Quin Blanding

... A four-year starter at Virginia, Blanding started every game at free safety the past four seasons, finishing No. 2 in the ACC in tackles each season and breaking Jamie Sharper’s 21-year old record as the all-time leading tackler in Virginia history. With 25 career double-digit tackle games, Blanding has a remarkable resume. While productive, his film shows an uneven player with plenty of positive moments, but also unsound decisions vs. the run and the pass. Blanding has the balanced athleticism and feet needed in coverage, but he doesn’t anticipate and isn’t a playmaker. Although his struggles in pass defense make him better suited for box duties, his lack of play strength and take-on skills are also concerns. BACKGROUND A five-star safety recruit out of high school, Blanding played offense (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end) and defense (safety) at Bayside, recording 118 tackles and 1,116 all-purpose yards as a senior in 2013. He was widely considered the No. 1 safety in the nation and one of the best recruits regardless of position, collecting offers from all the top programs like Ohio State, Florida State and Notre Dame. He elected to stay close to home and signed with Virginia. Blanding earned the starting free safety role as a true freshman and led the team with 123 tackles and three interceptions, earning ACC Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-American honors. He started all 12 games as a sophomore in 2015 and recorded 115 tackles, four passes defended and one interception, earning Second Team All-ACC honors. Blanding started all 12 games as a junior in 2016 and posted 120 tackles, eight passes defended and a pair of interceptions, earning First Team All-ACC honors and multiple All-American nods. Blanding set career-bests as a senior with 137 tackles and four interceptions to again take home First Team All-ACC honors.

in our view

Blanding’s college resume looks better than his college tape, lacking the dynamic qualities or consistency desired in a starting NFL safety. He projects best as a quality back-up and core special teams player.

strengths

Eye-popping production with 115+ tackles each of his four seasons at Virginia. Holds the ACC career record for tackles (495) by a defensive back. Quick to diagnose vs. the run. Tracks the backfield action well and adjusts his path accordingly. Rangy for the position with smooth hips to cleanly redirect. Accelerates well in the open field to chase. Flashes a burst to undercut routes when in position. Uses his length to disrupt passing windows. Tackles aren’t always pretty, but he works hard to get his man on the ground. Workable frame. Impressive career stats with 495 tackles (No. 1 in Virginia history, No. 6 in ACC history) and 10 interceptions. Started 49 straight games (every game of his collegiate career). – Dane Brugler 1/21/2018

compares to

Jonathan Cyprien, Tennessee Titans – Like Blanding, Cyprien put together an impressive collegiate resume with his production and athletic skill-set for a safety. However, he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations due to his inconsistencies.

weaknesses

Instincts vs. the pass are below average. Fails to anticipate routes or passing concepts with any consistency. Unreliable tracking and ball skills. Grabs once beat, attracting flags. Too many false steps, leading to vacated zones that NFL quarterbacks will exploit. Lacks the heavy hands to battle through blocks. Sloppy tackling habits, stopping his feet and giving ballcarriers a chance to make a move. More of a hug-and-drag down tackler than strike, lift and bury type. Overaggressive pursuit angles dent his batting average as a tackler. Not an elite speed player to make-up for mistakes. – Dane Brugler 1/21/2018

Played safety and wide receiver at Bayside High School for former head coach Darnell Moore and current head coach Jon White

named Tom Lemming's Co-Defensive Player of the Year with fellow UVA recruit Andrew Brown

Parade All-America honorable mention

ESPN 300 recruit

Rivals.com's No. 5 recruit

247Sports.com's No. 8 recruit

ESPN.com's No. 10 recruit

ESPN.com's No. 3 recruit in the Commonwealth of Virginia

No. 1 safety recruit in the nation according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com

rated a five-star recruit according to ESPN.com, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247sports.com

Under Armour first-team All-American

MaxPreps.com second-team All-American

second-team USA Today All-USA

Beach District co-Defensive Player of the Year

Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater first-team at safety

rarely thrown at on defense and had 118 tackles in 2013

played four positions on offensive (QB, RB, TE, WR) as a senior and piled up 1,116 all-purpose yards

took part in Nike's The Opening in Beaverton, Ore. during the summer of 2013 and 2012

was one of three Class of 2014 recruits to take part in Nike's The Opening in 2012

appeared in the 2014 Under Armour All-America game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

also played in the Chesapeake Bowl

made 111 tackles and five interceptions as a junior.

Son of Kevin Blanding and Cory Lee

father Kevin played football at NCAA Division II Glenville State (W.V.) for current Arizona football head coach Rich Rodriguez

has two older sisters, Jordan Lee and Myki Lee

sister Jordan Lee currently serves in the Navy aboard the USS Oscar Austin, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

mother, Cory Lee, named him after the 1989 film titled "The Mighty Quinn"

has an affinity for colorful socks

major is sociology.

2017

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
3.5	1.0	136.0	1.0	2.0	0.0	61.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
1.0	18.0	72.0	4.0

2016

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
2.0	0.0	118.0	0.0	5.0	0.0	70.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	15.0	30.0	2.0

2015

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0