Blackshear is one of the top defensive end recruits in the country.
Shameik Blackshear is one of the top defensive linemen in the country, and the top-rated player in the state of South Carolina has been getting some pretty serious interest from elite programs.
Blackshear attends Bluffton (S.C.) High School and is projected to play defensive end at the next level by all four major recruiting services, although 247Sports (weakside) and Rivals (strongside) differ on which side he will play.
The rising senior is listed at 6'5 and weighs in at 240 pounds. He is rated as a five-star by 247Sports, and is rated as a four-star by Rivals, ESPN and Scout. The 247Sports Composite, which aggregates the ratings of all four services, considers Blackshear a four-star, ranking him as the 52nd-best player in the country. It also ranks him as the fifth-best weakside defensive end in the nation and the best prospect in the state of South Carolina.
Blackshear holds offers from South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia, among others.
Blackshear is a player with a variety of attractive tools. The first thing that stands out is his length at 6'5. That will eventually allow him to extend and control defenders before they can get into his chest plate.
There are some times in the above tape when Blackshear explodes out of his stance and overwhelms the opposing blocker, resulting in a tackle for loss or a sack. But other times, Blackshear does not do a great job, and is too quick to pop up, instead of out of his stance. This, combined with his long frame, creates an easy target for blockers.
Blackshear has a nice swim move, and I expect him to eventually develop more inside counters when rushing the passer. He tackles well, shows good hustle in making a number of pursuit plays, and is very active. But he needs to continue to add muscle to his wiry frame in order to better take on blockers with physicality at the next level.
Blackshear is easily one of the five best defensive ends recruits I've seen so far in the class of 2015.