INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts tonight selected Utah safety Julian Blackmon with their third-round (85th-overall) pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Blackmon, who turns 22 in August, is a 6-foot, 187-pound Layton, Utah, native. A former cornerback, Blackmon earned Associated Press Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019, after starting 12 games at free safety, tying for the Pac-12 lead, and ranking 17th in the FBS, with four interceptions, while also collecting 60 tackles (four for a loss), four passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
Blackmon was a Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection as a cornerback his sophomore and junior seasons. In 2017, he had a team-best four picks to go along with 48 tackles and six passes defensed, and followed that up with 48 tackles (four for a loss) with one interception and a team-best 10 passes defensed in 2018.
In his NFL.com draft profile, draft analyst Lance Zierlein writes Blackmon "has soft hands and carryover route-anticipation that should allow him to match against tight ends as a pro."
"He can play split safety, big nickel or help support the run as a down safety," Zierlein writes. "His field recognition and angles to the football are still behind from his new position, but he should keep getting better."
Blackmon adds his talent to a Colts safety group ripe with youth and talent. Returning are starters Malik Hooker and Khari Willis, as well as key rotational pieces George Odum and Rolan Milligan.
As of now, the Colts are next scheduled to pick tomorrow in with the 16th pick in the fourth round (122nd overall).
