Just a few weeks ago, Arion Carter looked like he was headed for the NFL. The All-SEC linebacker had declared for the draft in December, seemingly closing the door on his college career at Tennessee. Then things got interesting.
First came the surprise twist on Friday: Carter withdrew from the draft and was reportedly entering the transfer portal, planning to play his senior season elsewhere. That alone was a shocker. But the real headline came Sunday night, when Carter announced he’s not going anywhere after all-he’s staying in Knoxville for the 2026 season.
It’s a massive win for Josh Heupel and the Tennessee program. Not only do the Vols get back their defensive centerpiece, they also avoid the nightmare scenario of seeing him suit up for another team-possibly even an SEC rival.
When Carter initially declared for the draft, Tennessee began preparing for life without him. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles made a splash by bringing in Amare Campbell from Penn State, his former Mike linebacker and the Nittany Lions’ leading tackler in 2025 with 103 stops.
It looked like the Vols were turning the page. But now, with Carter’s return, Tennessee suddenly has an embarrassment of riches at linebacker-and a whole new outlook on the heart of its defense.
Carter’s return is especially meaningful considering his roots. A Smyrna, Tennessee native and former Top247 recruit, he turned down Alabama to play for his home-state school. Now, after a whirlwind few weeks, he’s back to finish what he started.
The linebacker room just got a whole lot deeper. Alongside Carter, Tennessee brings back two-year starter Jeremiah Telander, rising sophomore Edwin Spillman-who turned heads during a breakout freshman campaign-and promising young players like Jadon Perlotte and Jaedon Harmon. Add in blue-chip freshmen Brayden Rouse and TJ White, and Knowles and linebackers coach William Inge have a loaded group to work with.
So, what changed for Carter? According to sources, his decision to withdraw from the NFL Draft came down to medical reasons.
He battled through turf toe in both feet for much of the 2025 season, missing two games (Kentucky and New Mexico State) and gutting it out through others. But the injury lingered longer than expected, and Carter recently learned it would keep him sidelined during the pre-draft process.
That uncertainty pushed him to reconsider, and ultimately, to return to Knoxville.
Carter’s numbers speak for themselves. Over the past two seasons, he’s piled up 161 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, nine pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble return.
In 2024, he started all 13 games for Tennessee’s College Football Playoff squad, recording 68 tackles and six pass breakups. In 2025, he started nine of the 10 games he played before the injury slowed him down, including standout performances like a 14-tackle day against Georgia and a 17-tackle, game-saving effort in overtime at Mississippi State.
Even with the injury, Carter believed his tape and feedback from scouts pointed to a potential mid-round draft selection. He was content with that path-until the injury shifted the timeline.
Back in December, Carter spoke candidly about how tough the decision was to leave Tennessee.
“It was a hard decision, just getting all the information gathered to me, weighing the pros and cons and different variables of leaving early,” he said. “It was just hard, not just for the simple fact of that, but the family that I have here at Tennessee - my coaches, my brothers, as far as teammates, and support staff.”
He added, “It’s hard leaving such a great program like (Tennessee). But that’s what life is.
It’s about stepping into your new chapter in life, making hard decisions and trusting God in everything that I do. So that’s exactly what I did, is I just prayed on it, thought with family about it, and I'm happy with my decision.”
That “decision” has now come full circle. And for Tennessee, it couldn’t have worked out much better.
They get their defensive leader back, a player who knows the system, knows the conference, and knows what it takes to win at the highest level. For Carter, it’s a chance to get healthy, boost his draft stock, and chase one more big season in orange and white.
In a sport where player movement is more fluid than ever, this is one of those rare moments where a program not only dodges a loss-it gets a second chance at something special.