2021 Westlake (GA) 3-star TE Leo Blackburn has received 25 offers throughout his recruitment, and one of those was a bid from the Miami Hurricanes that he landed in late January.
“I wasn’t really expecting the offer, that was probably my biggest offer at the time,” Blackburn said of UM. “It felt good, I was excited.”
The 6-5 210 prospect is a bit of a unique athlete in that he’s being looked at as someone that can play multiple positions. Although Blackburn mainly plays receiver at Westlake, the Hurricanes are recruiting Blackburn as prospect that can grow into a tight end, as are many other schools.
“It’s probably a little bit more tight end right now, but close to 50/50 with receiver,” Blackburn said of where schools are recruiting him. “I’ll play either one, it’s just based on whatever school I pick, wherever they want me. It doesn’t really matter to me, I just want to play.
“I’ll block anybody. If we need to get some yards, run my way and I’ll block somebody for a big gain downfield. I play bully ball, I like to jump over people, ‘Moss’ people.”
Aside from the prestige of going to a school known for producing tight ends like Miami has over the years, what makes Blackburn interested in the UM program?
“The colors, and then plus being that it’s in Florida, that beach life,” Blackburn said. “I like Florida as a whole, I visit there a lot - I last went during spring break in 2019 for a family vacation. And the football there is great as well.”
The Westlake star’s recruitment really picked up when the calendar flipped over to 2020, as he’s landed most of his offers since that time. Blackburn lists schools such as Kentucky, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Illinois, Ole Miss, Kansas, Arizona State, Virginia, and Colorado as Power 5 programs that he’s in touch with frequently, but like most other recruits, has had his process affected by COVID-19.
“I was going to visit a lot of those schools in spring until this happened,” Blackburn said. “The most recent trip I went on was Georgia Tech. I came down for a visit and then coach (Geoff) Collins told me they were going to offer me, I’ve been waiting on that offer for a while. I just talked to the coaching staff, had a photo shoot. We were just bonding and having a good time.”
Even with the shutdowns, things have still been progressing for Blackburn, as he has eliminated some of his options and anticipates doing so again over the summer ahead of his decision. Although he doesn’t have a current commitment timeline, relationships will seem to be a key factor for Blackburn when he is ready to announce.
“I’ve already narrowed down my 25 offers down to like 15 in my head,” Blackburn said. “I know I’m going to get more offers, so I’ll probably cut that down again based on who comes in contact more or less, who stops speaking and who starts communicating more.
“I just want feel like a school wants me and like it’s a family, a place that I can bond good with all the coaches. Somewhere I won’t be homesick because I’ll want to stay and have good relationships.”
“I wasn’t really expecting the offer, that was probably my biggest offer at the time,” Blackburn said of UM. “It felt good, I was excited.”
The 6-5 210 prospect is a bit of a unique athlete in that he’s being looked at as someone that can play multiple positions. Although Blackburn mainly plays receiver at Westlake, the Hurricanes are recruiting Blackburn as prospect that can grow into a tight end, as are many other schools.
“It’s probably a little bit more tight end right now, but close to 50/50 with receiver,” Blackburn said of where schools are recruiting him. “I’ll play either one, it’s just based on whatever school I pick, wherever they want me. It doesn’t really matter to me, I just want to play.
“I’ll block anybody. If we need to get some yards, run my way and I’ll block somebody for a big gain downfield. I play bully ball, I like to jump over people, ‘Moss’ people.”
Aside from the prestige of going to a school known for producing tight ends like Miami has over the years, what makes Blackburn interested in the UM program?
“The colors, and then plus being that it’s in Florida, that beach life,” Blackburn said. “I like Florida as a whole, I visit there a lot - I last went during spring break in 2019 for a family vacation. And the football there is great as well.”
The Westlake star’s recruitment really picked up when the calendar flipped over to 2020, as he’s landed most of his offers since that time. Blackburn lists schools such as Kentucky, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Illinois, Ole Miss, Kansas, Arizona State, Virginia, and Colorado as Power 5 programs that he’s in touch with frequently, but like most other recruits, has had his process affected by COVID-19.
“I was going to visit a lot of those schools in spring until this happened,” Blackburn said. “The most recent trip I went on was Georgia Tech. I came down for a visit and then coach (Geoff) Collins told me they were going to offer me, I’ve been waiting on that offer for a while. I just talked to the coaching staff, had a photo shoot. We were just bonding and having a good time.”
Even with the shutdowns, things have still been progressing for Blackburn, as he has eliminated some of his options and anticipates doing so again over the summer ahead of his decision. Although he doesn’t have a current commitment timeline, relationships will seem to be a key factor for Blackburn when he is ready to announce.
“I’ve already narrowed down my 25 offers down to like 15 in my head,” Blackburn said. “I know I’m going to get more offers, so I’ll probably cut that down again based on who comes in contact more or less, who stops speaking and who starts communicating more.
“I just want feel like a school wants me and like it’s a family, a place that I can bond good with all the coaches. Somewhere I won’t be homesick because I’ll want to stay and have good relationships.”
