Tennessee football makes decision on Boo Carter after Nico Iamaleava repeat concerns

The Tennessee Volunteers have had a bit of a tumultuous offseason.

Nico Iamaleava was at the center of that. The star quarterback ended up leaving the Vols to head to UCLA, with speculation that it was for NIL money reasons but Iamaleava going on to say it was to be closer to his family.

Lately, there's been another point of concern in Knoxville: Boo Carter.

Carter, a talented defensive back and punt returner, missed numerous team activities this offseason and was confronted by leaders about it, according to Knox News.

It sounds like, for now, Tennessee has weathered the storm here.

ESPN's Chris Low reported that Carter will remain with the program.

“Lotta speculation about the future of Tennessee DB Boo Carter the last two weeks after he missed multiple workouts, but sources tell ESPN that Carter is not being dismissed from the team,” Low wrote on X. “Coach Josh Heupel will address the situation at his press conference later Tuesday.”

It's a tricky new era of college football. Programs have to essentially re-recruit the guys already on their roster.

It's not clear what formed the basis for Carter's absences. There could have been a personal reason at play, or maybe Carter was conducting his own style of holdout in the interest in gaining some kind of win.

The Vols proved they don't mind digging their feet in already. Iamaleava reportedly wanted more money on his NIL contract, and Tennessee didn't give in. It means they have a new QB after Iamaleava was at the helm of a trip to the College Football Playoff.

Heupel may provide a bit more insight into what really played out here between the Volunteers and Carter.

But at least for the Tennessee football team itself, things will benefit greatly from having Carter available to play.

MORE: BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa has the craziest vertical leap ever