'26 TN OT Kamari Blair

[Adam Sandler]

Don't get me wrong, I would love another, especially if it's Gray; but, how is IOL a need?

Wendell Moe (R-Jr)
Sam Pendleton (R-So)
Sham Umarov (R-So)
Max Anderson (R-Fr)
Gage Ginther (R-Fr)
William Satterwhite (R-Fr)
Antoni Ogumoro (Fr)
Nic Moore (Fr)

Been talk of Bennett Warren (R-Fr) getting reps on the inside; Jesse Perry (R-Fr) can maybe move inside some say.

3 interior positions. 8 players, possibly 10.

Tons of youth, so I don't understand "need" for this class, with Baker already committed?

OL is always a need. The only thing Butch Jones ever taught us.

 

[SugarCC]

OL is always a need. The only thing Butch Jones ever taught us.

I can understand it in that sense, but I also think the same thing of playmakers and DL. Always a need.

 

[highspeed]

Tennessee and Kamari Blair weren’t a match when he announced on Wednesday. Tennessee had the momentum on Tuesday night and had seemed to have fended off Ole Miss. That’s when a desperate South Carolina program came calling with a bigger NIL pitch and Blair decided to go that route. Tennessee will continue to work Blair and we will see where things go this fall.

-VQ

 

[walkenvol]

I’m no self proclaimed talent scout, but I don’t see Blair as a sure fire can’t miss recruit. At some point the asking price gets too high and you just have to pass. Best of luck to him - enjoy practicing football in one of the most oppressive weather cities in America.

 

[MarcoVol]

True on Charleston but not everyone can afford to live there.

Greenville cost of living shot up during covid as well. It was almost over night

 

[marcusluvsvols]

First, it isnt a poor state. It has poor people in it. Columbia is hell, Spartanburg is hell.

Greenville SC is one if not the nicest City in SE US.

I agree. Also built an apartment complex in Greenville close to the college. Commuted from Charlotte or lived in a hotel half the week for almost a year because we did the framing, roofing, siding, windows, doors, decks and breezeways. Turnkey. I actually discussed moving there with my wife because I like it much more than Charlotte. Has nothing to do IMO with Columbia being an absolute craphole and embarrassing for a state capitol though...Charleston and most of the coast is nice too. The rest of the state is quite poor and rural even compared to NC which is a pretty low bar. I am a blue collar guy who grew up with not much money and am certainly far from wealthy now. Looks like I am gonna be able to get both of my kids through college though (with student loans) which is a big victory for our family and the kids specifically. Definitely not crapping on folks for being poor though, most of my extended family has come from very humble beginnings. Having lived right next to the NC/SC line for over 30 years though I don't find either of the Carolinas really impressive and would much rather be in TN.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

To me this whole situation with not recruiting any other RB is like Tennessee telling Hiter, "Look, we are all in on you. Whatever it takes we'll do it." Which always made me feel decent about our chances. I don't know what Michigan's RB board looks like but this always struck me regardless.

Did look them up and no RB in their class either. Not sure about their priority target list. But I bet CJH has a plan…. HS or portal TBD. Kids can differentiate themselves their SR year on the field real soon. Late blooming is real at 17-18 years of age and questions can be erased.

 

[walkenvol]

Greenville cost of living shot up during covid as well. It was almost over night

Daughter lives in Greenville - housing prices are stupid expensive close in to the city.

 

[walkenvol]

Did look them up and no RB in their class either. Not sure about their priority target list. But I bet CJH has a plan…. HS or portal TBD. Kids can differentiate themselves their SR year on the field real soon. Late blooming is real at 17-18 years of age and questions can be erased.

IIRC , there was a post in the last few weeks about Michigan getting a RB commitment?

 

[Jackcrevol]

I agree. Also built an apartment complex in Greenville close to the college. Commuted from Charlotte or lived in a hotel half the week for almost a year because we did the framing, roofing, siding, windows, doors, decks and breezeways. Turnkey. I actually discussed moving there with my wife because I like it much more than Charlotte. Has nothing to do IMO with Columbia being an absolute craphole and embarrassing for a state capitol though...Charleston and most of the coast is nice too. The rest of the state is quite poor and rural even compared to NC which is a pretty low bar. I am a blue collar guy who grew up with not much money and am certainly far from wealthy now. Looks like I am gonna be able to get both of my kids through college though (with student loans) which is a big victory for our family and the kids specifically. Definitely not crapping on folks for being poor though, most of my extended family has come from very humble beginnings. Having lived right next to the NC/SC line for over 30 years though I don't find either of the Carolinas really impressive and would much rather be in TN.

Greenville is a great town, but rest of up state I agree. You're preaching to choir on Cola.

Sounds like you worked very hard. Congrats on getting kids into college, that's a big deal!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

IIRC , there was a post in the last few weeks about Michigan getting a RB commitment?

Yep, I missed one. Late June they took a 3 star from of all places Columbus OH.

 

[Vawlz]

I’m no self proclaimed talent scout, but I don’t see Blair as a sure fire can’t miss recruit. At some point the asking price gets too high and you just have to pass. Best of luck to him - enjoy practicing football in one of the most oppressive weather cities in America.

100% agree, and that's a detail a lot of fans miss. There's not an infinite amount of NIL $ to go around.

 

[MarcoVol]

I’m no self proclaimed talent scout, but I don’t see Blair as a sure fire can’t miss recruit. At some point the asking price gets too high and you just have to pass. Best of luck to him - enjoy practicing football in one of the most oppressive weather cities in America.

Not an argument but a discussion - if he was rated a 5* would you feel the same way or are you letting his rating influence your feelings on his ability?

