Blake Freeland’s life will change this week, of that he is fairly certain.
What the 6-foot-8, 305-pound BYU offensive lineman doesn’t know is where he will go in the NFL draft, or which team will acquire his services.
“Shoot, I am excited, man. It is something I have been dreaming of since I was a little kid. It is finally here. I just know that wherever I end up, it is going to be the best place for me.” — BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland
“People probably get tired of hearing it, but I truly have no idea,” Freeland said.
The former Herriman High three-sport star does have a pretty good idea what he will do with his first NFL paycheck, however.
“I’ve been debating about getting a new car,” he said.
The towering left tackle has been driving a 2003 Toyota Sequoia with 320,000 miles on it.
“It’s breaking down a little bit lately,” Freeland said. “It is on its last legs.”
He would also like to take his entire family on a trip outside of the country, “to kinda show them what a real vacation is,” he said.
Freeland, a four-year starter at BYU — the first two years at right tackle, the second two years at left tackle after All-American Brady Christensen was taken in the third round, 70th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Big Blake, as his teammates call him, is living the dream that first took root when he started showing phenomenal athleticism for a person his size as a youngster.
“Shoot, I am excited, man,” he told the Deseret News on Monday. “It is something I have been dreaming of since I was a little kid. It is finally here. I just know that wherever I end up, it is going to be the best place for me.”
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Most mock drafts have Freeland going between the late second round and the fourth round. He said he’s mentally preparing for almost anything and knows he will have to prove himself all over again just as he did in 2019 after signing with BYU as an “athlete” because, despite his size, he had played quarterback and tight end his first two seasons at Herriman High in the southwest part of the Salt Lake Valley.
He was also an all-state center in basketball and a state champion in the shot put, javelin and discus in track.
“It is kind of like a restart,” he said. “You are at the bottom of the totem pole again and you just gotta prove to other people and yourself that you can get out there and compete and put your best foot forward every day.”
For his part, Christensen isn’t surprised that Freeland is about to supplant him as the newest BYU offensive lineman in the NFL.
“I just remember him playing in practice, he would just like pull and run around the corner and he would just be destroying people,” Christensen told BYUtv. “Sometimes he would look like he was tackling people. He was so raw, but so athletic and so big and so good.
“You were like, holy cow, once this guy fine-tunes his technique, he is going to be incredible,” Christensen continued. “And that’s what he has done these past couple of years. He has really fine-tuned his technique to go along with his athleticism. It has been fun to watch his progress.”
Erin Hooley, Associated Press
After he was named an Associated Press Third-Team All-American last fall and decided to turn pro despite having another year of eligibility remaining, Freeland had his coming-out party, of sorts, at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. He posted a 37-inch vertical jump, the best mark for an offensive lineman at the combine since at least 2003.
He added to that eye-popping leap with a 10-foot broad jump, best among OLs, and a time of 4.98 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which was third-best. Some NFL draft experts have said he moved up one or two rounds in the draft with his performance in Indy.
“I think people were impressed. I think people kinda knew that I was an athletic player. I think putting up good numbers kinda showed them and kinda got my name out there, which was nice,” he said. “But I think at the end of the day they come back to the tape, the game film, and that’s what they rely on the most.”
Related
- What are NFL draft experts saying about Blake Freeland?
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If that’s the case, he should be just fine; Freeland started in all 13 of the 8-5 Cougars’ games last season, and did not give up a sack. He committed just two penalties.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Freeland ranked as the No. 179 player in the draft.
“Freeland’s inexperience and the lesser-developed aspects of his game (leverage points, play strength, etc.) will be exposed by NFL talent, but he has the feet, length and upside to warrant being a mid-round draft pick,” Brugler wrote. “He is a work in progress who should eventually compete for an NFL team’s No. 3 tackle spot and potentially more.”
Another draft analysts, ESPN’s Jordan Reid, told BYUtv that Freeland’s stock is “way up, especially after the NFL scouting combine, where he tested through the roof.”
Reid projects Freeland going to the Washington Commanders in the second round in his latest mock draft. He compares Freeland to Brian O’Neill of the Minnesota Vikings and Samuel Cosmi of the Commanders.
Reid said he could also see Freeland landing in San Francisco because the 49ers are looking for a replacement for Mike McGlinchey, who signed with the Broncos, at right tackle.
That pick would thrill Freeland, because he counts the 49ers among his favorite teams after being born in the Bay Area. Something to watch: San Francisco has three picks at the back end of the third round.
