After 12 weeks of football, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel had it enough and said ‘ There’s bigger than Power T’ and decided to cut it off. The word on the street is that Vols defensive player Boo Carter and the Tennessee Volunteers are parting ways after a season of drama and disciplinary troubles, with coach Josh Heupel dropping the axe. The talented defensive back’s time on Rocky Top has come to an abrupt end, with his off-field antics finally catching up to his on-field talent. But according to Boo, there’s more than meets the eye.

The final incident occurred when Carter skipped Tennessee’s homecoming game against NM State. Even though he was listed as inactive due to injury, along with several other injured players, those other players were still present on the sideline. Carter, however, was not there on Josh Heupel’s sideline. After the game, Josh Heupel said that players must meet ‘certain standards’ to remain part of the team but did not give specific details about Carter’s situation.

Then on November 17th, Carter hopped onto X and told the story from his perspective: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!”

Before his dismissal, Carter played nine games during the season. He was playing mainly as a backup Nickelback on defense and served as the team’s primary punt returner. Over the season, he recorded 25 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, forced three fumbles, and returned 11 punts for 145 yards—showing he had potential to be an impactful player.

However, Carter’s time at Tennessee had been troubled, especially during the offseason. He reportedly missed many team workouts and even got into a confrontation with team leaders because of his repeated absences. His reduced playing time in the Nov. 1 loss to Oklahoma, where he played only on special teams, was another sign that things were not going well. All these issues eventually added up, leading to his dismissal from the program.

Boo’s downfall: Where did it go wrong?

Boo Carter’s journey at Tennessee took a surprising downturn after what looked like a superstar beginning. As a freshman, he was one of the Vols’ most talented players. Earning SEC All-Freshman honors and becoming known as both a strong defensive back and an explosive punt returner. He entered the 2025 season with high expectations, even being named a preseason All-SEC pick.

But things started going wrong in the offseason. Carter wanted to add wide receiver to his responsibilities and become a rare three-way player. But unfortunately, he couldn’t cash it in on it and develop in spring practice. Around that same time, he began missing a lot of team activities. This caused some tension with teammates and coaches, and communication broke down. He eventually reported for preseason camp, but he had to follow certain conditions to stay on the roster.

During ancient practices, Carter was basically separated from the rest of the team. He wasn’t allowed to participate in drills and instead worked out on the sideline or indoors while the rest of the team practiced. As part of getting back into good standing, he even did community service, including visiting patients at a children’s hospital. By August 5, he rejoined the team fully, taking part in regular practice and returning to the defensive rotation, but he never got back the starting role he had the year before.

2024 was his best season. Carter had been an impact player at Tennessee’s Star (nickelback) position. He made plays all over the field: 38 tackles, several tackles for loss, a sack, a few quarterback hurries, and an interception. He was also one of the best punt returners in the SEC, leading the league with a 16.5-yard average. But despite all that promise, his inconsistencies and off-field issues eventually outweighed his potential, setting the stage for his dismissal.