​Tennessee’s Arion Carter (7) during Tennessee football’s fall practice, in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, August 3, 2024. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co Arion Carter has done his time, now it’s time to begin his senior season. Carter, an unquestioned leader on the team, was forced to miss Saturday’s game due to suspension. The NCAA initially handed Carter a three-game suspension after an agent bought him a $427 plane ticket. Carter reversed his NFL decision and returned to college and paid back the money for the flight.But that didn’t matter to the NCAA. The three-game decision was revised down to two and then eventually one as more and more people called out the ridiculous ruling.Now Carter has decided to donate 427 dollars to cancer research for every tackle he makes this season. Carter’s girlfriend is battling cancer currently, so it’s obviously a cause that hits home for him. Arion Carter on why he wanted to donate $427 to cancer treatment for every tackle he makes this season.“I wanted to turn a negative into a positive.”Carter was suspended by the NCAA for the season opener for a $427 flight he paid back during the pre draft process. #Volspic.twitter.com/Tz9akxGMPQ— Rylee Robinson (@ryleerobinsontv) September 7, 2026“I think it’s indicative of who he is, right? He’s passionate about a cause for multiple reasons,” Josh Heupel said on Monday. “Obviously, his girlfriend, but his family history, as well. He’s a guy that cares about community. I think it’s indicative of who he is as a person. The dollar amount certainly keeps the story alive.“The young guy that came in was very mature, very focused. He’s grown tremendously as a football player, as a leader. You look at his success off the field, that’s in our community, it’s graduating with honors, how much of an impact he has inside of our program. He represents everything that’s good about college football. It certainly represents everything, the right way of being a ball player.”Carter had 48 total tackles last season as he played through a turf toe injury. He’ll lead a wildly talented and deep linebacker room, joined by Penn State transfer Amare Campbell. We’ll have a better idea of what that rotation will looking after Saturday, where Tennessee is set to take on Georgia Tech.