While Josh Heupel isn't giving away any info on who the QB2 will be for Tennessee football this weekend against Syracuse, there was one other area of concern for fans that he quickly cleared up. That has to do with defensive back Boo Carter and his status for Saturday.
Earlier this summer, rumors were flying that Carter was potentially on the verge of being dismissed from the program after an altercation with teammates - he reportedly skipped multiple team workouts. However, Heupel welcomed Carter back, but made it clear he had to work his way back. It looks like he's done just that, with him being good to go for the Week 1 matchup:
Heupel: I anticipate Boo Carter playing this week.
— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) August 25, 2025
Boo Carter will play for Tennessee football vs. Syracuse per Josh Heupel
This is what Vols fans everywhere wanted to see. We'd be lying if we didn't admit that the drama surrounding Carter this offseason wasn't a big concern. He's easily one of the top returning playmakers for defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
Not only that, but Carter is going to be playing both ways for Tennessee this fall, as he'll also be ready to line up at inside receiver moving forward. He was a two-way stud in high school and he's hoping to have the same kind of impact for UT in 2025.
The start of '25 didn't go to plan for him or Heupel, with Carter being a limited participant at camp. This was by design, with Tennessee and Heupel sending a message to the sophomore that he can't put himself in front of the rest of the locker room.
Carter took things to heart and busted his tail to earn back some of the trust he lost from his teammates and the coaching staff. It's up in the air if he'll start vs. Syracuse - it wouldn't be a surprise if him being on the bench to open the new season is also part of his punishment. If that ends up being the case, it shouldn't take long for Carter to take the field and pick up where he left off in being a reliable defensive back for the SEC side.