'I don't think it's a slam dunk that he's playing here this year' – Insider drops update on one of Vols' most important players
Rumors have been swirling over the past few days about one of the Tennessee Vols' most important players. And they aren't the kind of rumors that will make Vols fans smile. For now, nothing is confirmed, but there have been rumors circulating about some off-the-field issues with Vols defensive back Boo Carter. Longtime Tennessee insider/talk […]
Rumors have been swirling over the past few days about one of the Tennessee Vols' most important players. And they aren't the kind of rumors that will make Vols fans smile.
For now, nothing is confirmed, but there have been rumors circulating about some off-the-field issues with Vols defensive back Boo Carter.
Longtime Tennessee insider/talk show host Tony Basilio said on Monday that the "chatter and smoke" around Carter's situation is "real".
"There's been a flare up this summer with Boo Carter," said Basilio. "Now, as is the case in a lot of situations like this, there's truth, then there's rumor, then there's innuendo. I'm in the process right now, and a couple of people called me today, and I couldn't get to them, and I apologize for that, because I was on the phone this morning leading up to the program. In fact, that's why I was late getting in today….that's why I was a few minutes late starting the program today. We're monitoring that situation. I'm in the process of gathering some information, and we're going to put out probably a video later on on our YouTube channel, because I wasn't able to complete everything that I needed to to address it."
"But I will say this, I do think that there is — how do I want to phrase this — they're having some issues with him," continued Basilio. "I do think that's real. And I don't, at this point in time, think it's a slam dunk that he's playing here this year. I think that's a fair thing to say. And I'm gonna leave it at that, but I hope to be able to compile more to talk about it in further detail. I'm pretty sure it'll be later today. We'll see. But needless to say, Tennessee's got to figure [it] out. You got Media Days eight days away and you've got the start of practice. The ramp up to this season, now more than ever, is extremely precious…..The leaders on this football team are extremely jealous of their culture and extremely guarding of their culture.
"And you have to see it through the prism of their eyes, which is they already watched one of their playmakers, and one of their own, make a mockery of it in the spring, in that quarterback [situation with Nico Iamaleava]. And they're kind of not going to sit there and let it happen again. So the chatter and the smoke that you've heard around this is real. The other stuff that's come out about that kid, people just sort of throw things at the wall, in my experience, when this sort of thing starts happening. So we'll talk about that, but I've got to get some more stuff on it. But the reason I wanted to say something about it on the air is I do think that's a real situation as we sit here today. And I do think that what happens with him is up in the air from here."
We'll see where this goes from here. There isn't enough information out there to speculate on what may or may not happen with Carter. But one thing is certain — the Vols need Carter on the field this fall. He's one of the most dynamic players in the SEC. And he's expected to make an impact for Tennessee in all three phases (defense, offense, and special teams) in 2025. There's simply no replacing a player as talented as Carter.
