Tennessee’s Arion Carter withdraws from NFL draft, enters transfer portal

Is the transfer portal more enticing than the NFL draft?

Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter might think so.

Carter, who originally declared for the draft this upcoming spring, has now opted to stay in college and enter the portal, On3 reported Friday.

The 21-year-old notified his former coaches at Tennessee and emailed the school’s athletic director, per the outlet.

Carter cited his desire to complete his college degree and play a healthy season as his reasons for staying back in school.

“Just the simple fact of me being able to go and finish my degree I only have a couple credit hours left,” Carter told On3. “I’ll be the first in my family to graduate college. I just want to go and have a full season healthy.

“I had been dealing with turf toe in my feet all year and wasn’t able to play to my expectation. Being able to come back and have a full year of training and sharpening my tools and being a better linebacker and setting out to do everything I want to accomplish this next year.”

Carter added that although he prefers to transfer to an SEC program, he is open to playing anywhere.

“I would love to stay in the SEC,” Carter said. “But I’m willing to go anywhere.”

Carter established himself as one of the Volunteers’ top defensive players during his junior campaign, leading the program with 76 total tackles, along with 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

When initially declaring for the draft through an Instagram post in December, Carter explained it was a difficult decision.

“Tennessee has truly become home for me, and that’s what has made this decision so difficult,” Carter wrote. “I want to start by thanking my coaches for believing in me, pushing me, and holding me to the highest standard every single day.

“Thank you to the trainers, strength coaches, academic team & support staff that made sure I was completely taken care of on and off the field. … To the University of Tennessee & the Greatest fan base in the country, thank you for the opportunity to be a Vol! The college experience, game day atmosphere and relationships developed will last a lifetime.

“Playing for the Power T meant everything to me.”