By Rhiannon Potkey
Arion Carter is one of the most feared defenders in the country. The University of Tennessee star linebacker has delivered plenty of hits that can rattle an opponent’s teeth. As a dean’s list student who graduated in three years with a degree in public health, Carter also knows the importance of wearing a mouthguard for protection.
It’s what made Carter a perfect spokesperson for a statewide initiative launched last week in partnership with Delta Dental to encourage young athletes of every age and ability level to wear mouth guards while playing sports.
Mouthguards help protect teeth and stabilize the jaw, minimizing the risk of injuries to the face. Yet, according to a survey commissioned by the American Association of Orthodontists, 67% of parents said their children don’t wear a mouthguard. Per a study conducted in 2019, pediatric sports and recreation dental injuries account for more than 11,000 emergency room visits annually.
Contact sports like football where mouthguards are required offer compelling evidence that wearing one can substantially lower a player’s risk of dental injury. Since mouthguard and faceguard requirements were implemented in high school and college football in the 1960s, the incidence of oral-facial injuries has dropped dramatically.
“As a football player who hits someone on every play, wearing a mouthguard is my No. 1 priority – and I hope it is for any young athlete today, regardless of what sport you are playing,” says Carter, a member of the SEC Football Leadership Council. “Wearing a mouthguard while going out and dominating allows you to stay safe while also looking cool.”
That’s not the only way Carter will be giving back this season either.
Carter missed UT’s season-opening 56-9 victory over Furman last weekend because of a suspension for accepting a $427 flight from an agent after he declared for the NFL Draft. The Smyrna, Tennessee native chose to return to college after suffering an injury that hindered his draft stock.
The NCAA originally suspended Carter for two games despite Carter paying back the money. The suspension was eventually reduced to one game upon appeal.
Carter will be donating $427 for every tackle he makes this season to Sisters Network Nashville, an African American breast cancer survivorship organization. Carter’s personal connection to the cause stems from his girlfriend, Mariah Bryant, a 24-year-old Nashville trauma ICU nurse who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.
Partnering with his mother Sheteka Alexander’s nonprofit, Girls in Real Life Situations (GIRLS), 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.
Bryant was at UT’s season opener in Neyland Stadium last weekend alongside Carter’s family. They were all wearing “Free 7” T-shirts, which is Carter’s uniform number.
“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 says. “And it also goes back even to my mom. She has always wanted to raise a nonprofit foundation for women and little girls. And 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.”
Leading in all ways
Carter will be making his senior season debut for the Vols (1-0) Saturday when Tennessee travels to play Georgia Tech (7 p.m. EDT, ESPN). The Yellow Jackets (0-1) are coming off a 14-13 home loss to Colorado.
Despite not being able to play in the season opener against Furman, Carter was designated a captain for the game and represented UT for the coin toss. He watched from the sidelines as quarterback Faizon Brandon made his debut for the Vols, tying a program freshman record by accounting for five touchdowns in the win. Brandon finished 13 of 17 for 226 yards and three passing touchdowns while rushing for 68 yards and two more touchdowns.
In his partnership with Delta Dental, Carter also highlighted the importance of good oral hygiene and developing healthy habits and routines. Tooth decay remains the most common chronic disease of childhood and can affect a child’s health, school attendance, and academic success.
“Small, healthy habits, starting with brushing my teeth and washing my face in the morning, have always been a big deal for me,” says Carter, who wants to be an orthopedic surgeon once his football career ends. “It allows me to present myself the right way as I step outside the house and take on the world, and to be as focused and confident as possible. All it takes is 30 days to create a consistent routine, and once you find that routine, don’t deviate from it.”
Nobody involved with the UT football program is surprised by Carter’s generosity and willingness to give back. They’ve always known some of his greatest impacts would be made beyond the field.
“Arion represents, to me, everything that’s good inside of this game. A guy that’s a great student,” UT head coach Josh Heupel says. “He’s graduated, done it with honors. He’s great inside of our university, in the Knoxville community in Tennessee. Great teammate, great player. He’s got a great future in front of him this year and beyond in the NFL.”