'We're moving forward': Tennessee coach Josh Heupel addresses Boo Carter's dismissal

Tennessee Football coach Josh Heupel said during his weekly press conference on Monday that he doesn’t regret giving Boo Carter a second chance with the Vols after he was missing from team activities in July.

“Not regretful,” Heupel said. “At the end of the day, it’s our job as coaches to try to help mold these guys. That’s part of the commitment we make in the recruiting process, and when we decide to come.”

Carter was dismissed from the program after meeting with Tennessee coaches on Sunday. He wasn’t with the Vols for the 42-9 win over New Mexico State on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Carter had unexcused absences in July, just before the start of Tennessee’s fall training camp, but was allowed to rejoin the team after apologizing in front of his teammates and earning his way back on the practice field.

“Sometimes it works out,” Heupel said on Monday. “Sometimes it doesn’t. At the end of the day, we’re moving forward.”

In a statement on social media on Sunday Carter claimed his season was over due to injury and he had decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years,” Carter wrote. “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!”

Heupel said during his postgame press conference Saturday night that Carter wasn’t with the team against New Mexico State after failing to live up to the “standard” within the football program.

“At the end of the day there’s a standard you’ve got to meet to be in that locker room,” Heupel said. “He was not out on the field with us. That will be my last response related to that right now.”

Carter didn’t play a defensive snap two weeks ago in the 33-27 loss to Oklahoma and instead was limited to punt returns only. Freshman running back Daune Morris fielded punts in place of Carter against New Mexico State.

Up Next: Tennessee at Florida, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Tennessee plays at Florida on Saturday, then closes the regular-season schedule against Vanderbilt on Senior Day at Neyland Stadium on November 29.

Heupel in July said he was “disappointed with how some things were handled” by Carter but allowed him to remain in the program after discussion the issue with the team’s leadership group.

“At the end of the day,” Heupel said at the time, “it’s a requirement to be here, be a part of what we’re doing … disappointed with how some things were handled. At the end of the day, we have conversations, what does it look like moving forward? And that’s all parts, our leadership council, Boo and our staff.

“So it’s not about what yesterday was, it’s about today. And we’ll see as we continue to progress where that leads us.”

Boo Carter this season: 25 tackles, 11 punt returns

Carter this season has 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three passes defended, three forced fumbles and a sack in nine games. He has returned 11 punts for a total of 145 yards, averaging 13.2 yards per return. 

He returned four punts for 94 yards against ETSU in September, then two for 35 yards two weeks later against UAB. Outside of those two games, Carter has a total of 16 yards on five returns.

Carter as a freshman last season had 38 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception in 13 games. 

Carter, a native of Chattanooga, was a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class out of Bradley Central High School. He was the No. 111 overall player in the Rivals Industry rankings and was the No. 3 athlete in the class and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee.