Arion Carter LB Tennessee |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #7 PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.56 seconds (87%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #7 | |
| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.56 seconds (87%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
73.7 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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72% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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75% |
| Pass Rush: |
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76% |
| Run Defense: |
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64% |
| Coverage: |
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50% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#501
Position rank:
#50 (LB)
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| College Games: 38 College Snaps: 1582 | ||
ESPN RATING: 82/100
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247 RATING: 93/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jaiden Ausberry - Notre Dame |
|
86% |
| Luke Reimer - Nebraska |
|
85% |
| Jeremy Banks - Tennessee |
|
85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Arion Carter was Tennessee's Class 6A Mr. Football in 2022 at Smyrna High School, where he made 92 tackles and also ran for 1,184 yards and 19 touchdowns. A four-star recruit and a basketball and track athlete, he decommitted from Memphis and signed with the Volunteers.Carter saw action in eight games in 2023 before shoulder surgery ended his freshman season. He was a 13-game starter at weakside linebacker in 2024, making 68 tackles and an interception. In 2025 he played through a foot injury, made 76 tackles in 10 games and earned second-team All-SEC honors.
He declared for the draft in December 2025, had foot surgery in January and then withdrew to return. The NCAA suspended him for the opener against Furman over a flight to a pre-draft training facility. Since returning, the captain has played every game, with eight solo tackles against Texas and a sack among three stops against Kennesaw State.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare closing speed, with one of the best forty times in this class
- Strong tackler in space who made 76 tackles in 10 games in 2025
- Posted a sack and three pressures in the September win over Kennesaw State
- Team captain and Butkus Award semifinalist this season
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Coverage is a weakness, with 24 catches allowed on 29 targets this season
- Georgia Tech completed six passes on him for 87 yards in September
- Has a shoulder surgery in 2023 and a foot surgery in January 2026
- Missed the opener against Furman because of an NCAA suspension
- Four missed tackles this season follow seven more in 2025
Scouting Report: Summary
Carter is a fast, instinctive linebacker who ranks among the most productive tacklers in the SEC. He covers ground quickly, finishes in space and can blitz, as his sack against Kennesaw State showed, and he is a respected captain.However, his coverage has been poor this season, with Georgia Tech and others completing almost everything thrown his way. He also has two surgeries on his record, and the suspension over a pre-draft flight cost him the opener.
Overall, Carter has the speed and production of a draftable linebacker but a medical file that will worry teams. He projects as a priority free agent with special teams value from the start.
How other scouting services rate Arion Carter (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
302.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
37.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.