Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has sharply criticized the NCAA's decision to suspend linebacker Arion Carter for the first two games of the upcoming season, calling the ruling "bullshit" and emblematic of "outdated" rules.
Carter, a key player for the Volunteers, initially declared for the NFL Draft following the 2025 season and hired a professional agent. Under current NCAA regulations, this action made him ineligible to return to college football. He subsequently accepted a $427 plane ticket from his agent to attend a training session. During this session, Carter sustained a foot injury that could have impacted his draft prospects. Faced with this setback, Carter decided to return to college football, rejoining the Tennessee program after a brief stint in the transfer portal.
Heupel stated that Carter "has done everything the right way" and that the ruling is "completely outdated" given the current landscape of college football, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations. "I am disappointed for him, and for us, with the result of that ruling," Heupel added.
The NCAA, in response, maintained that Carter "knowingly violated" longstanding rules prohibiting student-athletes from signing with agents to pursue NFL Draft opportunities. The organization stated that when student-athletes violate NCAA rules, schools declare them ineligible and work with the national office on reinstatement requirements, which can include repayment or suspension from competition.
Heupel, speaking before the team's fall camp, highlighted the predicament faced by athletes who declare for the draft but suffer injuries that might affect their draft stock. He emphasized Carter's honesty and transparency throughout the process, noting that the player paid back the cost of the plane ticket. "I think it's unfortunate that a young man that represents everything inside of this game the right way is faced with that ruling," Heupel said.
The situation arises as college athletes are generating significant revenue for their schools and the NCAA through NIL deals. Heupel suggested that other schools and agents are circumventing NCAA rules, while athletes and their families are receiving benefits such as air travel. Carter's suspension means he will miss crucial early-season games, including a primetime matchup against Georgia Tech.
Despite the suspension, Carter is proceeding with his preparations for the season, reportedly handling the situation with composure. The decision has drawn criticism not only from the Tennessee coaching staff but also likely from many college football fans who view the NCAA's application of the rule as excessively punitive and out of step with the modern era of college athletics.