Boo Carter played zero snaps for the Vols in loss to Oklahoma earlier this month

Carter suited up for Tennessee earlier this month in the Vols’ 33-27 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, but he didn’t play a single snap on defense. The Chattanooga native, however, served as the Vols’ punt returner against the Sooners.

It was the first time this season that Carter received fewer than 20 snaps on defense.

“Nobody expects Boo to be here next year,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price earlier this month during an appearance on WNML’s Josh and Swain. “And the fact he didn’t play a defensive snap against Oklahoma tells me his status with the defensive staff. Now, he was back there for punts….But Josh Heupel pointed out in his press conference that they had a couple of line drive [punts] that basically Boo elected to fair catch and not return that he could have returned. And I’d say there’s some frustration there.

“Listen, if you’re not gonna play him on defense, I wouldn’t have him return punts. Because ultimately, he’s not very happy. And Tennessee wasn’t very happy with his effort at Kentucky. Boo earned his stripes last year through his play. This year, he decided to go AWOL in July, he had to go through some stuff off the field to be back on this football team, [and he] still had some minor hiccups behind the scenes. And this staff has kind of stuck with him, even with him kind of coming off the bench — he’s not been very good. And if he’s not going to be zoned in, locked in, and be willing to do the little things, then I don’t think you can trust him to do the little things out there in a big game in the Swamp or at home against Vanderbilt. So for me, if I’m the coach, I’m going in a different direction at this point in time. But that’s me.”