Arion Carter Poised to Lead Tennessee’s Defense as Breakout Linebacker Heading into a High-Stakes 2025 Football Season for Volunteers
As the Tennessee Volunteers prepare for the 2025 football season, few players carry more anticipation or upside than sophomore linebacker Arion Carter. After a promising true freshman campaign in 2023 and a sophomore season in 2024 filled with development and flashes of brilliance, Carter enters 2025 as one of the most important figures in Tennessee’s defensive plans. Heralded as a high-upside prospect when he committed to the Vols, Carter is now being counted on to become a leader, playmaker, and anchor for a unit with championship aspirations.
In an era of dynamic offenses and rapid-paced SEC competition, the Vols will need a strong defensive identity to challenge powerhouses like Georgia, Alabama, and now Texas and Oklahoma. Carter is expected to be the centerpiece of that identity, blending athleticism, intelligence, and an increasingly vocal leadership presence that makes him one of the most exciting defenders in the conference.
Arion Carter’s arrival in Knoxville was met with justified excitement. A four-star linebacker from Smyrna, Tennessee, Carter chose the Vols over Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan in one of the most talked-about recruiting wins for Josh Heupel’s staff in recent years. His high school film displayed a rare blend of speed, hitting power, and coverage ability—traits that translated quickly in his freshman season.
Though 2023 was largely a learning year, Carter showed glimpses of his immense potential. Appearing in all 13 games and earning rotational snaps on defense and special teams, he finished the year with 29 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. Coaches raved about his motor, his film room habits, and how quickly he picked up the complexities of Tennessee’s 4-2-5 scheme.
In 2024, Carter took the next step forward. Playing in a more regular role, he tallied 64 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. More importantly, he began to take ownership of the linebacker unit. Injuries to upperclassmen opened the door for Carter to showcase his range, instincts, and versatility in both run support and coverage.
Now, entering his junior year, the expectations are sky-high. No longer a promising young player—Carter is expected to be a top performer and potential All-SEC selection.
What separates Carter from many of his peers is his elite athleticism. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, he possesses ideal size for a modern SEC linebacker but moves like a safety. His straight-line speed, lateral quickness, and short-area burst allow him to cover tight ends and backs in space—skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s spread offenses.
Carter’s tackling ability has improved each year, especially in open-field scenarios. His background as a high school running back has given him a unique understanding of leverage and angles, which he uses to his advantage when diagnosing plays.
Vols coaches have emphasized Carter’s improvement in play recognition and gap discipline, two areas that often define a good linebacker from a great one. During spring practices and scrimmages heading into 2025, Carter was consistently praised for being “the first guy to the football” and “the heartbeat of the defense.”
His athleticism also lends itself well to Tennessee’s blitz packages. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks often employs creative pressure schemes, and Carter’s ability to disguise his intentions and explode through gaps gives the Vols a dangerous weapon on third downs.
While the physical tools are evident, what may make Carter truly special is his growth as a leader. Entering his third year, he’s now among the most experienced defenders on a unit undergoing some turnover. Several key veterans from the 2024 team are gone, and Carter is expected to step into a captain-type role.
During offseason workouts and summer training, Carter has embraced that responsibility. He’s been active in helping younger linebackers adjust to the college game and has taken a vocal presence in team meetings, film sessions, and on-field communication.
“He’s matured so much,” said linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary. “He’s not just out there doing his job anymore. He’s lifting others, calling out checks, getting guys lined up. That’s what elite linebackers do.”
Carter has also been active off the field, participating in community outreach through Tennessee’s student-athlete leadership programs and NIL collectives. His character and discipline make him one of the most respected players in the locker room.
Under Tim Banks, the Vols run a multiple front 4-2-5 base defense designed to adapt quickly to spread offenses while remaining stout against the run. Carter is a perfect fit as a hybrid linebacker who can play downhill, cover sideline to sideline, and even drop into deeper coverage zones.
He typically lines up as the weak-side linebacker, a position that requires quick reads, sharp reaction, and sound tackling. But Tennessee has increasingly used Carter in creative ways—bringing him on delayed blitzes, rotating him as a box safety in heavy coverage looks, or even aligning him as a QB spy against mobile passers.
This kind of schematic versatility not only maximizes Carter’s strengths but also keeps opposing offenses guessing. As Carter continues to master the mental side of the position, Tennessee’s defense becomes more adaptable and dangerous.
With the Vols aiming to slow down elite quarterbacks across the SEC, including Georgia’s Ryan Puglisi, Texas’s Arch Manning, and Alabama’s Julian Sayin, having a player like Carter who can neutralize intermediate threats is essential.
If Carter stays healthy and maintains his current development trajectory, he could be in the mix for some major postseason awards. His name is already being mentioned as a preseason watch list candidate for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker.
Scouts love his athletic profile and upside, with some early 2026 NFL Draft projections placing him as a top-75 pick. His performance this season could elevate him into even higher consideration, especially if he produces against elite competition and helps Tennessee contend for an SEC title.
Additionally, Carter’s combination of stats, leadership, and team success will play a role in determining whether he earns All-SEC or even All-American recognition.
With Tennessee returning a strong front four and several key pieces in the secondary, Carter will be positioned to clean up plays and stuff stat sheets—an ideal setup for a linebacker looking to make a national name for himself.
Tennessee enters the 2025 season with high expectations. After back-to-back 9+ win seasons and a strong finish to 2024, the Vols believe they are ready to take the next step. With a veteran quarterback under center and a deep receiver room, the offense will once again be explosive.
But it’s the defense—and specifically the linebacker play—that could determine whether Tennessee can truly contend with the SEC’s elite. That puts enormous importance on Carter’s performance.
He doesn’t have to do it alone, of course. Sophomore Elijah Herring is expected to start next to Carter, and the two form a formidable duo. But Carter is the alpha, the one with the experience, the swagger, and the production to be a difference-maker.
The Vols’ schedule is no cakewalk, with matchups against Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Florida, along with a difficult non-conference tilt against NC State. If Tennessee is going to navigate that gauntlet, they’ll need big-time plays on defense—and Carter is the most likely candidate to deliver them.
Arion Carter’s rise is one of the most exciting storylines for Tennessee football heading into 2025. He’s the kind of player that programs build around—not just because of his physical tools, but because of his mindset, leadership, and commitment to excellence.
As he prepares to take the field this fall, Carter is no longer just a young prospect with potential. He’s a battle-tested SEC linebacker with the tools to dominate and the drive to lead his team toward greatness.
In a league loaded with talent and ambition, Carter’s journey will be closely watched not just in Knoxville, but across the college football world. And if all goes as planned, 2025 could be the year Arion Carter transforms from a rising star into a household name.