National offensive lineman Blake Freeland of BYU in action during the Senior Bowl Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Mobile, Ala. Butch Dill, Associated Press
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BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland poses for a portrait at the BYU Indoor Practice Facility in Provo on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
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BYU’s Blake Freeland, left, D’Angelo Mandell, Puka Nacua, an NFL scout, Jaren Hall and another scout watch BYU’s Pro Day at the school’s practice facility in Provo on Friday, March 24, 2023. Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland, second from right, reacts after performing a vertical jump at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Erin Hooley, Associated Press
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BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland runs a drill at the NFLcombine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Erin Hooley, Associated Press
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BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland poses for a portrait at the BYU Indoor Practice Facility in Provo on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
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BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland warms up before game against Wyoming Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Provo, Utah. Rick Bowmer, Associated Press
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BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland (71) celebrates after a touchdown against Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. BYU won 26-17. Shafkat Anowar, Deseret News
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BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland celebrates with fans following BYU’s victory against Wyoming Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Provo, Utah. Rick Bowmer, Associated Press
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Herriman’s Blake Freeland looks to the sideline as the Mustangs and Lone Peak play on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU offensive lineman Blake Freeland runs a drill at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Darron Cummings, Associated Press
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Freeland also grew up cheering for the Dallas Cowboys because Dallas is where his father is from.
Speaking of his father, new Riverton High football coach Jim Freeland played linebacker for the Cougars in 1994 and 1995. Blake’s mother, the former Debbie Dimond, played basketball for BYU from 1991-95 as a 6-foot-3 post player and is the eighth-highest scorer in BYU women’s basketball history.
His older sister, Sierra, competed for BYU’s women’s track team as a thrower from 2017-22.
“We’ve got a pretty athletic family,” Blake Freeland understated.
That family — Freeland also has three younger sisters — will gather Thursday, Friday and Saturday at his parents’ home to watch the draft and celebrate Blake’s rise.
During the pandemic, Freeland says he ate at Cupbop “almost every day” in Provo and struck up a friendship with one of the owners, so the restaurant chain that bills itself as the “Korean BBQ in a Cup” will cater the gathering on Saturday.
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One reason that Freeland isn’t sure which teams are most interested in him is the fact that he didn’t get invited on any visits — teams are allowed to bring in up to 30 players — and he didn’t do any private workouts.
“There are times where I am like, ‘Oh man, what does that mean?’ I wish I had a few, but I think I will be OK. I met with so many coaches and so many scouts throughout this whole process. I feel comfortable with it,” he said.
Freeland’s agents, Collin Roberts and Ryan Tollner of Rep1 Sports, tell him everything is good and he believes them. Former BYU QB Jaren Hall also chose Rep1 Sports.
After the season, Freeland trained in Rep1’s facility in Irvine, California, until a week before BYU Pro Day. Since then, he’s been working out in Bluffdale or at BYU with Dr. Skyler Mayne. And he’s doing very little guessing.
“It is hard to get a good read on teams sometimes, honestly,” he said. “But I have talked to quite a few teams just over the phone and through Zoom and stuff. I really, honestly, have no idea where I am going to land.”
He just knows that he might just arrive in a brand new car.
Shafkat Anowar, Deseret News
FAQs
Did Blake Freeland get drafted? ›
The Indianapolis Colts select BYU Cougars offensive tackle Blake Freeland in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 106 overall pick.
Did Jaren Hall get drafted? ›BYU QB Jaren Hall was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with 164 overall pick in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
What position does Blake Freeland play? ›Tulane running back Tyjae Spears and linebacker Dorian Williams were each selected in third round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday evening.
Who did Tampa get in the draft? ›On Sunday, the last day of the draft, the Bucs got Pitt linebacker SirVocea Dennis, Nebraska's Trey Palmer and Eastern Michigan outside linebacker Jose Ramirez in a frenzied sixth round.
Did any BYU players get drafted 2023? ›Offensive tackle Blake Freeland, quarterback Jaren Hall and receiver Puka Nacua picked up by Colts, Vikings and Rams, respectively.
Where will Jaren Hall go in the NFL draft? ›The Minnesota Vikings select BYU Cougars quarterback Jaren Hall in Round 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 164 overall pick (via a trade with the San Francisco 49ers).
How good is Jaren Hall? ›He passed for an outstanding 3162 yards on 376 attempts and put up a completion percentage of 65.7 for an average of 8.4 yards per attempt, with 31 TDs, and allowing 12 sacks, with a QB rating on the year of 112.7.
