#7

Al Blades Jr.

CB · Duke · Sr. · #7

Duke 2023 alumnus
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Al Blades Jr.

CB · Duke · Sr · #7

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
2 teams
2021–2023
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2023

3 coaches
2022era →
2023
Trooper Taylor
Duke
era →

Played under 3 different head coaches: David Cutcliffe, Mike Elko, and Trooper Taylor. Multi-era developmental context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021Miami7-5HC: Jess Simpson · Balanced
2022Miami5-7HC: Mario Cristobal · Balanced
2023Duke8-5HC: Trooper Taylor · Run-leaning, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2023Duke43260.50.09----
2022Miami1190.00.01----
2021Miami310.50.0------
Career57361.00.010----

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 4 · 2023

W 41–7

at UConn

2 TOT  ·  1 PD

Dominant 34-point win on the road against UConn.

How he plays

Play style

Gets targeted often and tackles in space.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Perimeter Tackler

Targeted often and asked to tackle in space on the perimeter.

CB

His 2023 production profile sits closest to Nick Grant’s 2021 season.

Nick Grant

89%match

Virginia · 2021

#2

Trey Amos

Louisiana · 2022

NFL Rd 2 · Pk 29
87%
#3

DeShawn Gaddie

North Texas · 2022

84%
#4
82%
#5

Ra'Mello Dotson

Kansas · 2023

80%

Matches Nick on

Height
Class year
PD rate

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to D'Arco Perkins-McAllister's senior season at UL Monroe (2025).

UL Monroe · 2025

#2

Jaylen Jones

Virginia Tech · 2024

92%
#3

Ricky Johnson

UNLV · 2023

90%
#4

Cam Allen

Purdue · 2023

90%
#5

Dontae Balfour

Texas Tech · 2025

All-AAC
85%

Matches D'Arco on

Class year
Height
Weight