Tennessee junior linebacker Arion Carter, who led the Southeastern Conference during the recently completed regular season with 7.6 tackles per game, announced Friday that he is forgoing his remaining eligibility with the Volunteers and entering the NFL draft.
Carter is the third Vols player this week to bypass his senior season, joining redshirt junior receiver Chris Brazzell II and junior cornerback Jermod McCoy.
“Tennessee has truly become home for me, and that’s what has made this decision so difficult,” Carter posted on social media. “To the University of Tennessee and the greatest fan base in the country, thank you for the opportunity to be a Vol. The college experience, game day atmosphere and relationships developed will last a lifetime. Playing for the ‘Power T’ meant everything to me.
“So with a lot of prayer and conversation with my family and those closest to me, I’ve decided to declare for the NFL draft.”
The Vols haven’t had a linebacker drafted since 2017, when Jalen Reeves-Maybin went in the fourth round to the Detroit Lions.
Carter, a 6-foot-1, 235-pounder from the Nashville suburb of Smyrna, racked up 76 tackles, six tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 10 games this year. He missed two contests because of turf toe.
After tallying a career-high 14 tackles in the 44-41 overtime loss to Georgia on Sept. 13, the former four-star signee set a new standard with 17 stops in the 41-34 overtime win at Mississippi State two weeks later. Carter’s 17 tackles were tied for the most by a Power Four conference player during the regular season, and his pass breakup in overtime clinched Tennessee’s triumph in Starkville.
Carter finished the season strong as well, tallying six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in the 31-11 victory at Florida and seven tackles and two tackles for loss during the 45-24 loss to Vanderbilt.
For his three-year career, Carter had 161 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.