For those who have missed the rumors, the Tennessee Vols are apparently close to a Nico-like situation with Boo Carter. Alabama football fans know that the Tennessee secondary would take a serious hit from a Boo Carter exit. The Vols only gained three players on the recent preseason All-SEC teams. All three were defensive players. Tennessee's lone First Team selection was Jermod McCoy, who may not be fully healthy until early October. Another was third-team sophomore defensive back Boo Carter.
According to All For Tennessee (AFT), Carter was believed to be entertaining a transfer move to Colorado before the Vols sweetened his NIL deal. Similar to what happened with Nico Iamaleava, apparently Carter is disgruntled again. More than a week ago, Tennessee media person Tony Basilio said, "There's been a flare up this summer with Boo Carter ... I don't, at this point in time, think it's a slam dunk that he's playing here this year."
Reports are that Carter has missed training sessions and been late to team meetings. Player leaders from the Vols, including former Alabama football player Miles Kitselman, are "sick of" Carter's antics. It is interesting to note (and fun for Alabama fans) that, according to All For Tennessee, Josh Heupel must be careful to "guard his culture." Given the Iamaleava fiasco, and that, outside of Knoxville, the words Vols and culture rarely indicate anything positive, Heupel may not have built much culture to protect. All For Tennessee is a good site for information, but citing Heupel for the "power and magic of his counsel" is some major league mumbo-jumbo.
Even with Boo Carter for the Vols, Alabama Football with far better secondary
It could be a no-win situation for Heupel and his team. Make Carter happy with more NIL cash, and other Tennessee players might consider him a pariah. Let him (or force him) to walk, and the Tennessee purported to be improved defense could suffer.