The status for Tennessee football’s top linebacker remains uncertain for the Vols’ SEC matchup against Kentucky. Arion Carter, one of the Vols’ starting linebackers and leaders on defense, came up on the initial availability report as ‘questionable’ on Wednesday. The Vols listed Carter as a game time decision on the game day injury injury. Carter has no prior history of injury this season.
Carter has started in each of Tennessee’s games this year as the weak-side linebacker opposite of Jeremiah Telander. On the season, Carter has produced 61 tackles, good for a team high. He’s also notched one pass deflected, one sack and forced a fumble.
If Carter is unable to go on Saturday, Edwin Spillman would likely step up to replace him in the starting unit. William Inge’s room would also likely deploy freshman Jadon Perlotte, who has earned increased playing time in the past two SEC games. Other options are freshman Jaedon Harmon and second-year Jordan Burns, who have seen varying degrees of playing time.
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However, one of the additional options off the bench at linebacker has been ruled out. Ben Bolton was listed for the first time this season as questionable for the contest on Wednesday and was ultimately ruled out on Friday night.
On the year, the play at linebacker has been up-and-down. Tackling and stepping up in the run game have been an issue at times, but the position group has also stepped up to make big plays for lost yardage. If Carter isn’t able to go, it would have been a massive blow to this effort, though.
Kickoff in Lexington is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET and will air on the SEC Network. Players listed as out for the game on UT include cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson III, wide receiver Travis Smith Jr and Bolton. Also listed as questionable this week were tight end Ethan Davis and wide receiver Radarious Jackson, but both have been cleared to play.
