H.B. Blades was the 179th overall selection in the sixth round by the Redskins in the 2007 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games in a reserve role and saw considerable action on special teams. In his final season at Pittsburgh, he was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Big East for the third time. Blades became only the fifth player in school history to record over 400 career tackles. He is the son of former NFL player Bennie Blades and has two uncles, Brian and Al, who played in the league.
How Acquired: Selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round (179th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
PRO:
Appeared in all 16 regular-season games and recorded 16 tackles (11 solo) in his rookie season
Added 13 special team stops
2007 Season:
Played in all 16 regular-season games his rookie season
Posted 16 tackles and 13 special teams stops
Recorded a career-high four tackles at the New York Giants in Week 15 (12/16), and tied his career-high in tackles the next week at Minnesota (12/23)
Started and played in 12 games during his senior season at Pittsburgh
First team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and SportsIllustrated.com; was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Big East for the third time
Recorded a career-high 147 tackles (86 solo), 10.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two blocked field goals
Horatio Benedict Blades attended Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida where he set school records for tackles in a career (409), season (154), and game (21)
An administration of justice major at Pittsburgh; the son of Bennie Blades who played safety for the Detroit Lions from 1988-96 and the Seattle Seahawks in 1997
Also the nephew of former Seahawks wide receiver Brian Blades 1988-1998 and the late Al Blades who played on San Francisco’s practice squad in 2001
