Former Texas A&M defensive back Elijah Blades entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month after he opted out of the 2020 season. He will be a last-minute addition to the five other official visitors making the trek to Florida this weekend.
Blades is a familiar name to Florida fans who have followed recruiting closely for the last several years. He originally committed to the Gators in 2017 under head coach Jim McElwain. The former 4-star corner then backed off his pledge and signed with Nebraska on National Signing Day. However, he was forced to go to junior college for two years. Blades signed and enrolled with the Aggies after two years at Arizona Western Junior College. In 2019, he started six games for them and registered 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three pass breakups.
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The Gators seem like the team to beat for Blades currently because of the program’s connection to him. He enjoyed Gainesville and UF’s campus as a high school prospect. Coach Dan Mullen and his coaching staff also recruited him out of junior college. He will also be a graduate transfer.
If Florida lands Blades, it’ll be the second defensive back it has snagged from the transfer portal this offseason who joins former Missouri cornerback Jadarrius Perkins.
This move doesn’t make that much sense for Florida because the coaching staff would add another body in a defensive back room with lots of bodies and young talent. The Gators just signed 5-star cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. this last cycle. In 2020, they grabbed 4-star corners Ethan Pouncey and Avery Helm. UF also has former 4-star Jaydon Hill from the 2019 cycle.
It’s likely one of these players besides Marshall will feel the need to transfer if they sign Blades because of the lack of playing time available. It’s also not likely that the former Texas A&M defensive back will slot into a starting position because Marshall, who signed in spring practice, will likely grab the spot opposite of star corner Kaiir Elam.
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