Getting superstar linebacker Arion Carter back for next season was huge for Tennessee, but with fall camp right around the corner, some disappointing news has arrived from the NCAA. That news is that Carter, once bound for the NFL Draft, has been suspended for the first two games of the season, with this update coming in from out of nowhere.
Josh Heupel must take advantage of comment from 5-star Ohio State commit's dad
Trusted Tennessee reporter Adam Sparks was the one with the scoop, reporting that while Carter was going through the pre-draft process, he had a flight paid for, with a value of $427. The stud 'backer ended up paying the cost of that ticket back, per Sparks, but the NCAA has still decided to punish him for it. Sorry, but this is totally absurd:
BREAKING:
— Adam Sparks (@AdamSparks) July 29, 2026
NCAA has suspended Tennessee star LB Arion Carter two games for $427 flight (which he repaid) during NFL pre-draft process.
Josh Heupel protests NCAA decision: "Our team stands behind AC"
Here’s the exclusive story. https://t.co/XrGqTsdCzk
The NCAA gets it wrong again with Tennessee LB Arion Carter getting suspended for 2 games
The fact that Carter decided to pay back the cost of the flights just makes this even more silly. What are we doing here? Carter had made the decision to go through the NFL Draft process, which is why travel was involved in the first place. He had a change of heart and decided that playing one more season with the Vols was the right decision for him.
Now, though, what was supposed to be a memorable final year for him in Knoxville is getting started with a two-game suspension? Sorry, but this just feels like a gut punch that didn't need to arrive in the first place. As you might have been able to guess, Josh Heupel isn't happy about things and we don't blame him at all.
Last season for the Vols, Carter was a standout in the middle of the defense, posting 76 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. The 6-1, 240-pounder is expected to take an even bigger step in 2026, but now that he's facing this kind of adversity early on is incredibly disappointing for several different reasons.
It also hangs a bit of a dark cloud over the Vols with fall camp starting up in early August. Carter will still practice with the team and get his mind and body ready for the start of the new campaign. However, for now, he's going to be sidelined against Furman and Georgia Tech, which has to be so deflating for him.
Add us as a preferred source on Google