IRVING, Texas — The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced Wednesday that Tennessee senior linebacker Arion Carter is one of 206 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy – college football’s premier scholar-athlete award.
Celebrating its 37th year, the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
An undisputed defensive leader and team captain, Carter led the team in tackles during the 2025 regular season, 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.
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, and he received his undergraduate degree from UT in public health in August 2026.
Additionally, Carter has served as one of UT’s player representatives at SEC Media Days in each of the last two years and was a member of the 2024-25 VOLeaders Academy, culminating with a service trip to Brazil.
Along with his teammates, Carter has also been a regular visitor to patients at the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.
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 season, 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.
The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, each candidate must be competing in the 2026 season as a senior in his final year of eligibility or a graduate student/graduate transfer who has already earned a degree; have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor; and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is composed of a nationally recognized group of media, NFF College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
