacks-solid numbers that reflect his consistency and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. The year before, he tallied 68 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and even added an interception to his stat line. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in a conference like the SEC where linebacker play is scrutinized under a microscope.
Carter came to Tennessee as a highly touted four-star recruit out of Smyrna High School, and he lived up to the billing. But now, after three years in orange and white, he’s ready for a new chapter-just not the NFL chapter quite yet.
What’s next? Carter has said he’d “love to stay in the SEC but I’m willing to go anywhere,” which opens the door for a number of high-profile programs to make their pitch.
SEC rivals like Alabama and Texas A&M are already rumored to be potential landing spots, and it’s easy to see why. Carter brings experience, production, and SEC battle-tested toughness-traits that are always in demand.
For Tennessee, this is a significant departure. Carter’s leadership and playmaking ability will be tough to replace. But for Carter, this is a chance to reset, re-evaluate, and possibly elevate his draft stock with a strong 2026 season elsewhere.
The transfer portal has changed the game, and Arion Carter is now one of its most intriguing names. Wherever he lands, he’ll be expected to make an immediate impact-and based on what we’ve seen so far, there’s no reason to believe he won’t.