Tennessee's Boo Carter was one of the top freshmen in the country last season, landing on the freshman All-American team. The rising sophomore was expected to be one of the top returning players on the Vols' defense, but more drama in Knoxville could threaten to end his time at Tennessee.
According to a report from CBS Sports, Carter is currently away from the Tennessee football team, and it is unknown whether or not he will report to fall camp on July 29th with the rest of the Vols team.
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Carter missed numerous team activities over the offseason and was confronted by team leaders. An altercation evidently occurred on July 16th, and Carter hasn't been with the team since then.
This is more drama in Knoxville, where Josh Heupel has endured a turbulent offseason. In the spring, star QB Nico Iamaleava stunningly transferred to UCLA just a few months after leading Tennessee to the College Football Playoff. While this situation is different, Tennessee could be on the verge of losing one of its top young players, just a few days before the beginning of camp.
And according to that same report on CBS, Deion Sanders and Colorado could be the team that swoops in and lands the former 4-star recruit. The report states the following in linking Carter and Colorado:
"The Buffaloes were a factor in his high school recruitment and would likely afford him the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball, which he did in high school and sparingly in spring practice for the Vols."
Colorado and Michigan were the other two finalists in Carter's recruitment before the Chattanooga native ultimately decided to stay close to home.
Despite the Transfer Portal being closed, Boo Carter could play at Colorado in 2025
The Transfer Portal is currently closed and won't be open again until December, but that doesn't shut the door on Carter joining the Colorado football team this season.
Twice this offseason, the precedent has been set for a player to be eligible at a new school without going into the Transfer Portal.
Wisconsin DB Xavier Lucas left the Badgers and walked on at Miami after the Badgers denied his request to enter the portal due to a signed revenue-sharing agreement.
Recently, former BYU QB Jake Retzlaff transferred to Tulane to avoid an honor-code suspension with the Cougars that would have cost him seven games in his final season of collegiate eligibility. Retzlaff will walk on to Tulane and be eligible to play immediately.
Carter could carve out a similar path to Boulder, or elsewhere, if he so chooses. He would have to do so without a scholarship, but in the days of NIL and revenue-sharing, the Buffaloes, or another program, will be able to more than make up that difference.
Despite the off-field issues, Carter is a tremendously talented player who could ultimately lessen the blow of losing two-way star Travis Hunter to the NFL. If anyone can get Carter's head on straight and pull the most out of him on and off the field, it's Coach Prime.