ESPN ranks Tennessee's Boo Carter as one of the top-10 freshmen in college football
Boo Carter is a top-10 freshman in college football according to a ranking this week from ESPN. The Tennessee Football rookie defensive back was tied for 10th on the list with Georgia defensive back KJ Bolden.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith topped the list, ahead of Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart, Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo, Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh, Georgia running back Nate Frazier and Notre Dame offensive tackle Anthonie Knapp.
“Carter has been the talk of the No. 7 Vols since shining in spring football,” ESPN’s Billy Tucker wrote this week. “A rotational player at the hybrid star position, he has made his presence felt in coverage and with his tackles and pressures … Carter just needs more experience to increase his production on defense. He also is a contributor on special teams.”
Boo Carter through two games: 78 snaps, 4.0 tackles, 2 quarterback hits
Carter has come off the bench at the Star position, with redshirt sophomore Christian Harrison.
Carter has 4.0 tackles through his first two games, with a pair of quarterback hits. He played 30 snaps in the season-opener against Chattanooga and 23 against North Carolina State Saturday night. He also played a total of 25 special teams snaps over the first two games, mostly on kickoff coverage and field goal block.
Harrison has 3.0 tackles and on3 quarterback hurry. He played 23 snaps against Chattanooga and 23 more against NC State.
Carter was an in-state star in the 2024 recruiting class, out of Bradley Central High School in Chattanooga. He was ranked No. 111 overall in the On3 Ratings, was the No. 3 athlete in the class and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee.
Up Next: No. 7 Tennessee vs. Kent State, Saturday, 7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network
Tennessee defensive backs coach Willie Martinez said last week that “the moment wasn’t too big” for Carter in his debut with the Vols against Chattanooga.
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“And obviously we’d love to see what he looks like (the NC State) game,” Martinez said, “because obviously you’re trying to make the biggest improvement from game one, game two.
“… We had a couple guys that played for the first time and he was one of them and (he) made some plays.”
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel at SEC Media Days in July described Carter as “a dynamic playmaker.”
That’s been on display through his first two games.
“You can see that from his high school footage,” Carter said at the time. “It’s offense, returner, defensive playmaker. We were fortunate to spend a lot of time with him in different camps and get around him. His competitive composure on game day — I got a chance to go see him play — it was striking to me, just watching everything unfold and his ability to communicate after a play on the sidelines with his coaches, players.
“I’m excited about his growth in mastering the position within the fundamentals and technique and our scheme as we go through training camp. But expect Boo to have a great fall.”
