Tennessee redshirt sophomore running back Alvin Kamara became the Vols' first newcomer to have his black helmet stripe removed earlier this week, coach Butch Jones told GoVols247 on Saturday.

Jones said Kamara, a former five-star prospect from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, had the stripe removed following Tennessee's first preseason practice Tuesday night.

Kamara's peers at the running-back position, including sophomore starter Jalen Hurd, voted to remove Kamara's stripe, Jones said.

"It’s not the big brothers (choosing to remove players' stripes) anymore," Jones told GoVols247 following Tennessee's first practice in full pads Saturday afternoon at Haslam Field. "It’s the position group —Â the power of the position —Â and, yes, Alvin Kamara was the first one to have his stripe removed.”

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Kamara, who redshirted at Alabama in 2013 before transferring to Hutchinson last year, has impressed his teammates with his "skill set," along with "his workmanlike approach, his consistency (and) his positive attitude."

Since Jones' first camp at Tennessee in 2013, the Vols have added black stripes to all first-year players' helmets before the start of preseason practice, challenging the newcomers to earn the right to have the stripes removed with their on-field performance and off-field work ethic.

Jones said Kamara still is the only player whose helmet stripe has been removed.

Kamara also received "30-some-odd votes" to be a member of Tennessee's player staff, Jones said, and he already has emerged as "one of our team leaders."

“It wasn’t my choice. It was his peers, which makes it great," Jones said of Kamara having his stripe removed.

"I think it was a great choice."

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