You know what, we've seen plenty of surprises via the transfer portal thus far this winter, but this one sure is something the Tennessee faithful probably did not expect to see. Earlier this offseason, it was announced that stud linebacker Arion Carter was off to the NFL Draft. You know what, good for him.
Josh Heupel's plan at quarterback doesn't include stud who just entered the portal
However, that's no longer going to be the case. In a huge shocker, Steve Wiltfong has reported that Carter has pulled himself out of the NFL Draft and that he's going to be entering the transfer portal instead. What?! That's right, Carter will be back in the college game next fall, just not with Tennessee making plays for Josh Heupel:
BREAKING: Tennessee LB Arion Carter plans to withdraw from the NFL Draft and enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, @SWiltfong_ reports. https://t.co/eLdQJnkdmS pic.twitter.com/SYkMPTtbDI
— On3 (@On3) January 16, 2026
Tennessee LB Arion Carter is off to the transfer portal instead of entering the NFL Draft
Carter was electric for the Tennessee defense this past season, being a standout for former defensive coordinator Tim Banks. He was one of the sure tacklers on the team, finishing with 76 total stops and 1.5 sacks - he added a forced fumble too.
A little over a month ago, he said goodbye to the Vols and let the world know that he was ready to chase his NFL dreams. What has changed since? That's not fully known at this time, but it could have been a combination of him not getting the grade he wanted from scouts/a big NIL offer coming in.
So, which team might have put a serious amount of dough on the table? Your guess is as good as ours, but rumors are already flying that an SEC rival or two could be involved. Seeing Carter pull his name out of the draft to transfer is one thing, but if he ends up on Tennessee's schedule next year with a conference foe, it will make everything worse. He made a business decision here, but it's one that Vols Nation is pretty up in arms about.