Return from suspension isn't only reason Tennessee fans should cheer whenever LB Arion Carter makes a tackle in Week 2 against Georgia Tech

Tennessee Volunteers senior linebacker Arion Carter is turning his one-game suspension into a positive. The NCAA suspended Carter for two games after finding that he accepted a $427 flight from an agent to attend a predraft training session. The LB withdrew from the 2026 NFL Draft after aggravating a foot injury and repaid the agent. The suspension was later reduced to one game. After sitting out the No. 20 Volunteers' 56-9 Week 1 win over the Furman Paladins, Carter will return in Week 2 against the 0-1 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET Saturday). When he does, Tennessee fans will have even more reason to cheer whenever he makes a tackle. On Monday, Carter told On3's Austin Price that he plans to donate $427 to cancer research for each of his tackles this season. He'll pledge even bigger sums for sacks ($500), turnovers ($1,000) and defensive touchdowns ($5,000). The cause hits close to home for the LB. NEW: Tennessee star Arion Carter will donate $427 for every tackle this season to cancer research, @AustinPriceless reportsThe NCAA suspended Carter in July for a $427 flight to an NFL pre-draft training facility.https://t.co/KB3DANVM9J https://t.co/fk7ZFTX9kL pic.twitter.com/pUv5UiXrnc "[My mother] always wanted to raise a foundation or a nonprofit for women and little girls," Carter told the media (h/t Rylee Robinson of WVLT-TV in Knoxville). "And with my girlfriend, going through what she's went through these last couple of months, and me seeing it firsthand, it just really touched my heart." 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. #Vols pic.twitter.com/Tz9akxGMPQ Carter's girlfriend, Mariah Bryant, 24, was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in February, and she is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. In June, Carter cut his hair to match hers. Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter and his girlfriend, Mariah Bryant, are on an unimaginable journey. Both opened up and shared their story to Volquest. Their story will give you a Monday blessing.https://t.co/ImH8PW0Fii pic.twitter.com/goNDux2Xfh Carter's mother, Sheteka Alexander, started a nonprofit, Girls in Real Life Situations (GIRLS). The LB is partnering with his mother's nonprofit for the fundraiser. "I think it's indicative of who he is, right?" Volunteers HC Josh Heupel said during his Monday news conference. "He's passionate about a cause for multiple reasons, obviously his girlfriend, but his family history as well. A guy who cares about community, so it's just indicative of who he is as a person. The dollar amount certainly keeps the story alive too." Carter should make a big impact on and off the field in 2026. Last season, he logged 76 tackles, 1.5 sacks and recovered one fumble in 10 games. If he produces the same numbers in 2026, that would equal $33,609.50 in donations. He'll certainly be aiming to top that figure. Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.