On the field, there is no doubt Boo Carter has talent.
Off the field issues, however, led to Carter’s time at Tennessee being cut short, which has led him to Colorado.
Now in his first spring with the Buffaloes, Carter is making a good impression.
“He’s probably going to be one of the most talented guys I’ve ever coached, besides Travis (Hunter),” CU nickel backs coach Kevin Mathis said.
A 5-foot-11, 200-pound defensive back, Carter was a four-star recruit coming out of high school in 2024 and had 46 scholarship offers, including from CU. He took two visits to CU in 2023 before signing with Tennessee, where he spent two seasons.
It was a rocky tenure at Rocky Top, though, as he was dismissed from Tennessee’s team in November.
According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Carter missed several team workouts during the offseason leading up to the 2025 season and had to meet multiple requirements set forth by head coach Josh Heupel to remain on the team. He played in the first nine games, but in a reserve role.
CU took a chance on Carter because of his talent, while also believing it has the structure in place to give Carter a positive change of scenery.
“Yeah that was the first thing when he came to my office, ‘What can I do to help you?’” Mathis said. “‘Because we’re on this journey together. I want you to accomplish your dreams, your goals. I’m here to help you, but I can’t help you if you don’t let me help you.’”
Mathis said Carter is buying in.
“Each and every day he’s coming up and he’s being able to talk a little bit more,” Mathis said. “Itap a lot of stuff that goes on, on the outside, that we don’t understand. These kids go through a lot and they gotta have a soft place to come in and be able to talk in order for us to break down those things, in order to get him going in the right direction.
“I think he’s opening up and once he does that we can kind of get to the issues, but he’s doing a good job and he’s been going the way we need him go.”
Carter has certainly proven capable of being a star when things are going well.
As a true freshman with the Volunteers in 2024, he made the SEC’s All-Freshman team, starting the last five games of the season at the star (nickel) position. He was sixth on the team in tackles (38), while adding three tackles for loss, one sack and an interception. He also led the SEC in punt return average (16.5 yards per return, 12 for 198).
In nine games this past season, he posted 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups and three forced fumbles. He also averaged 13.2 yards on punt returns (11 for 145), including a career-long 40-yarder.
At CU, Carter currently projects as the starter at the nickel spot.
“There’s no doubt about the talent being there, there’s no doubt about his knowledge of the football game,” Mathis said. “We gotta just get him to being consistent on every play. Once he does that, once he gets the mentality to be a professional, and thatap playing every play, and locking in and straining on every play. But the talent is there. There’s no doubt about it, the knowledge is there.
“Itap up to us to get him to understand that he needs to bring that every play because thatap what we expect.”
