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Jordan Carter was a top target for Tennessee and the 4-star EDGE committed to the Vols

Chad Simmons updated head shotby: Chad Simmons12/03/25ChadSimmons_

A couple of months ago, Jordan Carter looked locked in with Texas A&M. The four-star EDGE from Douglasville (Ga.) Douglas County had been committed for more than a year, and all signs pointed toward a quiet finish with the Aggies.

But when Carter reopened his recruitment on Nov. 1, everything changed, and Tennessee was ready to pounce.

Carter took official visits to Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee. The trip to Knoxville came first, and Josh Heupel’s staff immediately set the tone. Georgia Tech gave him plenty to think about, and Auburn did what it could in the middle of a coaching transition, but the Vols went all-in, and it paid off.

“They just made me a priority,” Carter told Rivals. “How Tennessee recruited me made me feel different. Their coaches did a great job. The people at Tennessee are great, and they are a big part of my decision.”

Rodney Garner spearheaded Tennessee’s pursuit. A former Auburn player with decades of SEC experience and a long resume of player development, Garner made a strong impression.

“Coach G can develop defensive linemen. Development was so important to me. He coaches his players hard, he knows how to push them, and I like who he is as a coach. Being able to play for Coach G in Coach Banks’ defense is a good fit for me.”

The No. 212 prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking is excited not only about his fit with the staff, but also about what awaits him on Saturdays inside Neyland Stadium.

“Tennessee has some of the best fans. It was rocking when I was there. They have a great crowd… over 100,000 people in there. That atmosphere is different.”

It is a wrap. Carter is playing in the SEC, just not at the school he committed to in October of 2024. He couldn’t be happier about where he ended up.

“It was a hard decision, but it was the right decision,” Carter said. “Me and my family love it at Tennessee. I had to take the visits, and look at each school, but Tennessee just felt right. I made the decision on Tuesday.”