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LARRY VAUGHT

Contributing columnist

Before his junior season started, Nashville four-star receiver Shamar Porter and his parents wanted to make trips to several schools he was considering for his college career. However, they took a slightly different approach.

Instead of driving to college campuses on different trips, the family rented an RV and traveled to several states on one trip to look at schools. One was Kentucky where he verbally committed on Jan. 28.

“Those were basically my official visits. Me and my parents visited the school where I thought I should go before I committed,” said the 6-3, 180-pound Porter.

He attended a camp at hometown Vanderbilt and then went to camps at Clemson, Georgia, Cincinnati and Kentucky along with a few other places.

“It was really a fun thing to do. Dad wanted to try something different, so he just got us a RV when it was time to get serious about where I was going,” Porter said. “We drove to different schools and then back home. It was pretty much all football talk. I knew I had to make my decision because schools might not always wait on you because they have spots to fill.

“We just came to the conclusion that Kentucky was right for me. I got along well with all the coaches. You can talk to coach (Mark) Stoops and feel comfortable and know you can trust him. I got along with other coaches at other schools but it just was a different connection at Kentucky.”

He liked the Kentucky offense — Liam Coen was the offensive coordinator when he committed — along with the facilities to help develop NFL players.

Porter is one of the highest ranked players in Tennessee and a top 30 prospect nationally at his position.

He knows Kentucky freshmen Barion Brown, Destin Wade and Keaton Wade, who are also from Nashville. They once played on a 7-on-7 team together.

“I have friends on all the top SEC teams and talked to them about college ball,” Porter said. “I have talked to Barion. He said I have nothing to worry about. He made me feel not so pressured and let me know my time was coming. He lets me know things about practice, schemes, plays.”

Porter says he is not a “hyped” player who will be screaming on the field.

“I am more relaxed,” he said, “and just want to do my job.”