Tennessee football misses out on four-star in-state offensive tackle Kamari Blair from Kirkwood High School. Despite a June visit to Knoxville, Blair commits to South Carolina.
PROSPECT: Kamari Blair
POSITION: Offensive Tackle
MEASUREMENTS: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds
SCHOOL: Kirkwood High School (Clarksville, Tennessee)
Tennessee football has come up short on one of its top in-state targets for the 2026 class.
Four-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair announced on Wednesday that he’s committing to South Carolina, turning down the Vols despite being a Tennessee native and making an official visit to Knoxville on June 20.
Blair, rated No. 298 nationally and No. 25 among offensive tackles by the 247Sports Composite, held 29 total offers and took five official visits during his recruitment. His stops included Ole Miss (June 13), South Carolina (June 6), Wisconsin (May 30), and Boston College, in addition to Tennessee.
The Vols were considered a strong contender, thanks in part to offensive line coach Glen Elarbee’s efforts, and Blair’s summer visit offered a prime opportunity to keep him home. However, Tennessee couldn’t close the deal on a player praised for his size, refined technique, and long-term starting potential.
With two offensive tackle commits already on board for 2026, Tennessee isn’t in bad shape, but losing a homegrown four-star prospect is still a tough blow—especially in the fierce SEC recruiting race.
The Vols will now pivot their attention to other uncommitted targets as they work to strengthen the offensive line for the future.
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