The culture shock was pretty severe --- both in terms of campus and social life.

Alvin Kamara, who months earlier had found himself a coveted prospect by major-college football programs throughout the country, was now in remote Hutchinson, Kansas; population just north of 40,000.

No longer a prized recruit at Alabama, Kamara was trying to recreate his name and reputation at Hutchinson Community College 1,022 miles from his All-America prep career at Atlanta-area suburb Norcross High School.

"Just staying good with my faith. When you're in JuCo, you're just trying to grasp and reach for that D-1 life," said the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Rivals.com five-star who last week renewed his career with a fresh start at the University of Tennessee. "Just staying committed and being able to believe in myself to be able to get back to this point."

This point is now as Tennessee's only scholarship running back on roster not named Jalen Hurd, who emerged as the Vols' workhorse during a breakout 2014 freshman campaign.

With Kamara, Tennessee believes it is adding the ideal complementary piece to its offensive backfield alongside Hurd and junior quarterback Josh Dobbs.

"He is a great player, and to have that competition at the running back position will be great for Jalen and Alvin both," Vols offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian said. "Jalen is a competitor and he understands going through a college season for the first time, the grind, and I think he's welcoming a supporting role in the backfield and those guys will push one another all offseason long and all season long."

Kamara, childhood friends with current Vol Ryan Jenkins and former high school teammate of fellow Vol Jason Croom, already is pushing himself. He did throughout his brief stay in his sport's most forgotten lands; junior college ranks where perhaps the only things smaller than average crowds are threadbare facilities. Still, Kamara amassed more than 1,200 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns last season.

"Ooh. Commitment," Kamara, noting his high school weight room outsized his one at Hutchinson, said of what he most learned. "Because it's tough being in JuCo. As you guys probably know, JuCo is a whole different world than being at a D-1 school. So just being committed and staying humble and just being able to get through that and work hard to get to where you want to get.

"Of course, facilities. Coming from Alabama and going to Hutchinson, it's a drop in facilities. And just support academic support-wise. In JuCo, you've got to do what you've got to do to get everything done. I definitely learned how to be organized, I'll say that."

For whatever reasons, Kamara didn't immediately blend at Alabama when he signed as part of the Tide's star-studded 2013 class. Still, Kamara was battling for a spot in 'Bama's deep rotation at tailback before he suffered a knee injury in camp and then fell out of favor with the Tide's coaches.

Now, having watched his former Tide teammates as well as members of his signing class sprint to notoriety throughout this season, Kamara is preparing to run with an intent to make up for lost time.

"Oh yeah, definitely. Because seeing guys that came out of my same class, guys like Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliot (Monday) night with the national championship. Guys I came out with, they're just balling. Tearing it up," Kamara told VolQuest.com. "I'm like, 'Man, I'm kind of behind. I'm playing catch-up.' I'm just ready to get on the field and show what I can do. …

"Being a year removed and stepping back and just seeing football for what it really is, I feel like I deserve to have an immediate impact and you know even though if you deserve you've still got to work. I'm definitely going to work to make an impact on this team."

Bajakian believes Kamara will be welcomed into the Team 119 family.

"Alvin, boy, if you've had a chance to be around him he's a joy to be around," Bajakian said. "He's got a great energy about himself, very positive. Always upbeat. The kind of guy you like to be around first and foremost.

"Forget his skills as a player. We stress a lot with our team the camaraderie and the chemistry and he'll fit right in. He'll slide right in, I'm sure the guys will have no problem accepting him and his personality."

Though just beginning workouts, Kamara already is impressing his new teammates.

"He's a freak," said freshman offensive lineman Jack Jones. "He looks good."