Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel jokes about Lane Kiffin’s return to Knoxville
At SEC media days, Josh Heupel said he hopes fans haven’t cooled off toward Lane Kiffin, and joked that stores should have mustard in stock.
SEC Media Day
Tennessee football star Arion Carter has been suspended two games by the NCAA for accepting a gift from his agent, putting him out to start the season.
Carter’s agent paid for a $427 flight to an NFL pre-draft facility before Carter decided to return to the Vols for the 2026 season, violating NCAA rules. The Knoxville News Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, obtained the information through a public records request detailing the investigation.
Carter must sit out Tennessee’s non-conference games against Furman and Georgia Tech on Sept. 5 and Sept. 12, respectively. The second-team All-SEC linebacker last season recorded 76 total tackles with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2025, representing a tough blow to coach Josh Heupel’s defense.
Knox News reported Carter repaid his agent for the flight after withdrawing from the 2026 NFL Draft due to injury, but the NCAA still cracked down with a punishment. He committed a Level III violation — which the NCAA refers to as a basic breach of conduct — and his two-game suspension is among the harshest penalties for the infraction, according to the report.
Carter declared for the NFL draft on Dec. 12, hiring a sports agent. He then started pre-draft workouts on Jan. 5, before suffering a foot injury that required minor surgery, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from the draft on Jan. 16. He terminated his contract with the agent on Jan. 19, Knox News reported.
Carter was originally deemed ineligible by the NCAA, but the punishment was lightened after Tennessee argued for leniency due to multiple factors, the report said.
The senior linebacker represented Tennessee at 2026 SEC Football Media Days, where he was voted a preseason All-SEC third-team member by the nedia.
Josh Heupel statement on Arion Carter suspension
Heupel provided a statement to Knox News in the aftermath of Carter’s suspension, defending Carter while disagreeing with the NCAA’s decision.
“Arion Carter represents everything that’s right about college athletics, dedicating all four years of his career to the University of Tennessee. His high character, loyalty and leadership within our program are unmatched,” Heupel said.
“We disagree with the NCAA’s ruling on punishing Arion with a multi-game suspension this fall. Arion made the right decision for his future health and well-being. He will proudly graduate from Tennessee in public health with Dean’s List honors in August. Our team stands behind AC and his family, and we can’t wait to be on the field with him during training camp next week.”