2 Tennessee reserve linemen transferring

KNOXVILLE — Two reserve offensive linemen are transferring from Tennessee.

Dontavius Blair and Ray Raulerson have decided to leave the Volunteers in search of more playing time, the Times Free Press confirmed Friday.

Neither of the two third-year players were close to cracking the rotation on Tennessee’s offensive line.

Blair would have been a fifth-year senior this season, but he has earned his degree and will be immediately eligible as a graduate transfer. Raulerson, a redshirt sophomore, would have to sit out the season if he transfers to another Football Bowl Subdivision program.

Tennessee is helping both players find their new programs.

“I’m exploring options right now,” Raulerson told the Knoxville News Sentinel on Friday. “I

“I REALLY LOVED IT AT TENNESSEE, BUT I’M GOING TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE I HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO PLAY.” – RAY RAULERSON

really loved it at Tennessee, but I’m going to go to a place where I have a better chance to play.”

The 6-foot-7, 294-pound Blair was a touted junior college transfer the Vols edged Auburn, Texas A&M and others to land in 2014, but he redshirted his first season with the program and played in only nine games as a reserve tackle in 2015.

The Alabama native was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Garden City Community College in Kansas.

Raulerson, a center from Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., was a three-star prospect who needed a redshirt year to add weight and strength, but he played in only five games in mop-up duty last season.

Tennessee still will have more than a dozen scholarshipped offensive linemen and plans to sign multiple linemen for the 2017 class.

The transfers continued a summer of roster movement for the Vols.

Punter Tommy Townsend and tight end Neiko Creamer are transferring, with Creamer expected to land with former position coach Mark Elder at Eastern Kentucky.

Wide receiver Vincent Perry’s academic ineligibility for the upcoming season was confirmed this week, and running back Joe Young’s football career is in doubt due to an injury.

Eight players from Tennessee’s 2014 signing class have transferred from the program.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY DAN HENRY Dontavius Blair, left, high-fives fans at the conclusion of the Orange & White Game in Knoxville in 2015. Center Ray Raulerson, right, and quarterback Quinten Dormady practice snapping on April 16. Blair and Raulerson have decided to leave the...

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY ROBIN RUDD