Name: Elijah Blades
Number: 19
Position: Cornerback
Class: Graduate Transfer
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 185
Hometown: Pasadena, California
High School: John Muir
Previous School: Texas A&M
2019 Statistics:
| TOT | SACK | PD |
| 19.5 | 1.5 | 3 |
Overview:
This isn’t the first time Blades has attempted to join Florida. He was committed to coach Jim McElwain back in the 2017 cycle. The Pasadena native reopened his recruitment near National Signing Day and wound up signing with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. But he never made it to campus.
He then went the JUCO route where he played at Arizona Western Junior College for two seasons. Blades began to be recruited by several power five schools, including the Gators. He committed to Oregon for a short time before he decommitted and signed with the Aggies.
Blades started six games with Texas A&M in 2019 where he recorded 19.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three pass breakups. The new Florida cornerback opted out of the 2020 season with the Aggies to rehab an injury. After the 2020 season, he briefly submitted his name for the NFL draft but decided to return to school and enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
He committed to Florida during the first week of August and enrolled at the University of Florida a week later. His arrival was well-timed because the Gators’ presumed starting cornerback Jaydon Hill suffered a torn ACL in a non-contact injury during practice. Blades will most likely provide good depth in the secondary and could compete for a starting job with other defensive backs like Avery Helm, Jadarrius Perkins and Jason Marshall.
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