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

100% agree, and that's a detail a lot of fans miss. There's not an infinite amount of NIL $ to go around.

Compounded by the fact these kids within the room have their own RELATIVE value numbers in their heads. So another RISK/Reward calculation enters the decision process at ALL the schools and some can justify bigger numbers based on need and room composition.

 

[BigorangeBoy]

I agree. Also built an apartment complex in Greenville close to the college. Commuted from Charlotte or lived in a hotel half the week for almost a year because we did the framing, roofing, siding, windows, doors, decks and breezeways. Turnkey. I actually discussed moving there with my wife because I like it much more than Charlotte. Has nothing to do IMO with Columbia being an absolute craphole and embarrassing for a state capitol though...Charleston and most of the coast is nice too. The rest of the state is quite poor and rural even compared to NC which is a pretty low bar. I am a blue collar guy who grew up with not much money and am certainly far from wealthy now. Looks like I am gonna be able to get both of my kids through college though (with student loans) which is a big victory for our family and the kids specifically. Definitely not crapping on folks for being poor though, most of my extended family has come from very humble beginnings. Having lived right next to the NC/SC line for over 30 years though I don't find either of the Carolinas really impressive and would much rather be in TN.

I moved from Cleveland to Murphy, NC (only about 65 miles away) and I really like this town ( I loved Cleveland and was born there). At the same time, real estate here is ridiculous and there is no city infrastructure to handle the growth - and no meaningful residential development going on. Amazon is building a new facility between Murphy and Hayesville, and while adding the jobs is nice the town needs to catch up. But I do like it here, except the 4% state income tax. Lots of people relocate here from FL, but I understand that is also true in Blairsville, Blue Ridge and places like Jasper.

 

[Weezer]

OL is always a need. The only thing Butch Jones ever taught us.

This. I'm a believer that every class should have at least 2 IOL and 1 OT minimum. Of the guys listed on our roster, some will work out, some won't. Some will move on, whether to the next level or portaling to another school. Right now, we have 1 IOL committed. As I said, I believe in taking 2 each class, so that's why I consider it a need.

 

[Weezer]

I can understand it in that sense, but I also think the same thing of playmakers and DL. Always a need..

And I agree we need more DL, but I'm thinking RG likes going to the portal to find more ready players. Myself, I'd love to be in on some of the higher-rated beasts coming out of HS.

 

[Adam Sandler]

This. I'm a believer that every class should have at least 2 IOL and 2 OT minimum. Of the guys listed on our roster, some will work out, some won't. Some will move on, whether to the next level or portaling to another school. Right now, we have 1 IOL committed. As I said, I believe in taking 2 each class, so that's why I consider it a need.

Fyp.

 

[Adam Sandler]

And I agree we need more DL, but I'm thinking RG likes going to the portal to find more ready players. Myself, I'd love to be in on some of the higher-rated beasts coming out of HS.

RG is not a portal guy. He’ll bring in a portal guy if he needs to fill a leadership/depth role and he typically wants em for 2 years or more, but his guys get cruised and coached and they either become a starter or leave for a starting job elsewhere. He’s a coach ‘em up guy.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

100% agree, and that's a detail a lot of fans miss. There's not an infinite amount of NIL $ to go around.

Many on here say TX and TAMU have unlimited money to go around

 

[Weezer]

RG is not a portal guy. He’ll bring in a portal guy if he needs to fill a leadership/depth role and he typically wants em for 2 years or more, but his guys get cruised and coached and they either become a starter or leave for a starting job elsewhere. He’s a coach ‘em up guy.

He's taken a portal guy almost every cycle. Not sure how he's "not a portal guy". I still think he looks there for a couple of bodies this next cycle as we are not in on any of the top DL left on the board.

 

[Weezer]

Many on here say TX and TAMU have unlimited money to go around

Probably not unlimited, they've just yet to reach the limit.

 

[Vol423]

Don't get me wrong, I would love another, especially if it's Gray; but, how is IOL a need?

Wendell Moe (R-Jr)
Sam Pendleton (R-So)
Sham Umarov (R-So)
Max Anderson (R-Fr)
Gage Ginther (R-Fr)
William Satterwhite (R-Fr)
Antoni Ogumoro (Fr)
Nic Moore (Fr)

Been talk of Bennett Warren (R-Fr) getting reps on the inside; Jesse Perry (R-Fr) can maybe move inside some say.

3 interior positions. 8 players, possibly 10.

Tons of youth, so I don't understand "need" for this class, with Baker already committed?

Because half of the guys in this forum only look at recruiting on a class by class basis without considering players already on the roster from previous classes. Since most true freshman don't play much, it's like the prior recruiting class never exists.

 

[Vol423]

Tennessee and Kamari Blair weren’t a match when he announced on Wednesday. Tennessee had the momentum on Tuesday night and had seemed to have fended off Ole Miss. That’s when a desperate South Carolina program came calling with a bigger NIL pitch and Blair decided to go that route. Tennessee will continue to work Blair and we will see where things go this fall.

-VQ

So much for that one poster's rumor mongering that Blair burned bridges similar to the way Seaton did.

 

[Weezer]

Because half of the guys in this forum only look at recruiting on a class by class basis without considering players already on the roster from previous classes. Since most true freshman don't play much, it's like the prior recruiting class never exists.

Or it could be we realize recruiting is about the future. Guys on the roster could not pan out, could get hurt, could transfer, or take their turn on the OL before going pro. You're not recruiting OL to come in and play immediately. You're getting guys in to get them S&C and weight training, so they'll be ready to play down the road. As someone said earlier, we've seen what happens when we go a class without OL. So you're always recruiting the next guys so as to never be thin at the position.