University of Tennessee Athletics
Carter Named to Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Watch List
September 10, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee senior linebacker Arion Carter was announced as one of 89 nominees for the 2026 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award on Thursday.
Nominated by their schools, the members of the watch list have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
An undisputed defensive leader and team captain, Carter led the team in tackles during the regular season in 2025 despite battling through a foot injury, finishing with 76 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 10 games played. His 7.6 tackles per game led the SEC, as well.
The Smyrna, Tennessee, native, was one of 20 semifinalists for the Witten Award last year and opted to return for his senior season after exploring entering the NFL Draft.
In conjunction with his on-field success, Carter's list of achievements off the field are equally, if not more impressive. The Preseason All-SEC selection served as Tennessee's representative on the 2025 SEC Football Leadership Council, providing guidance to the conference and Commissioner Greg Sankey.
Additionally, Carter has served as one of UT's player representatives at SEC Media Days in each of the last two years (2025 & 2026) and was a member of the 2024-25 VOLeaders Academy, culminating with a service trip to Brazil.
Along with his teammates, Carter has been a regular visitor to patients at the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital in Knoxville, as well.
This summer, Carter shaved his head in support of his 24-year-old girlfriend, Mariah, who underwent a double mastechtomy and was undergoing chemotherapy to battle stage 2 breast cancer.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Carter will partner with his mother Sheteka Alexander's nonprofit – Girls in Real Life Situations (GIRLS) – to raise money through his play by donating $427 for every tackle he makes this season. Carter will also donate $500 for every sack, $1,000 for every interception or forced fumble and $5,000 if he scores a defensive touchdown this year.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Three finalists will then be named for the award on Monday, Dec. 14. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony, which will take place in Spring of 2027.
The entire 2026 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Watch List can be seen HERE.
Dodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
ESPN Top 100 Players List (No. 70)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
QB Faizon Brandon
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watch List
On3 True Freshman All-America Team
LB Amare Campbell
Bednarik Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Lombardi Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
On3 All-America Third Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
PK Cooper Ranvier
Lou Groza Award Watch List
DB Ty Redmond
Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
P Jackson Ross
Ray Guy Award Watch List
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
Nominated by their schools, the members of the watch list have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
An undisputed defensive leader and team captain, Carter led the team in tackles during the regular season in 2025 despite battling through a foot injury, finishing with 76 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 10 games played. His 7.6 tackles per game led the SEC, as well.
The Smyrna, Tennessee, native, was one of 20 semifinalists for the Witten Award last year and opted to return for his senior season after exploring entering the NFL Draft.
In conjunction with his on-field success, Carter's list of achievements off the field are equally, if not more impressive. The Preseason All-SEC selection served as Tennessee's representative on the 2025 SEC Football Leadership Council, providing guidance to the conference and Commissioner Greg Sankey.
Additionally, Carter has served as one of UT's player representatives at SEC Media Days in each of the last two years (2025 & 2026) and was a member of the 2024-25 VOLeaders Academy, culminating with a service trip to Brazil.
Along with his teammates, Carter has been a regular visitor to patients at the Dolly Parton Children's Hospital in Knoxville, as well.
This summer, Carter shaved his head in support of his 24-year-old girlfriend, Mariah, who underwent a double mastechtomy and was undergoing chemotherapy to battle stage 2 breast cancer.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Carter will partner with his mother Sheteka Alexander's nonprofit – Girls in Real Life Situations (GIRLS) – to raise money through his play by donating $427 for every tackle he makes this season. Carter will also donate $500 for every sack, $1,000 for every interception or forced fumble and $5,000 if he scores a defensive touchdown this year.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Three finalists will then be named for the award on Monday, Dec. 14. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony, which will take place in Spring of 2027.
The entire 2026 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Watch List can be seen HERE.
Tennessee Football — 2026 Award Watch Lists & Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh HeupelDodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
ESPN Top 100 Players List (No. 70)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
QB Faizon Brandon
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watch List
On3 True Freshman All-America Team
LB Amare Campbell
Bednarik Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Watch List
Butkus Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Lombardi Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
On3 All-America Third Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
PK Cooper Ranvier
Lou Groza Award Watch List
DB Ty Redmond
Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
P Jackson Ross
Ray Guy Award Watch List
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches, Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
LS
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
PK
/ Football
DB
/ Football
P
/ Football
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ FootballTuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
Tuesday, September 08
