KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter is back from his one-game suspension by the NCAA over a flight to an NFL training facility during the pre-draft process with a plan to turn his plays this season into helping people with cancer treatments.
Carter is partnering with his mother Sheteka Alexander’s nonprofit Girls in Real Life Situations (GIRLS) to donate $427 for every tackle this season, matching the dollar amount of that flight that sidelined him for No. 20 Tennessee’s opening win over Furman.
The linebacker will donate $500 for every sack, $1,000 per interception or forced fumble and $5,000 if he scores a defensive touchdown this season under the plan announced Monday. Money will go to charities like Sisters Network Nashville, which helps pay medical bills for cancer patients.
“You can’t really change the circumstances that you’re put in, especially with this one, so I tried to turn a negative into a positive, put a smile on people’s faces,” Carter said.
His girlfriend was diagnosed in February with breast cancer.
“With my girlfriend going through what she’s went through in these last couple of months, and me seeing it firsthand, it just really touched my heart, and it really made me have a different perspective and want to be able to raise awareness and set up a foundation for cancer research and be able to do this,” Carter said.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said this is just who Carter is as a man who cares about his girlfriend and family.
“The dollar amount certainly keeps the story alive too,” Heupel said.
Carter is back for Tennessee’s game at Georgia Tech on Saturday night. He led Tennessee with 76 total tackles last season and led the Southeastern Conference averaging 7.6 tackles per game.
Season-ending injury
Heupel also confirmed a season-ending injury for Joakim Dodson. The sophomore wide receiver and kick returner was hurt in the opening win. ___
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