Blades family extends its football legacy, but at FIU
Some may wonder why Brian Blades II — a preseason selection as a first-team All-Conference USA cornerback – is playing for FIU and not the University of Miami.
After all, his father, Brian Blades, won two national titles (1983, 1987) as a UM wide receiver. And Brian Blades II’s uncle, Bennie Blades, was on that same 1987 team as a unanimous All-American safety.
The Hurricanes, though, did not offer the younger Blades a scholarship, and his father had a quick response when asked about the situation.
“It’s UM’s loss,” Blades said when reached by the Herald.
The elder Blades said a UM coach that he did not identify told him that the Hurricanes no longer wanted “legacy” recruits.
In UM’s defense, nobody else was beating down the door of Blades II, who ended up at FIU as a walk-on under then-coach Butch Davis.
Blades didn’t start during his first two years at FIU, playing in a total of eight games. He became a starter in 2023, and he played that role again last year.
During the past two years, Blades has not missed a contest, playing 24 games and starting 22. Among his big plays were an interception for a touchdown against Central Michigan; a forced fumble against Maine and a blocked kick in overtime against Sam Houston.
FIU won all three of those games.
On Dec. 1, 2024, when FIU fired coach Mike MacIntyre following three straight 4-8 seasons, Blades had an opportunity to enter the transfer portal.
He didn’t.
Blades said he had interest from SEC, Big 12 and ACC schools, although not Miami, but he remained at FIU because of new coach Willie Simmons.
“I believe in Coach Willie’s vision, and me and (FIU cornerbacks coach Anthony Gaitor) have a good relationship.” Blades said. “I’m big on loyalty. Coming out of high school, nobody else gave me a walk-on chance, just FIU. I’ve got love for FIU.
“I also wanted to stay home. I wanted to finish it up with the guys.”
Simmons, who calls his cornerback “Deuce” because of his suffix, said retaining Blades was just as important as bringing back quarterback Keyone Jenkins.
“Deuce has been as good as advertised,” said Simmons, who will make his debut as FIU’s coach on August 29 against visiting Bethune-Cookman. “He had just as many suitors if not more than [Jenkins].
“[Blades] is a shut-down corner. He has the skill set to play pro ball.”
If Blades signs an NFL training camp contract next year, he will be the sixth member of his family to make that leap.
His father, a second-round pick in 1988, made the Pro Bowl in 1989 and lasted until 1998 with the same franchise — Seattle.
Bennie Blades was the third overall pick in 1988, and he became a three-time All-Pro safety for Detroit.
Brian and Bennie’s younger brother, Al Blades, was a first-team All-Big East safety with UM in 2000. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers in 2001, but, sadly, he died on March 20, 2003, at the age of 26 due to a car crash.
Those three brothers, however, left a legacy as each had one son who has played big-time college football.
Bennie’s son, H.B. Blades, was a first-team All-American linebacker at Pitt and the 2006 Big East Defensive Player of the Year. After that, he played four seasons for the Washington Redskins.
Al Blades Jr. played defensive back for Miami and Duke and signed with the New York Jets in June of 2024 as an undrafted free agent. Now he’s on a NASCAR pit crew, working as a rear-tire changer.
Add it all up — Brian; Brian II; Bennie; H.B.; Al; and Al Jr. – and this may be the most prolific football family in South Florida history.
Here’s a little-known fact: Brian Blades went to UM as a defensive back. However, during his first fall camp in 1983, coach Howard Schnellenberger thought he was better suited to play wide receiver.
“I fought the switch at first,” Brian Blades said. “But it panned out.”
Similarly, Brian Blades II was a stellar wide receiver as a youth. But his father convinced him to switch to defense.
“My dad convinced me that, at receiver, you have to worry about having a good offensive line, good quarterback, good coordinator,” Blades II second. “On defense, I just have to do my job.”
His father put it this way: “You can run the world’s best route and be wide open, but if the quarterback doesn’t connect, it’s all for nothing.”
FIU defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt is certainly thrilled that Blades chose his side of the ball.
“After last season, he had just about every coach in America hoping he would enter the transfer portal,” Dewitt said. “But he decided to stay and finish what he started, and it’s hard not to root for a guy like that.”
Beyond football, Blades has already earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and he’s working on a master’s in Global Communications.
“I’m a proud dad,” Brian Blades said. “I’m proud of him in the classroom, on the field and the young man he has become.
“I just pray he has the chance to play in a bowl game this year.”