Saturday morning marked practice No. 3 for Tennessee football as it prepares for the upcoming season. After Boo Carter went through warmups with no helmet in the first two, he took the next step to fully rejoin the team after the day off.
Carter went through warmups, this time in a helmet and with shoulder pads. After stretches, he briefly went to the weight room before heading to the corner of the indoor facility to join other inactive teammates. He began by working with a weighted ball before going through agility drills. When the team went outside, Carter stayed in to continue his work.
This comes nearly a week after head coach Josh Heupel met with the media to give an update on Carter’s status with the team. He noted that Carter is with the team, but has work to do to get back on the field as a full participant.
“Boo is a part of our team here,” Heupel said. “There’s some things that he’s got to accomplish to get back on the field with us. And don’t have a set timeline on that. Our leadership council has been a part of those things, those discussions with me and with Boo. I’m proud of what they’ve done. They care and love Boo and want him to be his best, too.”
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Expectations are high for Carter entering his sophomore season at Tennessee. Carter totaled 38 tackles, one sack and one interception while starting five games at the STAR spot for Tennessee as a true freshman.
Carter also flashed as a punt returner late in his freshman season, totaling 198 return yards on 12 attempts. The Chattanooga native earned Freshman All-SEC honors last season and was a Preseason Third Team All-SEC selection from the league’s media.
Carter flirted with entering the transfer portal back in December after his freshman season, bargaining for the ability to play on both sides of the field and earning a significant pay day in the process. With Tennessee low on proven receivers and Carter’s clear talent with the ball in his hands, the sophomore could earn touches on offense this season.
While Carter’s offensive role is uncertain for the 2025 season, his defensive role is certain. Carter will be Tennessee’s starting STAR. Other options behind Carter include Jalen McMurray and Jourdan Thomas.
Tennessee football officially began preseason practice on Wednesday and opens up its 2025 season against Syracuse in Atlanta on Aug. 30.
