For every tackle Tennessee football linebackerArion Carter makes this season, he is donating $427 to support cancer research, he announced on Sept. 7, in a not-so-subtle reference to the controversial suspension he received from the NCAA.
And media personality Clay Travis said the same day that he would support Carter's charitable efforts by matching the $427 donated for every tackle.
"I will match Arion Carter's $427 per tackle to cancer research," @ClayTravis announced.
— Sport & State (@SportNState) September 7, 2026
The Tennessee LB announced Monday that he will donate $427 per tackle this season towards cancer research - the same amount as his flight he received a suspension for by the NCAA. pic.twitter.com/YF3Nt16g1M
"Since the NCAA probably won't do it, I will match Arion Carter's $427
dollars to cancer research. So you've got a chance to really cost me a lot of money here, Arion Carter," Travis said on The Clay Travis Show. "The NCAA won't do it. They got this ruling completely wrong. I will do it instead. I like this. I love when players are smart and do awesome things and I think Arion Carter is doing that here."
Carter was suspended for the Vols first game of the 2026 season, a 56-9 win over Furman at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 5, and will make his return against Georgia Tech (0-1) at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta on Sept. 12 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Travis also sent well wishes to Carter's girlfriend, Mariah Bryant, who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in February and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She works as an ICU nurse in Nashville.
"Get well soon Mariah Bryant," Travis said. "We're all rooting for you I love what Arion Carter has done here and I hope he racks up a bunch of tackles that will cost me a decent amount of money."
Why Arion Carter is donating $427 for every tackle he makes this season
Carter picked $427 as the amount for each donation carefully. He was suspended for one game, UT's 56-9 win over Furman on Sept. 5, because the NCAA had determined he violated eligibility rules by accepting a $427 flight to a pre-NFL Draft training session from his agent.
After reaggravating an injury to his foot, Carter withdrew from the 2026 NFL Draft, cut ties with the agent and repaid the cost of the flight before returning to UT, but the NCAA still ruled that he violated rules against impermissible benefits. Carter was initially suspended for three games, but the NCAA reduced it to two games after UT appealed and eventually reduced it further to one game.
Coach Josh Heupel made Carter UT's lone captain for the game against Furman.
🫡7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/gc1wpxazlI
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 5, 2026
"(Carter) is the strongest leader in our locker room," Heupel said on Sept. 7. "He represents Tennessee in exactly the way that I and our administration and our staff would want somebody to represent Tennessee. It was a no brainer on Saturday that he would be the guy out there."
In addition to the $427 for every tackle, Carter will donate $500 for each sack, $1,000 for each interception and forced fumble, and $5,000 for each defensive touchdown he scores during the 2026 season. Carter would have donated $34,202 for 76 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble recorded if he held this fundraiser during the 2025 season.
How Arion Carter's girlfriend inspired donations with battle against cancer
Carter, who is from Smyrna, has firsthand experience supporting loved ones battling cancer. His girlfriend is going through treatment for breast cancer and he's had other family members diagnosed with cancer. Carter cut his hair to match Bryant in June.
Carter's mother, Sheteka Alexander, founded a nonprofit called Girls in Real Life Situations (GIRLS), that donates to several Nashville-area charities like Sisters Network Nashville, which raises funds to pay medical bills for cancer patients.
Now Carter is able to help cancer patients directly with his play on the field.
"My mom has always wanted to raise a nonprofit foundation to help women and little girls," Carter said on Sept. 7. "And with what my girlfriend has gone through these last few months, it really touched my heart. It made me have a different perspective, and I wanted to raise awareness and set up a foundation for cancer research."
Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Clay Travis matching Arion Carter's fundraiser, tackles made for Tennessee football
