DL Philip Blidi must be a pass-rush threat
At some point, this program has to start to bring in capable pass rushers in every class rather than just once every few years. Until that happens, we are going to see the Red Raider defense struggle to compete in the nation’s most pass-happy conference.
We have reason to think that 2019 signee Tony Bradofrd Jr. is on his way to being a very solid player after he had 13 tackles and a sack in eight games this fall. Now, we need 2020 signee Philip Blidi to follow that same trajectory.
What makes Blidi such an intriguing player is his size. The product of Portales N.M. is already 6-foot-4 and 255-pounds before even stepping foot in a college weight room. That makes him the perfect size to man a defensive end spot in the 3-man defensive line that DC Keith Patterson utilizes (especially after he adds about 20 pounds in the weight room).
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However, some point to the fact that he played small-town football in New Mexico as a reason for concern. That seemed to work out fairly well for Brian Urlacher in the late 1990s and hopefully, it will work out for Blidi as well.
He was rated as the No. 2 player in New Mexico and the No. 30 strongside defensive end in the nation in 2020. He and Amarillo signee L.B. Moore are the only high school defensive linemen Tech added in this class and many believe that Moore might play outside LB at Tech meaning that Blidi has to develop as a defensive end for this class to reach its full potential.
After this year, Tech will see DE Eli Howard depart and next year, DE Nelson Mbanasor will be a senior. Thus, these young signees have to make an impact in order to keep this program from staying in the rut of awful DL play that has plagued it for so long.
Blidi will be an easy player to root for. He and his older brother have spent the past several years in the New Mexico Children’s home after leaving their parents in New Jersey where they lived in a dangerous and violent neighborhood. If he can become a star at Texas Tech, not only will be be a true inspiration but he will potentially help make this class one that we talk about fondly for years to come.