Sophomore Tennessee defensive back Olando “Boo” Carter has endured a turbulent offseason, nearly being dismissed from the Volunteers after teammates confronted him for repeatedly missing mandatory summer activities. Now back with the team, Carter seems to be turning things around, recently using his NIL earnings to support his former high school.
Tennessee’s Boo Carter Shifts Narrative With NIL Contribution to Hometown High School
Carter was fantastic as a true freshman for the Vols in 2024, earning Freshman All-SEC honors and quickly establishing himself as one of the top players in Tennessee’s secondary. Expectations were high heading into his sophomore year, but his momentum stalled over the summer.
Carter missed multiple offseason team activities and was reportedly confronted by team leaders. The situation sparked speculation that he might be dismissed from the program or enter the transfer portal. Instead, he has remained with the Volunteers and has spent the fall working to regain the trust of both his coaches and teammates.
Carter has spent the fall focused on football and working to become a better teammate, but he also found time to give back.
A four-star recruit from Cleveland Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee, located 35 minutes outside Chattanooga, the young defensive back reportedly used his NIL money to help Brainerd High School in Chattanooga purchase new uniforms for the upcoming season.
How awesome is this?! Chattanooga native, and #Vols sophomore, Boo Carter (@boo_Carter6) helping give back to his hometown.
He helped out Brainerd High School with their football uniforms this season. Love the 👻 on them! pic.twitter.com/mopUv20HAu
— Ben Bobick (@BenBobickLocal3) August 23, 2025
While college football players can make millions in today’s game, it’s refreshing to see a situation like this where a player uses his money to help the local community instead of spending it all on himself.
Now that Carter is back with the program, he appears to be working hard to move past the events of this summer and is changing the public’s perception of himself as he gears up for his sophomore season.
Carter is expected to play a major role for the Vols this year. He comes off a freshman season in which he recorded 38 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception, while also serving as the team’s punt returner.
Explosive on the twist by James Pearce Jr. Great job by Boo Carter sticking his nose in there and cleaning it up. pic.twitter.com/AEUGIkurCU
— TorresOnTennessee (@TorresontheVols) October 16, 2024
It’s clear he is focused on a fresh start at Tennessee and aims to be one of the best defensive backs in the country this season.
Tennessee opens the year on Saturday, August 30, with an out-of-conference matchup against the Syracuse Orange in the Afflack Kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
It remains unclear whether Carter has earned enough trust from head coach Josh Heupel to play in that game, but he seems to be taking the right steps to become an impact player for the Vols in 2025.
