Senior linebacker for Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 238 lb · Smyrna, TN · Smyrna
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
How he plays
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
Solo tackles: 88th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
tackles · 2026 · through week 3
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 8 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sacks, vs Kennesaw State
Statement game17 tacklesat Mississippi State (FBS) · W 41-34
Top 0.1% tackles game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Senior linebacker for Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
Buzz vs Tape
His own fans read him warmer than the wider college football conversation does — a gap of 19.5 points in belief.
Our linebackers are ass outside of Arion Carter. The D line seems to mostly specialize in pass rush
“So did arion carter tell on himself or did the agent? Tennessee and the ncaa never would have found out otherwise.”
Fan claims · every quote verified verbatim
The former high school 300-meter hurdle standout also recently clocked a 21.7 mph on the GPS (up from 21.2 last year).
Based on 2 comments across 1 thread · Aug 11, 2026 · via Tennessee Vols Football
Arion Carter
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. This is his fourth year in the same linebacker corps at Tennessee. In 2025 the league put his name on paper for the first time: All-SEC. One game to point at: 8 tackles, 2 TFL against Kennesaw State — Week 3, 2026.
16 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
He arrived as a blue-chip recruit and played like one.
Career arc
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-SEC · 2ND TEAM
All-SEC 2nd team (2025)
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Josh Heupel.
In Portal · 2026
In transfer portal
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 8 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 8 tackles |
| Wk 3 | W 42-9vs Kennesaw State | 8 | 6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 16 | 12 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 1 |
Since week 2: +8 tackles, +2 tackles for loss, +1 sack.
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Josh Heupel — 30-12 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: solo tackles (88th percentile). Strength: sacks (84th percentile).
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Defender profile · Production by role
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Tackle volume
16tackles this seasonTFL rate
12%2 TFLSack rate
6%1 sacksPD rate
6%1 pass breakups16 tackles · 2 for loss · 1 sacks.
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 8.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Pass share
35.9%
74 pass / 132 run
Plays / game
68.7
3 games
Team sack rate
5.0%
80 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Play style
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
CFB Index positional classification
Player DNA
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Tony Rojas’s 2026 season.
Matches Tony on
Differs from Tony on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Tyler Bird's senior season at App State (2021).
Matches Tyler on
Differs from Tyler on
Player DNA
First name is pronounced air-EE-on CAREER HONORS 2026 Butkus Award Preseason Watch List 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List 2026 Preseason All-SEC Third Team (Coaches | Media | Athlon) 2026 Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele) 2026 Senior Bowl Top 300 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 2025…
6 more on the roster · Tennessee team page