Two SEC Stars Start Fall Camp Behind the 8-Ball

Two of your least favorite teams in the SEC are experiencing some surprising pre-camp adversity and you really hate to see it.
The gap between summer workouts and fall camp gives players just enough time to get into trouble. In Knoxville, a Tennessee Volunteer isn’t getting in trouble with the law. He’s getting in trouble with his own teammates.
Last week, the rumor mill was lit on fire by Boo Carter. A Freshman All-American in 2024, the versatile athlete picked off a pass, had a sack, and 38 tackles, all while returning punts for the CFP team. Ahead of the season, he was asking for an opportunity to double-dip and play offense. Now, he’s just looking for a chance to play.
A week ago Carter was not with the team, and many speculated that he could be pulling a Nico right before the start of the season. Reports indicated that Carter caused friction in the locker room when he missed mandatory team activities. Josh Heupel said today that Carter has not left the team or been kicked off, but it’s safe to say the two sides are not on good terms as fall camp begins.
“Boo is a part of our team here,” Heupel said. “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.”
ESPN’s Chris Low, a graduate of UT, provided a few more details. “Important to remember here that the leaders on the Tennessee football team made a pact that all players would be held accountable this year. They’re the ones Carter has to win over to get back on the field and 100 percent in good graces again. No more mulligans.”
Boo Carter has broken that pact. It would be a real shame if they could not bond that bridge, so to speak.
DJ Lagway is Injured, Again
The exceptional play of a true freshman quarterback salvaged the Florida Gators’ 2024 season and cooled Billy Napier‘s scalding hot seat. The meteoric rise of DJ Lagway has been accompanied by hiccups along the way.
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His second SEC start ended prematurely. Lagway suffered a leg injury against Georgia. It sounded like they might have to amputate his leg after he pulled his hamstring, yet a week later, he was back in action.
The second injury was much more mysterious. Nobody saw the injury to his throwing shoulder, but it forced him to miss spring practice. He reassured folks at SEC Media Days that he’s good to go. He may have spoken too soon.
Lagway suffered a calf strain during team workouts a week ago and was spotted walking around campus with a boot. Billy Napier said today that he will not be a full participant in practice when fall camp begins this week.
“He’s day to day,” said the Florida head coach. “The good thing is that we’re about a week removed [from his latest injury]. In general, he’s made a lot of quick progress. But it will be something that we’re monitoring and hopefully as we go his ability to participate in practice will be a little bit more each opportunity that we get going forward.”
Lagway enters the season as a Heisman Trophy contender. But you can’t make the club in the tub. Florida has an incredibly difficult SEC slate. The Gators’ success rides on the shoulders of a quarterback who is quickly earning the tag “injury prone.”
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