KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A pair of Tennessee football defensive standouts were recognized Wednesday afternoon as preseason watch list members for two national awards. Arion Carter was tabbed to the 2025 preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, while Jermod McCoy was selected to the 2025 preseason watch list for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
 
The Butkus Award annually honors the nation’s top linebacker. The Butkus Foundation announced 51 candidates on their preseason watch list, including Carter who was one of 18 SEC linebackers featured.

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. McCoy was one of 35 players included on the award’s preseason watch list and one of five SEC players recognized.

Arion Carter • Butkus Award Preseason Watch List
Carter returns for his junior season after starting all 13 games at linebacker in 2024 and leading UT with 68 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss. The in-state product also had six pass breakups and an interception to go along with three quarterback hurries as a sophomore to help lead the Big Orange to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

After representing the Vols at SEC Media Days in mid-July, Carter was chosen by the media as a third team preseason All-SEC selection. He also garnered All-SEC second team preseason acclaim from Athlon Sports.

Butkus Award semi-finalists will be named Tuesday, Nov. 4. Finalists are set to be announced Tuesday, Nov. 25, and the winner will be revealed by Wednesday, Dec. 10. Appearing on the watch list is not a requirement to win the award. The 2025 winner will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in early 2026, featured on a Big Ten Network special.

Jermod McCoy • Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
McCoy enters the year widely regarded as one of the nation’s top corners after earning first team All-SEC recognition as well as second team All-America honors from the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated last season. He finished third on the team with 44 total tackles and led the team with 13 passes defended, which ranked fourth in the conference. He also tied for the team lead with four interceptions in 2024, two of which occurred in the end zone and prevented touchdowns.

Entering this season, McCoy had already been recognized as a first-team preseason All-American by multiple outlets and was named an All-SEC preseason first-team selection by the media after being tabbed a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award in 2024. On Tuesday, he was additionally tabbed to the Nagurski Trophy watch list.
 
Fifteen semifinalists for the 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 28, and that list will be narrowed to three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The winner will be announced Friday, Dec. 12, on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards at 7 p.m. ET.
 
The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.

2025 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors

Head Coach Josh Heupel
Dodd Trophy Watch List
 
DeSean Bishop, RB, R-So.
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
 
Arion Carter, LB, Jr.
Butkus Award Watch List
Second Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Third Team All-SEC (Media)
 
Boo Carter, DB, So.
Third Team All-SEC (Media)
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
 
Bryson Eason, DL, R-Sr.
Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Third Team All-SEC (Athlon)
 
Rickey Gibson III, DB, Jr.
Third Team All-SEC (Athlon)
 
Lance Heard, OL, Jr.
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
 
Joshua Josephs, DL, Sr.
Second Team All-SEC (Athlon)
 
Miles Kitselman, TE, R-Sr.
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
 
Jermod McCoy, DB, Jr.
Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
First Team All-American (Athlon, PFF, Walter Camp)
First Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media)
 
Jackson Ross, P, R-Jr.
Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)