Terrific Tennessee Tuesday: Boo Carter

The Vols sophomore defensive back had a fantastic second half against UAB on Saturday afternoon.

Credit: Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

Sophomore defensive back Boo Carter has not had the start to the 2025 college football season that I projected back in the spring. Before No. 15 Tennessee’s fourth game of the season versus UAB on Saturday afternoon, the former blue-chip recruit had not played more than 28 snaps on defense. For context, Carter played 424 snaps total in his true freshman season for the Vols – that averaged out to around 35 a game for Tennessee. Through four games this season, Carter is averaging out to a little over 20 snaps on defense.

Carter is yet to start at STAR for Tennessee this season, and with how well versatile senior Jalen McMurray has played in that spot, Carter has found himself in the position where former Vol defensive back Christian Harrison was in last season, where he’s going to get reps continually, just not the bulk of them. It feels like forever ago when I was wondering aloud on the podcast and radio show whether or not Tennessee should be playing Carter on defense, offense, and special teams. We’re a third of the way through the regular season, and Carter is still finding his footing just on defense and even a bit on special teams for the Vols.

However, perhaps Saturday afternoon was the turning point for Carter’s 2025 campaign with Tennessee? Carter, who you could argue is Tennessee’s best playmaker, especially with the ball in his hands, had himself a strong second half against the Blazers. In total, Carter led Tennessee in tackles with nine. He added three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. He earned his highest PFF grade of the season at 82.1. As a long-time Boo Carter Believer, it was great to see him make the impact he did in the second half of that ball game against UAB inside Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

48 Hours: No. 15 Tennessee Beats UAB 56-24

Carter did, of course, muff a punt in the ball game, but he also returned a punt 34 yards in the same game. Sure, Carter has to clean up the fumbling problem on special teams as we go deeper into SEC play, but the more reps he gets on punt returns, the likelier it is that he improves. Carter graded out at 90.7 on special teams a season ago as a true freshman. Through four games, he’s slightly worse but still very good at 81.4. With how well the offense has played through four weeks, you haven’t needed Carter to flip a game for Tennessee like Dee Williams did in 2023 against Texas A&M, but just because that has not happened yet does not mean it will not happen. What if the offense stalls and really struggles at home against a top-5 Oklahoma defense, and the Vols’ CFP chances are on the line? The sophomore defensive back could be the difference-maker in that ball game, no question. Carter nearly housed one against ETSU a couple of weeks ago, and he nearly housed one on the road in Athens against Georgia last fall, too. He’s going to break through there eventually, and who knows, that might be on the road in Starkville this Saturday afternoon.