University of Miami Athletics
7

Al Blades, Jr.

position

Cornerback

Height

6-1

Weight

188 lbs.

Class

Fifth-Year Redshirt Junior

Hometown

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

High School

St. Thomas Aquinas

Twitter

@AlBlades_Jr

Instagram

@alblades_jr

TikTok

@7heabj

Al Blades, Jr. - Football - University of Miami Athletics

2021 (Junior*): Saw action in first four games of season before missing remainder of season due to health issues…Finished with four total tackles…Had two tackles (one solo) in season opener against Alabama (Sept. 4)…Played in win over Appalachian State (Sept. 11)…Competed against Michigan State (Sept. 18)…Posted two total tackles in win over Central Connecticut State (Sept. 25).

2020 (Junior): Saw action in eight games and made seven starts in regular season…Finished regular season with 29 total tackles (19 solo) and two interceptions…Had team-best seven PBUs…Started season opener against UAB (Sept. 10) and finished with three total tackles (two solo) and added two PBUs…Became first Hurricane to wear Turnover Chain in road win at top-20 Louisville (Sept. 19) with interception…Added six tackles (five solo) in start against Cardinals…Had second interception of season and added one solo tackle in start against Florida State (Sept. 26)…Made start at top-ranked Clemson (Oct. 10) and finished with four solo tackles and one PBU…Started and finished with one tackle and two PBUs in win over Pittsburgh (Oct. 17)…Had five tackles (two solo) and started in victory over Virginia (Oct. 24)…Started and finished with five tackles (three solo) and one PBU in come-from-behind win at NC State (Nov. 6)…Had four total tackles (two solo) in road win at Virginia Tech (Nov. 14).

2019 (Sophomore): Saw action in all 13 games and made seven starts…Totaled 36 tackles (22 solo) and ranked second on team with two interceptions…Added six PBUs and one blocked punt…Made first start of career vs. Florida (Aug. 24) and finished with four total tackles (three solo)…Totaled two tackles (one solo) at North Carolina (Sept. 7)…Posted four tackles in home opener against Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 14)…Recorded first interception of career in win over Central Michigan (Sept. 21)…Added one PBU and finished with three tackles against Chippewas…Had one solo tackle against Virginia Tech (Oct. 5)…Totaled four tackles (three solo) in win over Virginia (Oct. 11)…Recorded one PBU against Cavaliers…Posted two tackles against Georgia Tech (Oct. 19)…Started and finished with four solo tackles in win at Pittsburgh (Oct. 26)…Made third start of career in win at Florida State (Nov. 2)…Delivered strong performance in start versus Louisville (Nov. 9), finishing with four total tackles, one blocked punt and second interception of career…Started and finished with one PBU against FIU (Nov. 23)…Started regular season finale at Duke (Nov. 30)…Had career-high eight tackles (six solo) and added one PBU in start in Walk-On’s Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech (Dec. 26).

2018 (True Freshman): Saw action in all 13 games in first season, mainly on special teams…Served as special teams captain twice during season…Totaled 13 tackles (nine solo) and added one tackle for loss…Saw action in season opener against LSU (Sept. 2), finishing with two solo tackles…Had one tackle in win over Savannah State (Sept. 8)…Named special teams captain for game against Toledo (Sept. 15)…Tallied a pair of solo tackles and had 1.0 tackle for loss in win over FIU (Sept. 22)…Had two tackles (one solo) in win over North Carolina (Sept. 27)…Posted one solo tackle in win over Florida State (Oct. 6)…Saw action at Virginia (Oct. 13)…Had one tackle at Boston College (Oct. 26)…Saw action in games against Duke (Nov. 3) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 10)…Recorded one solo tackle in win at Virginia Tech (Nov. 17)…Posted two solo tackles in win over Pittsburgh (Nov. 24) in regular season finale…Had one tackle in New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 27).

High School: Consensus four-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com…Rated as No. 67 overall recruit in the country by ESPN.com…Listed as eighth-best cornerback in country and 20th-best prospect in state of Florida by ESPN.com…Ranked No. 12 cornerback, No. 21 player in Florida and 97th-prospect regardless of position by 247Sports.com…Rated tenth-best cornerback, 13th player in Florida and 59 overall prospect by Rivals.com…Participated in The Opening in summer of 2017…Selected to 2018 Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, Fla.…Received honorable mention on 2017 Sun Sentinel All-Broward team…Won 2016 Florida Class 7A State Championship at St. Thomas Aquinas… Played in 34 career high school varsity games…Also played two seasons at University School…Totaled over 140 career tackles, including 98 solo stops…Son of late Miami Hurricanes defensive back Al Blades…Received more than 30 scholarship offers…Chose Miami over offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Florida State, among others.

* indicates student-athlete received extra year of eligibility in 2021 due to 2020 season affected by COVID-19 pandemic