Report: Longhorns Set to Host Alabama Transfer LB Kendrick Blackshire for Visit

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AUSTIN, Texas -- With a successful 2023 season behind them, the Texas Longhorns have already started gearing up for their first year in the SEC.
And what better way to do that then by luring in some SEC-ready talent to Austin?
Per reports from Horns247, Alabama Crimson Tide transfer linebacker Kendrick Blackshire said that he plans to visit the Forty Acres this weekend.
Originally a four-star prospect out of Duncanville, the same Texas high school that produced incoming Longhorns' 2024 five-star EDGE Colin Simmons, Blackshire had offers from a handful of elite programs -- including Texas -- before committing to Nick Saban and Alabama as part of the 2021 recruiting class.
However, despite receiving offers from teams like Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma and more, Blackshire never lived up to his elite expectations while in Tuscaloosa.
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In three seasons, he posted 25 total, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In Texas' 34-24 win over Alabama in September, he had three tackles.
Blackshire had a role on special teams and got some action in some of Alabama's biggest games over the past few seasons, but he's now aiming for a bigger role that could potentially be there for him at Texas.
The Longhorns are losing linebacker Jaylan Ford to the 2024 NFL Draft and will need to fill some holes on defensive front that will look much different next season. Landing a commitment from Blackshire would be the start of that transition as the Longhorns head into a highly-anticipated 2024 season.
Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7
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