Is Blake Freeland good? ›Freeland was named a third-team All-American and was a team captain in 2022. Freeland earned a 90.9 Pro Football Focus overall grade (90.7 pass block grade, 87.3 run block grade) in 2022. 90.7 pass block grade was the seventh-highest in the nation among starting offensive linemen.
Where did Blake Freeland go to high school? ›Blake Freeland played quarterback in high school
While he was a junior at Herriman High School in Utah, Freeland played quarterback. He moved to tight end and defensive end his senior year.
Is KJ Henry going to the NFL? ›
The Washington Commanders Select KJ Henry, EDGE, Clemson in the Fifth Round of 2023 NFL Draft. Washington welcomes the newest member of the family, KJ Henry, after making him the 137th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
What college has the most drafted NFL players? ›Georgia holds the record for most NFL draft selections by a college in a single year since the NFL draft became seven rounds in 1994, setting the mark at 15 players in 2022. 2004 Miami tied 2021 Alabama for the record for most first-round picks at six.
What is the most players drafted from one school in the same draft? ›The record belongs to Texas in the 1984 NFL Draft, when 17 players were selected. Here's a look at the largest draft classes of all time. Notre Dame enjoyed a prolific three-year span from 1944-46 that saw 44 players drafted to the NFL. No other program has produced more than 32 in a three-year span.
What school has the most people drafted all time? ›- Georgia. NFL Draft picks: 371. ...
- Florida. NFL Draft picks: 372. ...
- LSU. NFL Draft picks: 375. ...
- Penn State. NFL Draft picks: 381. ...
- Oklahoma. NFL Draft picks: 414. ...
- Ohio State. NFL Draft picks: 485. ...
- USC. NFL Draft picks: 523. ...
- Notre Dame. NFL Draft picks: 525.
19 pick in 2023 draft. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Pittsburgh Panthers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 19 overall pick.
Who was the first player drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? ›The first draft the Buccaneers participated in was 1976, in which they made defensive end Lee Roy Selmon of Oklahoma their first-ever selection.
Who will the Bucs draft Round 2? ›The Tampa Bay Buccaneers select North Dakota State Bison offensive tackle Cody Mauch in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 48 overall pick (via a trade with the Green Bay Packers).
Does BYU have non Mormon football players? ›BYU attracts student-athletes from all over the world to play for its teams, including many who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Whitney Johnson is the associate athletic director for student-athlete development, diversity and inclusion at BYU.
How many BYU players made the NFL? ›BYU has had 142 players get drafted by the NFL and another 193 get NFL opportunities as free agents.
Does BYU recruit non Mormon football players? ›Does BYU football only recruit Mormons? No. But a very large portion members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints want to go to BYU, so it is much easier to recruit church members but they recruit everyone.
Is Jaren Hall a member of the church? ›
In his response, the 24-year-old pro prospect talked about his “three F's” of faith, family and football and why he belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Has Jeremiah Hall been drafted? ›Professional career
Hall signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2022. He was waived on August 16, 2022.
Cunningham is the first former Cardinal to sign an undrafted free agent deal this year. LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham has signed an undrafted free agent deal with the New England Patriots, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Will Jake Haener get drafted? ›All Rights Reserved. The New Orleans Saints traded up to select Fresno St. quarterback Jake Haener with the 127th pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 29.
Is Stetson Bennett an NFL prospect? ›Bennett is CBS Sports' No. 306 prospect, and No. 11 quarterback in this class. The former walk-on has already established himself as a Bulldog legend, but he's looking to carry that success to the next level.
Is Jaren Hall a good quarterback? ›CBS Sports ranks Hall as the 233rd overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft and the 10th best quarterback. PFF ranks Hall as the 248th best prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft and the 13th best quarterback.
Is Darnell Washington going to the draft? ›Georgia football's Darnell Washington was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday night.
Who is Freeland High School football coach? ›Freeland's Kevin Townsend establishes sustained success for Falcons. In this Daily News file photo, Freeland head coach Kevin Townsend talks his team before the start of the Division 5 regional finals against Lansing Catholic Central.
Where did Blake Lynch go to high school? ›Born in Gilmer, Texas, Lynch attended Gilmer High School, where he played alongside future Vikings teammate Kris Boyd.
