8/12/2023 football Edit

Arion Carter making early impression on Vols' defense

Tennessee freshman linebacker Arion Carter has impressed through two weeks of fall camp. (University of Tennessee Athletics)

Noah Taylor • VolReport

Managing Editor

Noah is a graduate of the UT College of Journalism & Electronic Media and has covered Tennessee football since 2019. He joined Rivals in 2022.

McCallan Castles stood at the podium inside the north studio of the Neyland-Thompson Athletics Center last Wednesday.

The tight end listed off a number of defensive players that he has faced over the last two weeks of Tennessee football fall camp. The usual names were mentioned—Aaron Beasley and Keenan Pili, but Castles immediately named freshman linebacker Arion Carter.

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"I have to shout out Arion Carter," Castles said. "That dude fills holes fast and he is going to lace you in the hole. I've never seen a dude come in so ready to play from a young guy standpoint."

Castles has seen a lot of football over the last five years. So has linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary.

The 6-foot-1, 227-pound Carter has quickly made an impression in the Vols' linebackers room, thus far living up to the billing of the four-star prospect out of Smyrna High School that signed with Tennessee's 2023 class, though there are times he also looks the part of a newcomer adjusting to life in the SEC.

"There's never going to be perfection," Jean-Mary said. "Youth always equals mistakes and we just want to limit the amount. The thing with Arion is that he plays so hard, fast and is a great athlete so he's able to overcome some of those mistakes that maybe other people can't. We are not going to spoon-feed him. We are going to keep force-feeding him and putting him in difficult situations so he learns from them and if he does it right, he can explain why he did it right...

"I think he's right where he was and I think he's probably a little further ahead than where he was in the spring. Obviously, we are expecting big things from him the rest of this camp."

Part of what has helped in Carter's transition is the experience Tennessee has at the position.

Beasley is back for his fourth season after leading the team in tackles a year ago and Pili was a two-time captain at BYU before transferring to Tennessee last spring. Even underclassmen Elijah Herring and Kaleb Perry made contributions last season.

WATCH ON VOLREPORT: Tennessee football holds its first scrimmage of fall camp ft. Joe Milton

Carter and Herring shared plenty of familiarity before he arrived on campus. The two—along with freshman defensive lineman and Elijah's brother Caleb Herring—are all from Middle Tennessee, having played against each other in high school.

"Going through fall camp each and every day, really starting off in the spring and then summer workouts as we build a good relationship," Carter said. "We all hang out together. Being able to get to know and a feel for everybody as I came in. It's just helpful because when you're down, a brother is able to pick you up.

"You're able to lean on a brother some days and they are able to lean on you just because of the trust. That's been great."

Herring was in a similar position this time last year.

He was also a highly touted recruit that early enrolled in January 2022, went through spring practices and fall camp before appearing in 12 games as a reserve.

"(Carter) is a very detailed, assignment sound player," Herring added. "You can tell. He picks something up and puts it on the field, just like that. He's very intentional with everything he does. He's very locked in. Comes in with the right mindset to go everyday."

Carter will almost certainly fill a similar role to the one Herring did last season, seeing the field as a backup at position with both experience and depth.

For now, he is displaying all of the reasons he was a coveted prospect whose recruitment went down to the wire with conference power Alabama.

"I'm pleased (with the decision to come to Tennessee), most definitely," Carter said. "Just getting in the system, being around all the guys, just learning the culture and seeing how I fit as a whole. I love it here and I'm really happy with my decision."

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