Vols commitment Dontavius Blair signs financial aid agreement

https://twitter.com/UTCoachThig/status/399640262521020416

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Tennessee linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen tweeted out the photo above with Vols coach Butch Jones and offensive tackle commitment Dontavius Blair.

Although the tweet doesn’t say precisely, this is a pretty good indication that Blair his signed an athletic aid agreement with Tennessee. It does not mean he has signed a National Letter of Intent. Mid-year junior college enrollees can sign a letter starting Dec. 18.

Several players have taken advantage of a new NCAA rules interpretation that allows players to sign an athletic aid agreement before signing a Letter of Intent. Players must be on track to meet academic admission requirements.

Schools are obligated to honor the scholarship of the player, who is not yet bound by a NLI. The benefit for the school is that normal recruiting restrictions no longer apply.

Blair, originally from Anniston, Ala., is a 6-foot-8, 302-pound tackle at Garden City (Kan.) Community College.

Update: Blair isn’t the only commitment who signed an aid agreement this weekend.