KNOXVILLE - The deadline came and went with no public word from Alvin Kamara.
An hour later, though, the Tennessee running back revealed his plans.
Kamara decided to return for his junior season with the Volunteers and announced that intention on Twitter an hour after Monday's 5 p.m. deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft passed.
The decisions of Kamara, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerback Cameron Sutton - the three players to test the NFL waters - to come back obviously are crucial to the Vols' pursuit of a championship in 2016.
In his first season at Tennessee, Kamara piled up 989 yards and averaged 7 yards per touch on offense and scored 11 touchdowns.
The Vols and offensive coordinator Mike DeBord found more effective ways to get Kamara involved in the offense as the season progressed - he averaged nearly 17 more all-purpose yards per game in the final seven games than in the first six - and now have an offseason to devise more ways to get the ball in the hands of the explosive playmaker.
At one point Kamara appeared the most likely one of the trio to leave. His likely role in the NFL would be as a third-down back due to his elusiveness and ability as a receiver, but thanks to the limited wear from playing just one collegiate season he could have improved his mid-round grade with strong workouts and an impressive showing at the NFL combine.
The 5-foot-10, 215-pound Kamara, who spent his freshman season at Alabama and the 2014 season in junior college, is popular among his teammates and viewed as a team leader.
Quarterback Josh Dobbs and running backs Jalen Hurd and Kamara combined for 2,657 rushing yards and 30 touchdown runs in 2015, and Tennessee also returns four of five starters on the offensive line.
The NFL will release its official early-entry list later this week.
Recruiting roundup
Tim Hart, the Memphis University School linebacker who committed to Tennessee in June, reopened his recruitment Monday due to what he termed "poor communication and lack of openness" by the Vols' coaching staff.
Hart took an official visit to Memphis this past weekend.
"I was committed to UTK for six months and have always been straightforward with the staff however the same was not done in return to me," Hart posted in a message on his Twitter account.
"I have seen this trend with other young men which helps solidify my decision. I hope this statement prevents this from happening to any other young men at my school or any other school. After much thought and collaboration with my family I've decided that this is the best decision for me. Best regards to UTK and their football staff!"
Coconut Creek (Fla.) wide receiver Binjimen Victor committed to Ohio State on Monday after taking an official visit to Tennessee over the weekend.
In addition to three current commitments - receiver Brandon Johnson, defensive back Baylen Buchanan and offensive lineman Nathan Niehaus - the Vols hosted four-star receiver Marquez Callaway and brothers JayQuan and Joshua Bailey on official visits. JaQuan is a defensive end; Joshua, a defensive tackle.
Clemmons added
Former Western Kentucky offensive lineman Cameron Clemmons will join Tennessee's support staff in one of the vacancies after multiple graduate assistant/quality control coaches followed Mark Elder to Eastern Kentucky.
Clemmons, who starred at Wilson Central High School in Lebanon, Tenn., started 44 games in four seasons for the Hilltoppers and interned at Eastern Kentucky this past season.
The Vols added former EKU offensive line coach Walt Wells to its support staff last week.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.