By Jack Glennon
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – By now, student-athlete drama is no stranger to the University of Tennessee.
Just seven months after quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s infamous move across the country to UCLA, Tennessee defensive back Orlando “Boo” Carter has announced his departure from the program.
“Unfortunately, my season has been cut short due to an injury,” Carter shared Sunday on social media. “I have decided to enter the transfer portal…”
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel, however, pushed back on Carter’s injury claim.
“No sir,” Heupel said when asked if Carter should have been listed on the SEC’s injury report. “Not based on [what] our trainers [have said].”
Heupel, though, expressed little remorse for allowing Carter to return after relations between Carter and the team had become tumultuous late in the 2024 season.
“[I’m] not regretful,” Heupel said. “Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. At the end of the day, we’re moving forward.”
Carter, best known by Volunteer fans for his dynamic special teams play, was a healthy scratch for Saturday’s game against New Mexico State. He now shifts his focus to the transfer portal and will not finish the season with the Volunteers.
The Volunteers, however, have bigger fish to fry than dealing with Carter’s tantrum.
On Saturday, the team will embark on a journey to “The Swamp” (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium), the infamous home of the Florida Gators.
Despite having defeated the Gators four times in Knoxville since 2004, the Volunteers have yet to beat the Gators in Gainesville since President George W. Bush’s first term.
Their last win in the Sunshine State came in 2003, a 24-10 triumph led by Volunteer quarterback Casey Clausen.
Needless to say, it’s been a while.
Saturday’s game, however, could very well be Tennessee’s best chance in over two decades to leave Gainesville with a win.
Florida has been inconsistent at best this season, posting a 3-7 record through 10 games despite entering the season ranked as the 15th-best team in the country by the Associated Press.
One particular area of disappointment for the Gators this season has been the quarterback play.
After former quarterback Graham Mertz departed Florida following the 2024 season to join the NFL’s Houston Texans, all eyes turned to five-star sophomore DJ Lagway.
Unfortunately for the Gators, Lagway, who was widely regarded as one of the nation’s top recruits just two years ago, has performed well below expectations.
Having completed only 63.2% of his passes for 1,980 yards, and 12 touchdowns, Lagway leads the SEC in interceptions thrown with 13.
Tennessee linebacker Jeremiah Telander believes that though the Volunteers’ defense has struggled for the majority of the season with open-field tackling, Saturday is another opportunity for them to continue improving.
“[Tackling] is something we have been extremely focused on,” Telander said. “[We are] just continuing to get better.”
Tennessee’s senior quarterback Joey Aguilar, however, has had his fair share of turnovers throughout the season as well—his 10 interceptions trail only Lagway for the SEC lead.
Therefore, Volunteer fans can expect an incredibly sloppy, low-scoring game on Saturday.
Though the Volunteers’ defense has struggled all season, the Gators’ offense has looked anemic, having scored more than 24 points in a conference game just once this season.
The recipe for Tennessee leaving Gainesville with a win this weekend is simple: run the ball.
Whether or not DeSean Bishop is available for the Volunteers on Saturday after sustaining an injury against New Mexico State this past weekend, the talented Tennessee running back room should still be the Vols’ focal point on offense.
The Volunteer running back trio of Bishop, Star Thomas, and Peyton Lewis has averaged 5.5 yards per carry this season, a perfect complement to Joey Aguilar’s aggressive play style.
It remains to be seen if the Volunteers can turn the tide on their struggles in Gainesville on Saturday, but Volunteer fans can expect a tightly contested, physical clash on Saturday at 7:30 PM Eastern.