Tennessee was excited to learn that Arion Carter was going to withdraw from the NFL Draft and return to Tennessee. Carter had gone through some of the process for the draft before an injury led to his decision to return. While going through the process, the prospect had flights paid for by his agent, leading to the NCAA suspending Carter for two games.
Now, as Tennessee is set to open preseason practices this week, head coach Josh Heupel is speaking out about the suspension, per Mike Wilson of On3.
“The ruling that came out from the NCAA, the two-game suspension, I truly believe is bulls**t,” Heupel said.
In the predraft process, Carter’s agent paid for $427 worth of slights. When the Volunteer linebacker decided to return to Tennessee, he repaid the flight to the agent, and was honest with the NCAA about the process. Still, the NCAA said he committed a Level III violation. Previously, a memo had been sent to all players about benefits from agents.
“You, your family or your friends are not permitted to receive any benefits from an agent,” the NCAA memo said. “Examples of material benefits include money, transportation, dinner, clothes, cell phones, jewelry, etc. Please note that benefits may also include, but are not limited to, activities such as tryout arrangements with a professional team and coordinating tryout schedules.”
Huepel believes the rules are out of date and are unfairly punishing Carter.
“I think it is extremely unfortunate and not the right decision,” Heupel said.
Carter has been a player in the news for doing the right thing. Recently, a social media clip of him cutting his hair in support of his girlfriend, Mariah Bryant, who has breast cancer, went viral. At the time, he spoke to Volquest about the decision.
“I could see it was taking a toll on her mentally and with my football obligations, I’m not able to be at all the treatments like I want to be,” Carter told Volquest. “I wanted to let her know I’m here for her through thick and thin. I was just trying to find a way to support her no matter what because I wanted to let her know she’s not alone through this.”
While Carter has tried to do all the right things, the NCAA still has decided to punish him. He will miss the Volunteers’ games against Furman and Georgia Tech to open the season, but is allowed to practice with the team and will return against Kennesaw State on September 19.
Tennessee was excited to learn that Arion Carter was going to withdraw from the NFL Draft and return to Tennessee. Carter had gone through some of the process for the draft before an injury led to his decision to return. While going through the process, the prospect had flights paid for by his agent, leading to the NCAA suspending Carter for two games.
