Sixth-year senior quarterback Joe Milton III doesn’t have to be the only No. 7 celebrated by Tennessee fans in the upcoming months.
At least that’s how freshman linebacker Arion Carter sees it, and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, too.
Carter is a 6-foot-1, 227-pounder from the Nashville suburb of Smyrna who went through spring practice and is now three practices into his first August camp with Josh Heupel’s Volunteers. He was the nation’s No. 11 linebacker and the No. 129 overall prospect in the 2023 signing class, according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.
“Confidence is really a big factor and just knowing what to expect from the game and understanding the game,” Carter said Friday in a news conference. “The speed has slowed down for me, and it’s been a big jump for me in that aspect.”
Carter wore No. 47 at the Orange & White game in April, when he tallied two tackles, a 6-yard sack and a pass breakup, and he was asked Friday whether there was any significance to the change to No. 7.