The transfer portal always brings its fair share of drama, and Tennessee has been on the wrong side of it more than once, whether it was Nico Iamaleava or, more recently, Boo Carter.
Tennessee football avoids transfer portal nightmare by re-signing standout playmaker
Now that there has been some time since the breakup between the Tennessee football program and Carter, Tennessee fans have been much less riled up when his name gets brought up. Based on a recent development, I highly doubt that Tennessee fans have any sympathy for the former Vol safety.
Pete Nakos of On3 has reported that Boo Carter is currently in Nashville, visiting the Tennessee arch-nemesis Vanderbilt.
NEW: Tennessee transfer safety Boo Carter is currently visiting Vanderbilt, @PeteNakos reports⚓️https://t.co/pVv19uYcPm pic.twitter.com/xOWMrOc0WL
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 7, 2026
Boo Carter is visiting Vanderbilt
Carter being in Nashville right now feels like the most fitting ending to a frustrating chapter in Tennessee’s season. Let's be honest, Carter was never going to be liked by Vols fans, no matter where he went, but the fact that he is even considering Vandy makes Tennessee fans question his time in Knoxville.
The Boo Carter era at Tennessee had its share of exciting moments on the field, but it was also weighed down by far too many off-the-field distractions. Fans are still very upset with him, and not to mention that he was already missing workouts in the summer just foreshadowed the likely outcome of this situation.
Josh Heupel said, "There’s a standard that you have to meet to be in that locker room," when Carter was dismissed from the team. Carter is a talented athlete, but the extra noise ultimately held him back during his time at Tennessee.
If Carter does end up signing with Vanderbilt, the final week of the 2026 season just got a lot more interesting. Since Clark Lea took over in Nashville, the rivalry has had a level of juice we haven’t seen in years. Rivalry week is always must-see television, but the Vols versus the Commodores could get that much better.
Colorado has also had some chatter about landing Carter, but who knows where he will end up. Vandy has been his only public visit so far. If Carter lands at Vanderbilt, the storyline writes itself.