PHILADELPHIA — The Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday morning that Tennessee freshman linebacker Arion Carter was one of 37 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2023 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Named after Shaun Alexander since 2018, this award recognizes the exceptional performance and impact made by these players on their respective teams throughout the season. The winning formula evaluates players based on traits of Talent, Character, Ambassador and Legend.
The 6-1, 227-pound linebacker from Smyrna, Tennessee, arrived on Rocky Top in December 2022 and participated in Orange Bowl practices before enrolling early at UT in January and going through spring practice. Prior to Tennessee, Carter starred for Smyrna High School on both sides of the ball and was named Class 6A Mr. Football after a phenomenal 2022 campaign. He posted 92 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, five passes defended, three forced fumbles and one interception during his senior year while also leading Smyrna with 1,184 rushing yards on 185 carries with 19 touchdowns.
A consensus four-star prospect by all major recruiting services and rated as high as No. 2 in the state of Tennessee, the highly-touted homegrown product committed to the Vols a week before National Signing Day this past winter. The rookie has impressed UT’s coaching staff this offseason and recently received praise from linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary in Tuesday’s media availability.
“Arion is an explosive kid, super athletic,” Jean-Mary said. “He was committed to a Division I school as a running back, so you see the athleticism there. But the poise, the maturity, he has shown all those things which has put him in line to play early. He will play on Saturday and get a chance to go out there. I am excited to go out and see what he can do in a full first college football game.”
The No. 12/10 Vols open the 2023 campaign Saturday at 11 a.m. CT in Nashville, taking on the Virginia Cavaliers inside a sold-out Nissan Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
Tennessee’s full list of preseason honors can be viewed below.
2023 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
Sr. DE Tyler Baron
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
Sr. LB Aaron Beasley
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Lindy’s)
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon)
R-Sr. DB Warren Burrell
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
R-Sr. OL John Campbell Jr.
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Fr. LB Arion Carter
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watch List
R-Sr. TE McCallan Castles
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
R-Sr. DB Kamal Hadden
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Sr. DL Roman Harrison
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
R-Sr. DB Gabe Jeudy-Lally
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Sr. WR Ramel Keyton
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Sr. OL Cooper Mays
Rimington Trophy Watch List
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Lindy’s)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Sr. DB Jaylen McCollough
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Sr. WR Bru McCoy
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
Sr. DB Tamarion McDonald
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Sr. QB Joe Milton III
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Candidate
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
R-Jr. OL Gerald Mincey
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
R-Sr. LB Keenan Pili
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Sr. RB Jabari Small
Doak Walker Award Preseason Candidate List
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Sr. OL Javontez Spraggins
All-SEC Second Team (Lindy’s)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media)
Sr. DL Omari Thomas
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
All-SEC First Team (Lindy’s)
R-Sr. TE Jacob Warren
Mackey Award Watch List
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
So. WR Squirrel White
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
Sr. RS Dee Williams
All-American Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Jr. RB Jaylen Wright
Doak Walker Award Preseason Candidate List
All-SEC Third Team (Lindy’s)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)