H.B. Blades continued to develop into a reliable backup and potential starter at linebacker. He played in 16 games, with five starts at strong-side, in 2008 and posted 50 tackles (35 solo). As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games in a reserve role and saw considerable action on special teams. At Pittsburgh, he was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Big East in his senior season. Blades became only the fifth player ever at Pitt 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 32 regular season games, with five starts, and recorded 66 tackles (46 solo) in two NFL seasons
Has 25 special team stops in his NFL career
2008 Season (WAS):
Played in all 16 regular season games, with five starts
Recorded 50 tackles (35 solo) and 12 special teams tackles
Earned his first NFL start vs. New Orleans (9/14) in place of injured Marcus Washington (knee) and recorded six tackles and one pass defended
Posted a career-high eight tackles at Baltimore (12/7) and tied the mark the following week with eight tackles at Cincinnati (12/14)
2007 Season (WAS):
Played in all 16 regular season games his rookie season
Posted 16 tackles and 13 special teams stops
Became only the fifth player ever at Pittsburgh to record over 400 career tackles
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 as a senior
Attended Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida where he set school records for tackles in a career (409), season (154), and game (21)
Was an administration of justice major at Pittsburgh
Was the son of Bennie Blades who played safety for the Detroit Lions from 1988-96 and the Seattle Seahawks in 1997
Was 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
Was briefly a roommate of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco during college at Pittsburgh
