University of Tennessee Athletics
October 28, 2026 | Football
CHICAGO – Tennessee senior linebacker Arion Carter continues to add to his season accolades as he was tabbed a semifinalist for the 2026 Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's most outstanding linebacker, the Butkus Foundation announced Wednesday.
Carter is one of 15 semifinalists nationally and five from the Southeastern Conference, joining Texas' Rasheem Biles, Georgia's Chris Cole, Oklahoma's Owen Heineke and Missouri's Nicholas Rodriguez. The Smyrna, Tennessee, native is Tennessee's first Butkus semifinalist since A.J. Johnson in 2014.
In seven games played, Carter has accumulated 46 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and one pass breakup. According to PFF, he has generated 12 pressures.
Carter is a captain for a defense that has held six of its eight opponents to 20 points or less. The Vols are issuing just 16.3 points per game, which ranks 20th in the nation and third in the SEC. That is a significant improvement from a year ago when UT finished 91st, allowing 28.8 points per game.
Carter returned for his senior season and now owns 207 career tackles – 90 solo – to go along with 18.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 11 pass breakups.
He is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, and he's a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. As a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, he is up for the most prestigious scholar-athlete award in college football.
Carter graduated with honors from Tennessee in August with a degree in public health. He's a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and served as the Vols' representative on the SEC Football Leadership Council.
Established in 1985, the Butkus Award has become one of football's most respected individual honors, recognizing the nation's premier linebackers. Finalists will be announced on Nov. 20, with the 2026 Butkus Award winner named the week of Dec. 7.
2026 Butkus Award Semifinalists
Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota
Rasheem Biles, Texas
Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame
Sammy Brown, Clemson
Cam Buffington, Iowa
Arion Carter, Tennessee
Chris Cole, Georgia
Owen Heineke, Oklahoma
Derek McDonald, North Carolina
Sammy Omosigho, UCLA
Mason Posa, Wisconsin
Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
Nicholas Rodriguez, Missouri
Tony Rojas, Penn State
Cade Uluave, BYU
Carter is one of 15 semifinalists nationally and five from the Southeastern Conference, joining Texas' Rasheem Biles, Georgia's Chris Cole, Oklahoma's Owen Heineke and Missouri's Nicholas Rodriguez. The Smyrna, Tennessee, native is Tennessee's first Butkus semifinalist since A.J. Johnson in 2014.
In seven games played, Carter has accumulated 46 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and one pass breakup. According to PFF, he has generated 12 pressures.
Carter is a captain for a defense that has held six of its eight opponents to 20 points or less. The Vols are issuing just 16.3 points per game, which ranks 20th in the nation and third in the SEC. That is a significant improvement from a year ago when UT finished 91st, allowing 28.8 points per game.
Carter returned for his senior season and now owns 207 career tackles – 90 solo – to go along with 18.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 11 pass breakups.
He is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, and he's a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. As a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, he is up for the most prestigious scholar-athlete award in college football.
Carter graduated with honors from Tennessee in August with a degree in public health. He's a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and served as the Vols' representative on the SEC Football Leadership Council.
Established in 1985, the Butkus Award has become one of football's most respected individual honors, recognizing the nation's premier linebackers. Finalists will be announced on Nov. 20, with the 2026 Butkus Award winner named the week of Dec. 7.
2026 Butkus Award Semifinalists
Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota
Rasheem Biles, Texas
Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame
Sammy Brown, Clemson
Cam Buffington, Iowa
Arion Carter, Tennessee
Chris Cole, Georgia
Owen Heineke, Oklahoma
Derek McDonald, North Carolina
Sammy Omosigho, UCLA
Mason Posa, Wisconsin
Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
Nicholas Rodriguez, Missouri
Tony Rojas, Penn State
Cade Uluave, BYU
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Players Mentioned
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/ FootballWednesday, October 28
Wednesday, October 28
Wednesday, October 28
Wednesday, October 28
