Boo Carter returns to Tennessee practice after absence, speculation on future

Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter is back on the practice field. After Volunteers head football coach Josh Heupel addressed his absence on Tuesday, Carter was seen stretching with his teammates on Wednesday.

Austin Price of Volquest shared a video of Carter to social media. Check it out below, as the star defender seems to be ready to get to work in Knoxville

Boo Carter on the practice field for stretch this morning. pic.twitter.com/h32vaYnbpS

— Austin Price (@AustinPriceless) July 30, 2025

As you can tell, it looks like Carter is starting to prepare to suit up for Tennessee. During Tuesday’s preseason press conference, Heupel made sure to point out that the Volunteers will welcome him with open arms: “Boo is a part of our team here,” Heupel stated. “There’s some things he’s got to accomplish to get back on the field here. Don’t have a set timetable on that.

“Our leadership council has been apart of those things, those discussions, with me and with Boo. I’m proud of what they’ve done. They care and love Boo, and want him to be his best too. And through this thing, I think Boo sees that as well.”

Earlier this month, the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Adam Sparks reported Carter missed multiple team activities and was confronted by team leaders. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Chris Low provided further details on Carter’s future with the program.

“Lotta speculation about the future of Tennessee DB Boo Carter the last two weeks after he missed multiple workouts, but sources tell ESPN that Carter is not being dismissed from the team,” Low wrote on X/Twitter earlier Tuesday.

Carter’s status was described as “uncertain” earlier this month despite previously confirming his plans to return to Knoxville after a sensational true freshman season in which he recording 38 tackles, a sack and an interception while appearing in 13 games with five starts. Carter also contributed on special teams, averaging 16.5 yards per punt in 2024.

Carter’s absence this summer isn’t even the most notable personnel issue Heupel and Tennessee have dealt with this offseason. In April, returning starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after skipping the team’s final Spring practice amid a failed NIL renegotiation.

All in all, Boo Carter played high school football at Bradley Central (TN), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 111 overall player in the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services. Tennessee is hoping he can return to being a major contributor for the Volunteers.

— On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this article.