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Josh Heupel gets massive boost as fan favorite LB returns to Tennessee instead of the NFL Draft

This is huge news for 2026.
Conner Linsner
Conner Linsner

All for Tennessee

Sep 6, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jeremiah Telander (22) and linebacker Arion Carter (7) react to a play against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images / Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Let's Go! Tennessee has just received some of the best news of the offseason. Arion Carter is back for one more year. He was originally going to the NFL Draft, but he decided to enter his name into the Transfer Portal and see what happens.

Tennessee boosts depth as Josh Heupel lands former Colorado QB

Carter posted on X that he is coming back to Knoxville and he's a "Vol for life."

Josh Heupel bringing in Jim Knowles has been one of the best moves Tennessee has made in a long time. Knowles has recruited relentlessly, stacking the roster with multiple high-level defensive playmakers. Adding Carter is just more proof that the Vols’ defense is trending in the right direction and should be in a great position to bounce back in 2026.

Arion Carter skips NFL Draft to play for Tennessee next fall

Jim Knowles will absolutely love this addition of Carter. In 2025, Carter played in 10 games and registered 76 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 2.0 passes defended, and a forced fumble. Carter brings plenty of athletic traits to the table for a linebacker. He can run from sideline to sideline and has the physicality to shed blocks and make plays on ball carriers.

Bringing back a Second Team All-SEC defender after already adding Amare Campbell and retaining freshman standout Edwin Spillman is a massive win for Jim Knowles and Josh Heupel. The heart of Tennessee’s defense is shaping up to be one of the best units in the SEC, and the depth the Vols now have at linebacker is nothing short of impressive.

My favorite stat about Carter is his 8.9% missed tackle percentage. This puts him in an elite category of college football linebackers. He rarely makes big whiffs and has been a consistent producer on Tennessee's defense. I cannot wait to see how Jim Knowles deploys him next year.

Tennessee has been killing it in the Transfer Portal, and now they have added to that success this weekend. In the last two days, Tennessee has added:

  • IOL Donovan Haslam (West Virginia)
  • RB Javin Gordon (Tulane)
  • S Tevis Metcalf (Michigan)
  • TE Trent Thomas (South Alabama)
  • S DJ Burks (App State)
  • CB Isaiah Hardge (Colorado)
  • QB Ryan Staub (Colorado)

Plus, we can now add Carter to that list. The Vols continue to stay hot.

Conner Linsner

Conner Linsner

Conner is the Site Expert at All for Tennessee, covering Tennessee Volunteers athletics. He has been covering college and professional sports on various FanSided sites since 2020. After graduating from Wayne State University in 2024, he decided his passion for collegiate and professional athletics had driven him to work in sports media. Conner has been to over half of the Major League Baseball stadiums with his father and plans to hit every single ballpark in the majors. Conner's work has also been featured on Sports Illustrated.