Where did Blake Bell go to college? ›He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he received the nickname Belldozer, a play on words due to his large frame and running style. Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
What team is Henry Ruggs in NFL? ›
- Round 1 • Pick 16 (16) • CB Emmanuel Forbes.
- Round 2 • Pick 16 (47) • CB Jartavius Martin.
- Round 3 • Pick 34 (97) • C Ricky Stromberg.
- Round 4 • Pick 16 (118) • G Braeden Daniels.
- Round 5 • Pick 2 (137) • EDGE KJ Henry.
- Round 6 • Pick 16 (193) • RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
He played college football at West Virginia and was drafted by the Bengals in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Belle Chasse, Louisiana, U.S. Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. Henry died on December 17, 2009, when he was dragged from a moving truck that his fiancée was driving after a verbal altercation.
Who was drafted from Auburn? ›Last weekend was a special weekend for Auburn football, as five players were taken in the 2023 NFL draft. Derick Hall led off day two by being taken 37th overall by the Seattle Seahawks, and Tank Bigsby followed suit by being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 88th overall pick.
Who was drafted before Ed Reed? ›| Rnd. | Pick No. | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | Napoleon Harris |
| 1 | 24 | Ed Reed † |
| 1 | 25 | Charles Grant |
| 1 | 26 | Lito Sheppard † |
Bell was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the fifth tight end chosen in 2015. On May 11, 2015, the 49ers signed him to a four-year, $2.78 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $505,132.
What pick was Ed Reed drafted? ›The Baltimore Ravens selected Ed Reed out of the University of Miami (Fla.) in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2002 NFL Draft. Over the next 12 seasons, Reed exuded excellence on the field and quickly became one of the most accomplished safeties in the league.
Who was drafted straight from high school? ›Kobe Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. Jermaine O'Neal was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1996. Tracy McGrady was selected by the Toronto Raptors in 1997. Amar'e Stoudemire was selected by the Phoenix Suns in 2002.
Why did Bo Jackson chose Auburn? ›In June 1982, Jackson was selected by the New York Yankees in the second round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft, but he instead chose to attend Auburn University on a football scholarship because he promised his mother he would be the first in the family to go to a major college.
Who was the first black athlete at Auburn? ›James Curtis Owens (July 9, 1951 – May 26, 2016) was a pioneering American football player and coach. He was the first African American player in the history of the Auburn Tigers football team, playing as a running back from 1969 to 1972.
Who was the first black football player drafted? ›
National Football League (NFL) Taliaferro, a halfback, quarterback, and punter, was picked by the Chicago Bears in the thirteenth round of the 1949 NFL Draft but instead chose to play for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference. This made him the first African American drafted by an NFL team.
What is the best NFL draft class of all time? ›What Was the Best NFL Draft Class of All Time? The 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers draft is and likely always will be the greatest draft in league history. Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, and Mike Webster would all go on to be Pro Football Hall of Famers. The quartet won four Super Bowls.
Who was drafted ahead of Michael Jordan in the same draft? ›| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Akeem Olajuwon^ |
| 1 | 2 | Sam Bowie |
| 1 | 3 | Michael Jordan^ |
| 1 | 4 | Sam Perkins |
He first joined the team in 2019 for the Super Bowl LIV run before leaving to play in Dallas for a year. He returned to Kansas City for both the 2021 and 2022 NFL seasons. The #Chiefs are re-signing TE Blake Bell to a 1-year contract, source said. This is his fourth season with KC.
Who selected Tom Brady in draft? ›The draft was notable for the selection of Michigan quarterback Tom Brady at the 199th pick in the sixth round by the New England Patriots. In his 23 seasons in the NFL, Brady won a record 7 Super Bowl titles, 3 NFL MVP awards, and a record 5 Super Bowl MVPs.
How much does Blake Bell make for the Kansas City Chiefs? ›Blake Bell's contract with the Kansas City Chiefs earns him $1,272,500 per year, not including a 6-figure sign on bonus.
Who was the oldest draft pick? ›Cleveland Browns. Weeden was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the 22nd pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Weeden became the oldest player ever taken in the first round, at 28 years old.
Who has the most interceptions in NFL history? ›| Leaders | ||
|---|---|---|
| RK | PLAYER | INT |
| 1 | Paul Krause | 81 |
| 2 | Emlen Tunnell | 79 |
| 3 | Rod Woodson | 71 |
Draft Picks 2023: All the Results From the First Round. The Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young, the Alabama quarterback, at No. 1 overall.