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Texas A&M football: 5 freshman who will make immediate impact in 2019

By Cahil Murchison

02 JAN 2014: Speedy Noil of New Orleans, LA verbally commits to Texas A&M during the 2014 Under Armour All-American Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon SMI/Corbis via Getty Images)
02 JAN 2014: Speedy Noil of New Orleans, LA verbally commits to Texas A&M during the 2014 Under Armour All-American Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon SMI/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Elijah Blades, cornerback — Arizona Western College

4 Stars, .9054 247sports Composite rating, No. 1 JUCO corner

Texas A&M has been looking for an elite, lock-down cornerback for some time. The cornerback position has had a high turnover rate recently and most would say it has been the weakest link in the Aggie defense. Former Aggie coach John Chavis tried to recruit taller corners to matchup with big outside receivers.

It was a nice idea in theory, but now that some teams are looking for pass catchers that are built more like Jalen Waddle and other slot receivers, the taller corner may be out of style. However, the Aggies seem to have found an exception in their latest junior college transfer, Elijah Blades.

Blades stands at 6-foot-3, making him rather tall for a corner. Granted, he is not as tall as other Aggie corners, Miles Jones and Clifford Chattman are 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5, respectively. What sets Blades apart from the other taller defensive backs? The answer is what typically makes exceptional players exceptional: speed. His name should be Elijah Blaze because of his deadly speed. The one thing that many tall receivers do not have is quickness and acceleration. Their top speed may be just as fast as the next guy, it just may take them a while to get there.

Blades has the rare gift of acceleration. It takes him no time at all to achieve his maximum speed, so whether he has to cover a short slant route or a deep post-corner route, it is no big deal.

According to ncaa.com, the Aggies ranked 98th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game, just ahead of the North Texas Mean Green. That’s not good, folks. With the addition of the speedy Elijah Blades, hopefully, the deep ball will be practically null and void in the 2019 campaign.

Another quality that makes Blades so great is his physicality. Most corners do not put their hands on the receiver and just let their speed do the work. Blades’ size comes into play yet again in this aspect. His extended reach allows him to engage with receivers and disrupt their steps and timing.

The combination of size, physicality, experience, and speed is one that does not come around too often. The Ags may have found their diamond in the rough in this transfer like they did in another transfer player — Jace Sternberger. Blades will be a junior in 2019. Getting lots of playing time in Arizona has given him the reps he needs to roll into College Station as an immediate impact player.

For the record, I would like to give a huge compliment to Aggie cornerback, Miles Jones. Jones seems to have found his confidence and was a much better player in the final month of the 2018 season. I have been critical of him in the past, so I wanted to make sure that he gets the recognition that he deserves. Hopefully, he has turned the corner and is ready to tear it up. Proud of you, Miles!