Kendall Blanton (Missouri TE) vs. Wyoming 2018
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KENDALL BLANTON
MISSOURI
TE
Prospect Info
COLLEGE
Missouri
HOMETOWN
Blue Springs, MO
r-Senior
6' 6"
262 lbs
ARMS
33 3/4”
HANDS
10 3/8”
Prospect Grade
4.99
SHOULD BE IN AN NFL TRAINING CAMP
Combine Results
40 Yard Dash
4.95
SECONDS
Bench Press
22
REPS
Vertical Jump
31.0
INCHES
Broad Jump
113.0
INCHES
3 Cone Drill
7.37
SECONDS
20 Yd Shuttle
4.42
SECONDS
60 Yd Shuttle
12.28
SECONDS
Player Bio
Blanton is a Missouri native whose father (Jerry) was a linebacker at the University of Kentucky and played seven years with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kendall earned his own headlines as a top national tight end recruit at Blue Springs South High School, also leading his school's basketball teams in blocked shots as a junior and senior. As a redshirt freshman in 2015, he primarily played on special teams for eight games (no receptions). He became an integral part of the offense the following fall, catching 16 passes for 161 yards (10.1 average) and scoring three times in 12 games (two starts). He played in 13 games with three starts in 2017, making six catches for 138 yards (23.0 average) and a score. A sprained knee took Blanton out of action for three games in 2018 but he still managed 22 catches for 177 yards (8.0 average) and two scores in 10 games (five starts).
Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Priority free agent
Overview
Could be viewed by some teams as a height/weight/speed prospect worthy of stashing and developing, thanks to his untapped potential. Blanton is big and fast, but he doesn't get as much as he should from either physical trait. However, his athleticism avails itself in his ability to stick to blocks as well as run after the catch. There is plenty of room for improvement, and the potential is there to compete for a roster spot as a late-rounder or undrafted free agent.
Strengths
Good combination of size and speed
Played in-line, as H-back and from slot/bunch sets
Expected to run somewhere in the 4.6s
Tall with high-point ability
Athletic ability suddenly clicks after the catch
Bursts to accelerate away from trailing tacklers with ability to elude oncoming traffic
Showed willingness to try and leap up and over Georgia defender after the catch
Plus body control allows for stickier blocking through contact
Athletic feet to adjust and mirror to second-level movement
Ability to recover and reconnect when beaten early as in-line blocker
Weaknesses
Gets jammed into route and allows defenders to ride him down the field
Poor route adjustments in space
Content to be guarded and creates his own contested catches
Needs to unleash play speed in routes and acceleration out of his breaks
Hasn't learned to widen frame and defend his catch space
Struggles to finish contested catches
Needs more consistent aggression as run blocker
Relies on position over strain and grit
Leg drive as base blocker will need to improve on the next level.
