True freshman Boo Carter emerging as a playmaker for Tennessee

He had a big night against Mississippi State.

Perhaps lost in the injury situations coming out of the Mississippi State game was the performance of true freshman Boo Carter, who was absolutely all over the place on Saturday night. Carter played 35 snaps at the STAR position and handled punt return duties. It’s safe to say he’s found a home at both positions.

Carter got the game going with a tackle for loss in the flats on the first play of the game. He then took his first punt return back 28 yards. Carter’s big first quarter continued with an interception to set up the offense in the redzone. He then flipped the field position just before halftime to set up Tennessee to add three points before the break.

Carter would finish with six punt returns for 56 yards.

“Boo’s dynamic, athletic,” Josh Heupel said after the game. “Just as a young player, how he’s continuing to grow where you trust everything that goes into it as a returner. That’s essentially the quarterback back there and commanding and controlling and being a decision maker. Just continue to grow. Saw tonight, man, he’s dynamic with it in his hands.”

The former four-star in-state prospect was labeled an athlete for a reason coming out of High School. Playing for Bradley Central in Cleveland, Carter put up 1,795 all-purpose yards and scored 27 touchdowns on offense. He was credited with 102 tackles and two interceptions on the other side of the ball.

There was some discussion about where Carter would land once he arrived in Knoxville, but the staff quickly opted for defense. With the early season-ending injury to Jourdan Thomas, Carter was forced into action quickly. That early experience is paying off now, with Carter now settled into his STAR role as he splits time with Christian Harrison.

According to Pro Football Focus, Carter was Tennessee’s highest graded defensive back on Saturday night with a 79.9 grade.

“Boo as a young player is just gonna continue to get better and better in all areas,” Heupel said. “So I’m really, really proud of what he’s done in a short amount of time here.”