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4-star OT Kamari Blair ‘excited’ to flip from South Carolina to Tennessee

On3 imageby: Austin Price08/21/25AustinPriceless
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It’s been less than a month since Clarksville offensive lineman Kamari Blair chose South Carolina over Tennessee and Ole Miss. He reversed course on his decision and flipped to Rocky Top because Tennessee just kept sticking in his mind.

“I’m about as excited as I could be,” Blair said about his decision. “It’s been a fight between both schools for most of my recruitment now. I just think in the end I had to do what I had to do. I’m excited to play and get on campus.

“Distance was a big reoccurring thing. Distance and being in my home state just keep feeling more like home.”

He has continued to talk with the Vols over the last month. They made him a priority even though he didn’t pick them initially and that left an impression.

“Just the constant FaceTime’s and letters and texts,” Blair said. “Just the openness.”

Volquest spoke with Blair about his flip before he even called to tell Tennessee. It was a phone call he was eager to make.

“I’m excited,” Blair said. “I mean, who wouldn’t be? Everyone is going to be happy. It’s going to be a good time.”

Blair jived with the Tennessee staff.

He has found offensive line coach Glen Elarbee to be very genuine.

“I like that he has been with coach Heup for ten years now,” Blair said. “He is a very honest dude throughout this whole thing. Like whatever he had to tell me was good or bad. Whether it hurt or helped his recruitment, he kept it honest.”

And telling Josh Heupel was easy. He loves the Vols head coach.

“He is very personable and easy to get along with,” Blair said. “He is a competitor. Like every time we played basketball or corn hole or anything like that, he just wanted to win. He doesn’t care about nothing else.”

The chance to play for the home state school was just something he couldn’t pass up in the end.

“I take a lot of pride in that,” Blake said. “I feel like I have more pride than playing 500 miles away in a different state. That’s not to knock South Carolina because

Blair and his Kirkwood team will kickoff their season Friday and he is glad to have this behind him.

“It’s important but I don’t think I let this stress of recruitment tie into football,” Blair said. “I just love to play the game but it’s a relief none the less.”

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