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Updating the Boo Carter situation after Tennessee's first practice of fall camp

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey07/30/25GrantRamey
Boo Carter, Tennessee Football | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter (23) during Vols' football's first day of fall camp in Knoxville on July 30, 2025.

Tennessee Football sophomore defensive back Boo Carter was on the practice field with his teammates for stretching periods Wednesday morning, as the Vols started fall camp inside the Anderson Training Center.

Tennessee players were in shorts and helmets for the workout, but Carter did not wear a helmet and was not part of the practice once players went through drills with their position groups.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel spoke at length about Carter’s status on Tuesday, after Carter recently missed offseason workouts. He said Tennessee’s leadership council, made up of veteran players, had a say in Carter being allowed to return and be around the team.

“Boo is a part of our team here,” Heupel said during his media day press conference. “There’s some things that he’s got to accomplish to get back on the field with us. Don’t have a set timeline on that. 

“Our leadership council has been a part 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.”

Season Opener: Tennessee vs. Syracuse, August 30, Atlanta

Tennessee opens the season August 30 against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Vols host ETSU in their home opener on September 6 and start the SEC schedule at home against Georgia on September 13.

It’s unclear what Carter has to do to rejoin his teammates in practice or when that will happen.

Heupel on Tuesday declined to clarify if Carter will be in meetings with his teammates during camp, or if he will or won’t practice. 

“I’m not going to get into all the details of everything,” Heupel said. “He’s here, he’s with us. And each day we’ll figure out what comes next.” 

Josh Heupel ‘disappointed with how some things were handled’

Heupel did confirm that he had been in contact with Carter over the previous week and that attending offseason workouts is required for Tennessee players. 

“At the end of the day,” he said, “it’s a requirement to be here, be a part of what we’re doing. And there’s a lot of information out of there, out in the world. Some of it is correct, some of it is not. I’m not going to address everything over the last week. 

“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.”