Tennessee signs junior-college RB Alvin Kamara

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee has announced the signing of junior-college running back Alvin Kamara, who began his college career at Alabama.

Kamara redshirted at Alabama in 2013 before transferring to Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College, the same school that produced former Tennessee star and current Minnesota Vikings receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. Kamara rushed for 1,211 yards and 18 touchdowns in nine games with Hutchinson this season.

Kamara is rated as a five-star prospect by Scout and a four-star recruit by most other services. Kamara, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, will join Tennessee as a sophomore next season and is expected to participate in spring practice.

In a school release, Tennessee running backs coach Robert Gillespie said Kamara "has an explosive element to his game that will allow him to help us immediately."