WS Chronicle

JaDon Blair has been picking up a lot of attention from some big-time collegiate programs. While only a sophomore, the 6-foot-5, 180-pound safety has made quite the impression on the field and several Power 5 college football programs have taken notice.

Blair received his first offer from Virginia Tech earlier this month and just received his second offer from Penn State last week following a visit to Happy Valley. Blair has a unique combination of size, speed and athleticism that has manifested into him being one of the top defensive prospects in the Triad.

“I enjoyed the visit overall very much. All the coaches really act that way and they were not pretending. I know it was my first time down here, but I actually love this environment and the way they coach,” said Blair after his visit to Penn State. “I love the competitiveness; I love the way the defense and the offense get after it.”

Blair says he enjoyed both visits to Virginia Tech and Penn State. He says he feels blessed to have the opportunity to have been offered a scholarship from different schools.

“I am loving this process right now,” he said. “I am being recruited by colleges that will take a chance on me, but I am working hard for that.Every day I have fun and I earn it, and nothing was given to me. I feel like these visits are the reward for all the hard work I have put in.  

“I know this is just the beginning and I am just getting started. Maybe later on it will start to get a little overwhelming, but I feel like I am capable of dealing with it.”

Blair still has two more years of prep eligibility remaining. He knows his body is still growing and evolving, so he wants to continue polishing his skills as a defensive back with offseason workouts.

“No matter how good you are, you can get better if you put in the work,” Blair said about his offseason mentality. “I definitely feel like I have more to prove on the field even though I am getting success. I just feel like I can prove myself that I am that guy. I am very humble and let my game do the talking for me.”

Being long and rangy are two of the things that separate Blair from others that play his position, he said. He is not afraid to fly around and is a very capable open field tackler. Blair says he works on his tackling often so that he can stand out from others at the safety position.  

This offseason, Blair has been working with family on getting out of breaks, backpedaling, staying low and turning his hips. Because he is so tall, his center of gravity is higher than most players he will be defending so it’s a must that he has lateral quickness and can change directions on a dime.

JaDon’s father, Jay Blair, is a Reynolds High School Hall of Famer and knows all too well about the recruiting trail. He says things have evolved so much from the time he was recruited to play college football in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. 

“When we got recruited, you went up, they showed you the weight room and met the coach and then you left,” he said jokingly. “You might have gotten a tour around the campus, but things are totally different now and I am just excited for him.”

Jay Blair said both Virginia Tech and Penn State did a “phenomenal job” with presenting their programs to his son. He said it seems as though both programs take time to develop their athletes and it seems like a family atmosphere at both places.

Blair understands that there is a possibility that a position change may come on the next level because of his size. He says it doesn’t matter where the coaching staff places him on the field, he “will ball” because his only goal is to contribute to the team the best way he can.

Blair has other upcoming visits from NC State, East Carolina and South Carolina. Blair has not committed to any school as of yet and will wait to sign his letter of intent toward the conclusion of his prep career. Jay Blair says his son will make the final decision about what school he will attend and hopes his son picks the right school that fits him best.