Kamara gained an unexpected boost of national attention after receiving better than 100 letters from the University of Alabama in just one day. But with offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, USC , and many others poring in since then, it's clear that a school will need to do a lot more to stay in the hunt.
So when a sudden illness for Kamara caused him to nix his plans for a Clemson visit, the proximity of Georgia to Kamara's home city of Norcross, GA (about an hour drive from Athens) gave the Bulldog coaching staff yet another opportunity to sell the young phenom on playing football for the University of Georgia.
And while Kamara didn't grant coach Richt his verbal commitment, he certainly left the impression that he was close to doing so—at least that was according to Brendan Langley (2013 OL Prospect who currently holds an offer from UGA).
"When asked if he thought any fellow recruit was going to commit at V.I.D., Langley replied, "Going into it, I wasn’t paying attention. After I left, I thought Alvin Kamara might commit. I know Alvin spent a lot of time with Coach [Mark Richt]. I mean, a lot of time. But he didn’t [commit]." (Michael Carvell, "Success or Failure? UGA's V.I.D. or "Very Important Dawg Day", AJC, 3/4/2012).
Even though the time Kamara spent with coach Richt didn't turn into a commitment, it revealed a favorite in Kamara's mothers mind as to where she wants her son to play his college ball.
"Last week was the first time my mom got to visit a college with me, and she loves Georgia," Kamara said. "She wants me to stay close to home, so she definitely loves Georgia. Of course I am going to listen to my mom’s input, and she says, 'At the end of the day it is your decision, but I would understand if you went to Georgia.'" (Radi Nabulsi, "Flu Reroutes RB Alvin Kamara to UGA", Dawgnation, 3/4/2012).
While that last comment by Kamara has to make those in the Bulldog Nation feel pretty good about their chances, it's a long way to next February and with so many offers on the table—and likely many more still to come—it would be difficult to say with any confidence just yet that Kamara will be a Bulldog in the end.
That said, you have to feel that Georgia's chances improved exponentially from last week to this one.
Said Kamara at the end of the visit, "I have a few favorites up in my head, but nothing to release yet".
Asked where Georgia stood after the trip, Kamara smiled and said, "I feel they could be a factor down the road" (Paul Strelow, "Kamara makes surprise stop", 247Sports, 3/4/12).
