Welp, this is something we did not see coming. On Wednesday, the expectation was that the Tennessee football team was going to add yet another commitment, this time from 4-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair.
Not long ago, official predictions came in for the youngster to announce he'd be playing his college ball in Knoxville. Moments ago, however, Blair revealed live at his high school that he'll be playing for an SEC rival instead. That's right, he committed to South Carolina over Tennessee and Ole Miss. Wow.
4-star OT Kamari Blair has committed to South Carolina over Tennessee
This of course is an incredible get for Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks. Throughout his recruitment, the 6-5, 280-pounder picked up nearly 30 offers. He took four official visits this spring, getting a close-up look at Tennessee, Wisconsin, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
The Gamecocks made him a priority for quite some time and they certainly turned his head when he was on campus last month. According to the 247Sports Composite, Blair is ranked four stars, the No. 25 OT in the country and No. 11 player from Tennessee. He's also the No. 298 playmaker nationally.
The fact that he was such a touted recruit was one thing, but it's always going to be key for Heupel to keep an elite in-state standout home. That's what makes this latest news so disappointing. lBlair is a stud for Kirkwood High in Clarksville, which is a little under four hours away from Knoxville - it's an hour outside of Nashville.
This really feels like a bit of a shock. South Carolina must have come in at the last minute to really sell him on all the great things he'll be able to get done on campus. From our chair, we thought it was a lock that Blair would announce for the Vols. However, this once again proves that it's always best to expect the unexpected when it comes to recruiting.