DALLAS — Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter was named a semifinalist for the ninth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award on Tuesday afternoon, recognized among a group that includes 20 of the nation’s top leaders in college football.
Compiled by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Selection Committee, the semifinalists have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Carter is the fourth consecutive Vol to be tabbed a semifinalist for the honor named for VFL Jason Witten (2000–02). Bru McCoy, Joe Milton III and Hendon Hooker were each named Witten Award semifinalists over the past three seasons, while Trey Smith remains the program’s lone recipient of the award after claiming it in 2019.
The unquestioned defensive leader of the 11th-ranked Vols, Carter leads the SEC with 57 total tackles this season and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 17 stops at Mississippi State on Sept. 27. His 57 tackles are 12 more than the next closest SEC player.
A junior from Smyrna, Carter was voted by his peers to represent Tennessee on the 2025 SEC Football Leadership Council and is a model student who has made the Dean’s List and the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. He is also a member of Tennessee’s team leadership council and has made regular visits to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and the Boys & Girls Club, in addition to helping organize an event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
