One of the state’s most sought-after prep athletes will be visiting the epicenter of college football’s biggest spectacle this weekend.
Bradley Central four-star prospect Boo Carter, who is committed to the University of Tennessee, will attend the University of Colorado’s home game against rival Colorado State on Saturday. With the 18th-ranked Buffaloes off to a surprising 2-0 start under first-year coach Deion “Prime Time” Sanders, both ESPN’s "College GameDay" and Fox Sports’ "Big Noon Kickoff" will be on campus with their nationally telecast pregame shows.
ESPN will televise the Rams-Buffaloes matchup, which doesn't kick off until 10 p.m. Eastern.
“I am still committed to Tennessee,” Carter said Tuesday. “Tennessee is not at home this week, they’re at Florida. With all the TV crews that will be there and the environment they will have at Colorado, it should be exciting, and I just wanted to be a part of that.
“I’ve got one chance in my life to visit these schools, so I wanted to take this visit and see what a game is like at Colorado.”
Carter made two previous visits to the campus in Boulder — on Jan. 28 and April 22 — but since neither was during a game weekend, he said he wanted to experience the atmosphere. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound two-way star was in Knoxville last weekend for 11th-ranked Tennessee’s win over Austin Peay, which was the Volunteers' Neyland Stadium opener for this season.
He verbally committed to the Vols in June during a ceremony at New York’s 40/40 Club, an upscale sports bar owned by rap mogul Jay-Z, which was also broadcast live on Instagram.
Carter is rated the state’s top overall recruit for the 2024 class by Rivals.com and No. 2 by On3.com. Commitments are nonbinding, and the first opportunity for players to sign with Division I programs in the current signing cycle won't come until late December.
In helping Bradley Central reach TSSAA Class 6A’s No. 1 ranking and a 4-0 start, Carter has already amassed 528 total yards and eight touchdowns this season. That includes a highlight-reel 61-yard touchdown reception against perennial powerhouse Maryville to open Region 2 play and a similarly electric 65-yard punt return in last week’s win at intracounty foe Walker Valley. The Bears have an open date this week.
Colorado has become the early feel-good story in college football by winning its first two games in its first season under the flashy Sanders, who goes by “Coach Prime” and is looking to use the momentum on the recruiting trail, where the Buffaloes' current group of commitments is ranked No. 60 nationally.
Another storyline in Colorado's early success has been star freshman Travis Hunter playing nearly every snap on both sides of the ball at receiver and cornerback.
Similarly, Carter is talented enough to potentially play either receiver or in the defensive secondary, and he is also a prime candidate to return punts and kickoffs at the next level. Tennessee coaches have told Carter he will be looked at on both sides of the ball before deciding where he could get on the field fastest.
“Coach Prime has really been after him, especially lately,” said Bradley Central coach Damon Floyd, who added that he has been contacted multiple times by Colorado director of recruiting Darius Darden to discuss Carter. “He’s told Boo that he could play on offense or either side of the ball there. They’re trying to make a push to let him know they really want him.”
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com.