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4-star offensive line recruit's relationship with Wisconsin coach lands Badgers in his Top 6 teams

Kamari Blair knew he was going to like AJ Blazek from the start of their contact. Now the Badgers are in his top six with an official visit forthcoming in a couple weekends. Find out more about the four-star lineman.
Jake Kocorowski|
Kirkwood offensive lineman Kamari Blair (51) shoves a Rossview defender on a Cobras run play during the second quarter during the a game against Rossview, Thursday, September 26, at Rossview High School in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Kirkwood offensive lineman Kamari Blair (51) shoves a Rossview defender on a Cobras run play during the second quarter during the a game against Rossview, Thursday, September 26, at Rossview High School in Clarksville, Tennessee. | George Robinson / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Wisconsin Badgers

Kamari Blair knew he was going to like Wisconsin Badgers offensive line coach AJ Blazek "from the start," and it's because of something he didn't get at first.

The nearly consensus four-star recruit plays for Clarksville Kirkwood in Tennessee and said the relationship with the UW staff started a little over a month ago. He expected an offer to be given the first time Blazek called him, but the offensive line coach had other plans.

"He told me that he was more old fashioned, that he liked to have a relationship with his recruits before he just throws an offer," Blair said. "So just based off of that first conversation I had with him, I knew that he was going to be a coach that if I got the offer, it was going to be a legit offer, and me and him were going to be compatible, like our personalities."

"That's somebody who I'd want to play for. I don't want somebody who's going to throw out an offer blindly."

Blair eventually received the Wisconsin offer from Blazek in person during a post-track meet dinner, which eased the disappointment of missing the qualification for state in shot put by two inches.

He then included the Badgers in his list of top six schools that was released last week via On3. Wisconsin made the cut alongside Florida State, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.

"The reason that they're my top six is just my relationship with coach Blaz," Blair said of Wisconsin. "That's my main care when I'm getting recruited and choosing the school is I'm a big relationship guy. So that and the fact that they've had success with the O-linemen getting drafted so much in the past."

It's shaping up to be a busy stretch for Blair starting the weekend of May 30-June 1 when he'll make his first trip to Madison on an official visit. Other scheduled official visits next month include South Carolina, Florida State, Mississippi and Kentucky.

The plan is to commit to a school in July and then enroll early at whichever school he signs with. With where he's at this late in his recruiting process, relationships are going to be the main factor in his decision.

Wisconsin's two offensive line commits for the 2026 class, Benjamin Novak (Merrillville Andrean, Indiana) and Maddox Cochrane (Richmond Benedictine College Preparatory, Virginia), have reached out to Blair.

"They're just making sure that I'm all good and telling me a little about why they committed and stuff like that," Blair said. "And making sure I have their number, if I have any questions."

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Jake Kocorowski
JAKE KOCOROWSKI

Jake Kocorowski has covered the Wisconsin football program since the 2013 season for a few outlets, most recently at the Wisconsin State Journal/BadgerExtra. He wrote, directed and edited BadgerExtra’s “Rags to Roses” series about the 1993 Wisconsin football team that won second place in the 2023 APSE Division C Project category.

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