After an offseason that raised questions about the participation of Boo Carter, we finally got an answer on what it looks like. In the season-opening 45-26 win against Syracuse, he played 27 snaps at the STAR position. This came off the bench with Jalen McMurray getting the start.
Carter posted one tackle, which was a solo effort. He nearly brought down Orange quarterback Steve Angeli for a sack, but couldn’t complete the play. He graded out on PFF with a 67.8 grade, the ninth-best on the team. This featured a 67.7 mark in run defense, 51.8 in tackling, 47.2 in pass rush and 70.4 in coverage.
McMurray played 52 snaps and was graded out with an effective 73.9 grade, the third-best on the team. He had a tie for the second-most tackles with seven, including four solo efforts. He had one sack, one tackle for loss and tipped a pass that would be intercepted.
Carter was not listed as a starter on the depth chart, despite other positions having multiple players listed as such going into the game. Marcus Goree Jr. was listed as third-string for the position.
While Carter is a dynamic returner, he did not return any punts on Saturday.
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Carter was in attendance to start fall camp, but was held out of some team activities at the opening stretch of practices as he was off to the side doing individual work. After taking steps to rejoin the team as asked by fellow players and the coaching staff, he made his way back to being a participant in the team drills.
However, when Heupel has met with the media this fall, he’s been hesitant to say exactly what Carter’s role will entail this year. Instead, he’s opted to focus on the steps that Carter has taken to get to the point he is at.
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 payday 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 still uncertain for the 2025 season, his defensive role is a lot clearer. Carter emerged as Tennessee’s starter at STAR as a true freshman, and could reprise the position at some point this year.
