Alcoa’s Sam Vaulton and Tristen Blankenship leaving school and moving to California

Alcoa quarterback Sam Vaulton and linebacker Tristen Blankenship are leaving the school and moving to California, both confirmed to Knox News on Thursday night. 

Neither answered why they decided to leave Alcoa or what high school they will enroll at in California. 

Vaulton, a 6-foot-3 junior, has an offer from Ole Miss, which he received Jan. 25. Blankenship does not have any offers. 

"(Kids transferring schools) is part of our society," Alcoa coach Gary Rankin, the state's all-time leader in wins with 439, said in a phone interview Thursday night. "There's no hard feelings on any part. We wish them well." 

Rankin said he doesn't know why both decided to leave Alcoa, which has won five straight state championships in Class 3A. He said he didn't ask. 

Vaulton completed 84-of-125 passes for 1,435 yards, 21 touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and was named to the all-region team. 

Blankenship was second on the team in rushing yards (415) and touchdowns (nine). On defense he recorded 69 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks. He was also named to the all-region team. 

They helped Alcoa shut out Pearl-Cohn 27-0 in the Class 3A BlueCross Bowl in December for the program's state-leading 18th state title. It gave Rankin his 15th career state championship. 

"They're both good kids and good players," Rankin said. "We'll make some adjustments. Kids come and go."