Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel could have dismissed sophomore defensive back Boo Carter before the start of preseason camp due to Carter’s multiple absences in July team activities.
Heupel instead chose to give him parameters as an avenue for another chance. Now that Carter is no longer with the Volunteers, does Heupel regret that decision?
“I’m not regretful,” Heupel said Monday in his weekly news conference. “At the end of the day, it’s our job as coaches to try to help mold these guys. That’s a part of the commitment that you make in the recruiting process and when they decide to come here.
“Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. At the end of the day, we’re moving forward.”
Carter, who starred at Chattanooga Christian and Bradley Central during his high school career, was not allowed to be with the Vols for Saturday’s 42-9 shellacking of New Mexico State. Heupel said after that game that the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder had failed to meet team standards but did not elaborate.
On Sunday, Carter posted on social media that his season had been cut short by an injury and that he would be entering the NCAA transfer portal. There have been reports that Carter has a hip flexor, but he was never listed on the Southeastern Conference’s required student-athlete availability updates that come out three times each week before SEC head-to-head matchups.
When asked about Carter claiming to be injured and whether he should have been listed on the league’s availability report within the past month, Heupel said, “No sir. Not based on our trainers.”
Carter was a member of the SEC all-freshman team last season, when he tallied 38 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception while making six starts at the “star” position. He also returned 12 punts for a 16.5-yard average.
His nine-game totals this year contained 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and a 13.2-yard average on punt returns. He did not start any games and did not play any defensive snaps in his final contest, which was the 33-27 loss to Oklahoma on Nov. 1.
Moving forward for Heupel means this Saturday’s showdown at Florida, which will be televised by ABC and will kick off shortly after 7:30 p.m. The No. 20 Vols are 7-3 overall and 3-3 in SEC contests, while the Gators have been relegated to a spoiler role with their 3-7 record that includes a 2-5 mark within the league.
Florida is already ineligible for the postseason but does have a 29-21 win over Texas in Gainesville, and the Gators led Georgia 20-17 in Jacksonville with five minutes remaining before losing 24-20.
The Gators will be playing their fourth game under interim coach Billy Gonzales, which marks the second time Tennessee has faced an interim this season. The Vols spoiled Bobby Petrino’s interim debut with Arkansas with a 34-31 win in Knoxville on Oct. 11.
“There can be a whole change with the offense or defense in terms of how those things play out, but we have a couple of games of them with their new coach,” Tennessee junior linebacker Jeremiah Telander said. “We’re going to have to trust our film study and preparation and what our coaches tell us.”
Tennessee will be looking to end a 10-game losing streak in Gainesville, last prevailing there 24-10 in 2003.
Brazzell semifinalist
Vols redshirt junior receiver Chris Brazzell II was named Monday among the 13 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
Brazzell leads the SEC in receiving yards (873), receiving yards per game (87.3) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Alabama’s Germie Bernard and Texas A&M’s Mario Craver are also among the 13 semifinalists.
“It means a lot, and it’s kind of a testament to this season,” Brazzell said. “There are a lot of good receivers who could have been on that list. I’m just blessed to be one of them.”
Jalin Hyatt became Tennessee’s first Biletnikoff winner in 2022.
Increase in picks
Tennessee graduate transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar has thrown 10 interceptions in 10 games, mirroring the 24 picks he threw in 24 starts at Appalachian State. Four of Aguilar’s interceptions have occurred in the last two games.
“Every one of them has probably been a little bit different,” Heupel said. “The other night, he anticipates a guy that he’s throwing at to keep coming to meet the football. He gets hit on one.
“I’ve already said it, but we have to take care of the football in this game. We can’t give them short fields, and we can’t give them points.”
Odds and ends
ABC’s top team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will broadcast Saturday’s game. … Heupel is going to let Wednesday’s first availability report update the status of redshirt junior guard Wendell Moe and fifth-year senior tight end Miles Kitselman, who were each injured against New Mexico State. … Cornerback Ty Redmond, who had five tackles and an interception against the Aggies, was named Monday as the SEC freshman of the week. … Next week’s regular-season finale against Vanderbilt inside Neyland Stadium will have a 3:30 p.m. kickoff and will be shown by either ABC or ESPN.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.