Some draft prospects are golden boys, the anointed ones who were always highly ranked as recruits, were put in ideal positions to succeed, and made it big on draft day. Bryce Young is one such example.
Most draft prospects are not like that. Most of them have to fight an uphill battle to get where they are. This is particularly true about former USC cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, who went to the Minnesota Vikings at pick No. 102 in the 2023 NFL draft.
The Vikings Wire documented Blackmon’s anything-but-obvious journey to Day 2 of the NFL draft and a selection which came a lot earlier than many experts expected:
“Few cornerbacks in this class have had a similar journey to Mekhi Blackmon,” Kevin Fielder wrote.
“While some players were highly-touted high school recruits, Blackmon was the literal opposite. According to 247Sports’ rankings, Blackmon was an unranked recruit and went overlooked by most Division 1 football programs.
“As a result, Blackmon began his college career at the College of San Mateo, a junior college in California. He was a full-time cornerback there, a position he’s only played since 2017, and helped lead the school to their winningest season.
“After one season, Blackmon earned a late offer to join Colorado, where he saw some immediate playing time. However, Blackmon didn’t become a full-time starter until his third season after redshirting for his sophomore year.”
This is the toughness and the will to succeed which mark great athletes. The Vikings know they have drafted a very hungry player who takes nothing for granted. That is a true professional in the making.
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