Florida adding former Texas A&M starting DB as grad transfer
By SDS Staff
Published:
Florida is making a late addition to its 2021 roster to bring in a veteran SEC starter.
Former Texas A&M cornerback Elijah Blades told G. Allan Taylor of The Athletic that he expects to join the Gators in camp around Aug. 13.
Blades has finished his coursework at Texas A&M. He is waiting on his degree to be finalized to join UF as a graduate transfer.
“I’m waiting on my grades to go in and my transcript to get sent over,” Blades told Taylor. “If I can’t get into practice next week, I’ll definitely be out there the week after that.”
It’s not the first time Blades has committed to Florida. As a 4-star prospect out of high school, Blades pledged to the Jim McElwain staff back on June 22, 2016, but decommitted before National Signing Day. He then pledged to Nebraska but did not qualify and landed at Arizona Western Community College. Blades committed to Texas A&M as the 247Sports Composite’s top-ranked JUCO cornerback for the 2019 class.
Blades made six starts for the Aggies in 2019 while dealing with a torn labrum. He opted out of the 2020 season. Blades initially declared for the 2021 NFL Draft but changed his mind and took part in spring practice. In June, Blades entered the transfer portal.
Here is Blades’ updated bio from the Texas A&M team site:
2019 (JUNIOR): Played in seven games, making six starts … Made two tackles, including 1.0 for a 3-yard loss in his A&M debut against Texas State … Made four tackles, including a sack for a 16-yard loss against Clemson … Had three tackles in the win over Arkansas … Made two tackles and added a breakup against Alabama … Made three tackles and was in on a sack for a 5-yard loss at Ole Miss … Had three tackles and a pass breakup in the win over Mississippi State … Missed the UTSA game due to injury … Made a pair of tackles against South Carolina … Missed the last three games of the season due to injury.
BEFORE A&M: Coached by Tom Minnick at Arizona Western Community College … Made nine pass breakups to go along with a fumble recovery, a blocked kick and two interceptions in two seasons … Averaged 63.5 yards per kick return as a sophomore at Arizona Western.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
