‘It was something we wanted to do from the start’ – Dad of former Tennessee Vols DB Boo Carter gets real about transfer to Colorado
Former Tennessee Vols defensive back Boo Carter left Rocky Top this offseason following some off-the-field drama. Carter, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, will play for the Colorado Buffaloes in 2026.
Former Tennessee Vols defensive back Boo Carter joined the Colorado Buffaloes as a transfer addition earlier this offseason.
Carter entered the transfer portal after he was dismissed from Tennessee’s football team last November.
According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Carter was dismissed after being informed he wouldn’t play against New Mexico State and then failing to show up, even though coaches expected him to show up.
“According to a source familiar with the situation, Carter didn’t show up at Neyland Stadium for the No. 23 Volunteers’ 42-9 victory against New Mexico State on Saturday,” wrote Schlabach. “The source told ESPN that Carter had been informed by the coaching staff that he wasn’t going to play against the Aggies because of disciplinary issues. But the coaches still expected Carter to attend the homecoming game and watch from the sideline.”
Carter’s dismissal came after he reportedly missed some team activities last summer.
Boo Carter’s dad speaks on transferring to Colorado
Boo Carter’s dad, Terrence Holland (AKA Coach T), recently gave a rare interview to Dukesthescoop.
Holland spoke a bit on Carter’s decision to transfer to Colorado after leaving Tennessee. He noted that going to Colorado was something Carter “kind of wanted to do from the start”, but the young defensive back decided to stay in-state to be the “hometown hero”.
“It (Colorado) was something that we kind of wanted to do from the start,” said Holland. “But at the same time, we were trying to make that hometown hero. We tried to make that work. We wish Tennessee the best, but it just didn’t work out. And we kind of really ended up where we were supposed to be at.”
Holland also added that Carter is misunderstood at times because he’s a quiet person by nature.
“That’s just his nature,” said Holland. “It ain’t nothing against nobody or nothing, he’s just a quiet person.”
Carter is undeniably an elite talent — it’s easy to see why Tennessee wanted things to work out in 2025.
And before things went south with the Vols beginning last summer, it seemed that Carter wanted things to work out, too. He was even showing up at the practice facility while it was still dark outside last spring.
Ultimately, though, if Carter’s heart was in Colorado, then that’s where he’s supposed to be. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.
Deion Sanders comments on Boo Carter’s role at Colorado
As for what Carter’s doing on the field this spring at Colorado, it sounds like Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders is moving the former Vol around the field.
“We had a candid conversation on the field last week about playing multiple positions,” said Sanders of Carter on Tuesday. “Boo is arguably the best athlete on the team. He could play safety, he could play corner, slot, return kicks as well and do multiple things.”
Carter predominantly played the star position at Tennessee, but he could see time at outside corner at Colorado.
“I put him at corner the last two weeks because I want to see him do his thing,” noted Sanders. “I wanted to see him play there because in history, I don’t see them say ‘at slot, chosen in the first round, such and such.’ I don’t see that. So I want him to have a chance to exhaust himself, not only at the corner position, the slot position, as well as safety.
“He can do many things and I want him to do all those things that he’s capable of doing so that his draft wealth accelerates. He’s that kind of kid.”
The sky is the limit for Carter, as long as he can keep the off-the-field drama to a minimum.
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