Brian Blechen, Senior, Safety, Utah
Overview:
Brian Blechen has been a staple in the Utah defense for quite some time. Originally recruited as a quarterback, Blechen quickly emerged as a leader on the other side of the ball. Back in 2012 when the Utes were still in the Mountain West, Blechen had a great freshman campaign, ranking third on the team in tackles with 67 and picking off four passes. In his first game with Utah, he intercepted a pass in overtime against Pittsburgh which led to a win. Blechen has not really slowed down since then. As a sophomore he added three more interceptions to his resume and forced three fumbles.
The 2012 campaign got off to a bit of a rough start as Blechen was suspended for the first three games of the season for violating unspecified team rules. He still stepped right back into his usual starting role and had a fine season though. For his senior year Blechen is moving to linebacker. He did start five games at linebacker as a sophomore and junior, so the transition has been smooth.
Final Projection:
At the next level Blechen will likely be a strong safety, but a linebacker in certain schemes would be feasible. At 6-2 and 225 pounds, that is where his best assets can be utilized by the NFL. He can lay out some big hits from the safety spot, yet his ability to quarterback the defense from the secondary is a great skill that should see Blechen drafted as high as the second round.
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