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According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, Missouri safety Joshuah Bledsoe singled out having a ‘great meeting’ at the Senior Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts—among a few other NFL teams:
#Missouri SAF Joshuah Bledsoe thought he had a great meeting w/ every team at the Senior Bowl, but singled out the #Colts, #Texans & #Vikings as meetings that went especially well.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) February 25, 2021
Bledsoe will meet with the #Saints virtually soon.
The 5’11”, 200 pound senior safety recorded 41 tackles (24 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, 6 passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery during 10 starts this past season.
Here’s some recent ‘buzz ‘on Bledsoe:
Working on my pre-Senior Bowl research and this safety class in Mobile is LOADED.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 17, 2021
Sleeper - Joshuah Bledsoe, Missouri
Stud - Jacoby Stevens, LSU
Been working on Missouri secondary this evening and have had a lot of fun watching Joshuah Bledsoe. Made big plays to set up several Missouri wins in 2020. Wouldn't advocate for him in a high SAF role but figures to have sub value & be core teams player, too. Versatility galore.
— Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) January 6, 2021
Missouri SAF Joshua Bledsoe (@jiggybled) stood out on film. He is a great tackler and what teams are looking for in a strong safety. Can cover the slot, RBs, and TEs. He does a great job of recovering here in coverage. Also fantastic against the run. #NFLDraft #DraftTwitter pic.twitter.com/W36zTD70ev
— Jack Borowsky (@Jack_Borowsky) November 20, 2020
MO S Joshuah Bledsoe has nice size for the position, able to make plays behind the line and in coverage - as he shows here, recovering to close on a pass to clinch the win vs LSU. #SnapScout21 pic.twitter.com/r6Qvio2yKu
— Chad Reuter (@chad_reuter) December 4, 2020
Watch: #Mizzou senior Joshuah Bledsoe comes up with a HUGE interception in the end zone. But, Bazelak threw an INT right back to the Bulldogs. pic.twitter.com/uEzoEbrEvZ
— Andrew Kauffman (@AndrewABC17) December 19, 2020
New @MizzouFootball HC Eli Drinkwitz inherits one of the nation’s top complimentary safety tandems. Joshuah Bledsoe has the movement & cover skills to provide nickel flex at next level. Tyree Gillespie is a big, fluid guy that can play deep and downhill. #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/RjBknNiBhX
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) June 19, 2020
Please welcome Joshua Bledsoe (@jiggybled) from @MizzouFootball to the 2021 @Reeses Senior Bowl!!! #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE #BestOfTheBest@JimNagy_SB @PaniniAmerica #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/RygL6Hq6b5
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) November 17, 2020
If you’re into Senior Bowl measurables, here are Mizzou’s three guys:
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) January 26, 2021
Josh Bledsoe 5-11 3/8, 201 lbs
Tyree Gillespie 5-11 7/8, 207 lbs
Larry Rountree 5-10 6/8, 216 lbs
Bledsoe seems like a versatile safety, who could play in nickel sub-packages and help cover the slot/inside—while also becoming a core player on special teams. He has limited experience playing as a single-high safety, and that’s an area of his game that is growing.
Against the opposing ground game, he’s a physical, sure tackling safety, who’s a willing run defender in support and comfortable playing in the box.
Stampede Blue’s Zach Hicks interviewed Bledsoe a few weeks ago, which is a very informative read.
The Colts like ‘jackknife’ safeties, who are able to do a lot of things well. Given that Bledsoe is a hybrid safety—capable of fulfilling a number of secondary (and special teams) roles, he’s a defensive back prospect to watch for Indianapolis on Day 3 of the NFL Draft—as the team’s potential third safety going forward.