Nov 15, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the first half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dontavius Blair — Offensive Tackle
2014 stats: Did not play — Redshirt
No offense to Jacob Gilliam (the guy proved to be of the true greats to ever take the field at Neyland Stadium), but if you would’ve told me that a walk-on would start at left tackle (and later right tackle) for the Vols in 2014, I would’ve said you were crazy.
Even after Gilliam was listed ahead of four-star JuCo transfer Dontavius Blair heading into the summer, I was still convinced Blair would be the Vols’ staring left tackle in 2014.
I still think Dontavius Blair ends up as the Vols' starting LT.
— zach ragan (@zachtnt) July 15, 2014
But that obviously wasn’t the case, as it seemed like everyone but Dontavius Blair played at left tackle in 2014. We saw the aforementioned Gilliam start the season there. We also saw Brett Kendrick and Kyler Kerbyson there.
Ultimately, Butch Jones decided to redshirt Blair.
And I don’t think Jones’ decision to redshirt Blair was rooted in a desire to preserve the position for the future. Tennessee’s options were bleak in 2014. They needed Blair to step up immediately, but Blair obviously wasn’t ready to step up.
He won’t have a choice in 2015. Even though he still has two years of eligibility remaining, it’s now or never for the Alabama native.
If Blair can’t make it happen this upcoming season, the Vols will find someone who can.
Tennessee needs Blair to be the guy in 2015. If the Vols want to compete for the SEC East, they need a much improved offensive line.
A focused Blair could make a world of difference.
Hopefully for the Volunteers, that’s what they get.