Interview: 3-Star 2021 CB Kamren Blanton Details UNLV Rebels Commitment
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
There is a wave of enthusiasm rolling out of Las Vegas going throughout the west coast with the Rebels college football program. UNLV hired veteran college offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo away from the Oregon Ducks putting him in charge on the sidelines in Vegas sending off a signal to talented recruits in the region, and the message is being received. The energy building with the program is coupled with the Rebels stadium and facilities pairing with the NFL’s Raiders squad leading top talents to Entertainment Capital of the World. One of the Class of 2020 high school recruits ready to make his mark with the Rebels is Kamren Blanton.
Blanton earned his three-star recruiting stripes the hard way with Long Beach Poly taking on top Division-I California receivers. At the end of his junior season, Blanton posted a stat line of 25 tackles, 18 solo, with 14 passes knocked away. The offers started rolling in as collegiate programs took notice of Blanton’s talents. By the day of his verbal commitment to UNLV on March 31, six programs had offered: Arizona State, Central Michigan, Colorado State, Tennessee-Martin, UNLV, and Utah State.
Before the 6-0, 180-pound, corner laces up the cleats with his new squad in 2020, St. John Bosco, the defending high school football national champs (MaxPreps), Blanton closed the door on his recruiting. To talk about how UNLV became his ideal fit at the next level, Blanton heads into the RNG Lab giving the full details.
*Click link for Nov. 2019 RNG interview with Kam Blanton
Interview
Kam, congratulations on your commitment to UNLV.
“Thank you.”
Let’s start off with how the recruiting process between you and the Rebels’ staff went from interest, offer, and to commitment. Fill me in, if you will.
“I always had a lot of interest in UNLV. It started from last year with the old staff. Then, they were reaching out and sending mail. When the new staff from Oregon came in, they were already reaching out to me when they were with the Ducks. They started to reaching out to me telling me they wanted me at UNLV. Their staff has a close relationship to the Premium (7v7) staff. That helped build that relationship to my commitment.”
When did you visit the campus?
“I haven’t visited yet with the new staff, but I went to a game there last season. I went there for the Boise State game.”
What were your thoughts on the new stadium and facilities?
“It is a great place for me to develop as a player, and being part of Raider Stadium, Las Vegas is an NFL town now. I see it as a good gate way to make it to the NFL. They have new facilities and a new locker room; they are changing the program a lot.”
At which position do they want you to play within their scheme?
“Corner, but I am willing to play anything they need me to play – nickel or safety.”
What sealed the deal for you knowing UNLV was the ideal fit for you?
“It was how everything is changing there starting with the new staff. Also, how they welcomed me. I felt like that is the place for me to grow. Their academics was a factor as well and UNLV is close to home too. My family is happy about that. UNLV is in a great building process; we can do a lot of damage in the future.”
Right before you verbally committed, what was going through your mind before making such a big decision?
“What was going through my mind, is UNLV the best place for me to grow as a student? I was doing a lot of research on the program and the school. I felt it was a good place for me to grow. I felt really comfortable there looking back on my visit.”
Which coach did you verbally commit to and how and when did you do it?
“I talked to Coach Tre Watson (CB) and head coach Marcus Arroyo. I called Coach Tre first, told him the news. He told me to call the head coach and we got this thing rolling.”
Once that phone call was over, how long did it take it before it sunk in that you had achieved an amazing personal goal of playing college football?
“Yeah, to be honest, it still has not sunk in. I cannot believe it. I am going to college for free and playing college football at a high level, at a great program. It is surreal. I am very excited.”
Are you going to start recruiting other players to join you in Las Vegas?
“Oh yeah. Most definitely. I have started already. There is some big news coming soon.”
Kam, thanks for your time today and, again, congratulations on your commitment to UNLV.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Blanton family; Kam Blanton