Mekhi Blackmon, CB USC: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Blackmon was a three-star JUCO transfer according to 247Sports from the College of San Mateo in San Mateo, Calif. in the class of 2018

The USC Trojans are on the verge of making the College Football Playoff in the first year of the Lincoln Riley era. The team has been successful in its first season with a new head coach thanks to transfers like cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, a quality prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Mekhi Blackmon, CB USC: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt senior outside cornerback from East Palo Alto, Calif.

Background: Blackmon was a three-star JUCO transfer according to 247Sports from the College of San Mateo in San Mateo, Calif. in the class of 2018. He previously attended Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, Calif. where he failed to receive a star ranking from 247Sports upon graduation with the class of 2017. Blackmon played wide receiver and defensive back as a high school senior, amassing 23 receptions for 620 yards and nine touchdowns on offense and six interceptions on defense. He played basketball as a freshman and sophomore at Menlo-Atherton High School. At the College of San Mateo in 2017, Blackmon totaled 20 tackles, an interception, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery as the team finished with its best record (11-2) in program history. He joined Colorado before the 2018 season and eventually transferred to USC ahead of the 2022 season. Blackmon is cousins with KeeSean Johnson, who was a sixth round pick for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft and is currently on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. Johnson attended Fresno State, where he’s the all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. Blackmon has three younger brothers and three younger sisters. He was born on March 18, 1999.

2021 Production: 9 games, 41 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 4 passes defensed

2020 Production: 6 games, 15 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 6 passes defensed

2019 Production: 4 games, 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble (Redshirt Year)

2018 Production: 8 games, 10 tackles, 2 passes defensed

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed eight games in 2019 after undergoing shoulder surgery

Awards: 2021 Honorable Mention All-Pac-12

Pros: Experience playing outside and in the slot, eliminated missed tackles, set new personal best for snaps played in 2022, special teams snaps on the kick coverage, punt return, and field goal block units, acceptable arm length and wingspan, active hands and accurate strikes early in the rep, aggressive in press coverage, willing to come downhill and tackle running backs one-on-one in space, patient when lined up in press, lets the route come to him and absorbs it, aggressive at the catch point, beat Stanford’s Elijah Higgins for a 50-50 jump ball in the end zone (2022), not afraid of contact, recovery speed to get back into some routes, squeezes routes along the sideline, quick to close on short routes, broke up a one-on-one end zone shot to Utah’s 6'5", 205 lb. Devaughn Vele (2022), excellent at establishing leverage in the route stem, use of leverage on outside releases is masterful, flashes of mirroring routes, experienced in man and zone coverage, shows good awareness and instincts in zone

Cons: Age, four penalties committed in 2021 and heavily penalized in 2022, lost his balance several times against Stanford (2022), footwork appears hoppy at times, not a burner or twitchy athlete, grabby in coverage and draws penalties, sometimes gets physically pushed around by larger receivers, receivers create separation at the top of their routes on curls, comebacks, etc., blocked and displaced by wide receivers, lacks play strength to shed blocks and set the edge consistently, foot speed, backpedal is a little high, some tightness when flipping hips, doesn’t always get his head around for the football, three pass interference calls against Stanford (2022), a little late getting his hips around on inside releases, lacks elite agility and balance to mirror outside-in releases, foot speed disrupts his ability to mirror routes

Overview: Blackmon is unofficially listed at 6'0", 175 lbs. He primarily lines up on the boundary side of the field, although USC sometimes tasks him with playing strictly one side of the field for the entire game. The California native has exclusively played outside this season, but he gained experience playing in the slot with Colorado. Blackmon has cut down on missed tackles this year and set a new personal best for defensive snaps played by over 200. His arm length and wingspan aren’t elite, but they meet NFL standards. He is experienced in man and zone coverage. Blackmon showcases good awareness and instincts in zone. The JUCO product isn’t afraid of contact. He’s willing to come downhill and tackle running backs one-on-one in space. Blackmon is patient when lined up in press, allowing the route to come to him so he can absorb it. In press, he displays active hands and accurate strikes early in the rep. He is excellent at establishing leverage in the route stem, especially on outside releases. Blackmon squeezes routes along the sideline. He has enough recovery speed to get back into some routes but doesn’t have elite speed to catch burners. Blackmon is quick to drive on short routes and make plays near the line of scrimmage. There are flashes of him mirroring routes, but his athletic limitations and inconsistent foot speed keep him from performing consistently in this area. Blackmon is very physical at the catch point and plays above his weight class. When USC played Stanford in 2022, Tanner McKee threw a 50-50 ball in the end zone to his top target Elijah Higgins, who is unofficially listed at 6'3", 234 lbs. Blackmon had the coverage. He fought to establish inside leverage on the much larger Higgins, beat the Stanford receiver to the football at the catch point, and tipped the pass to himself for an interception. Blackmon also broke up a one-on-one end zone shot against Utah (2022) when Cameron Rising targeted 6'5", 205 lb. wide receiver Devaughn Vele. Blackmon is an older prospect who suffers from penalties. He drew four flags in 2021 and seven during the 2022 regular season, including three against Stanford and two against Utah. Blackmon is aggressive in press coverage but becomes grabby at times. Despite his physicality, Blackmon gets pushed around a lot because of his weight. Receivers can play through him or block and displace him in the running game. Even UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson sent him flying four or more yards downfield on a block when the two teams met in November (2022). Blackmon lacks the play strength to shed blocks and set the edge consistently. He suffers from several physical limitations, including his thin frame, lack of elite speed and twitch, and some tightness in his hips. Blackmon’s footwork appears hoppy at times, which leads to occasional balance issues. Receivers tend to separate from Blackmon at the top of their routes on curls and comebacks. They also generate separation on inside releases when Blackmon is a little late to get his hips around. Releases that start outside before cutting inside create issues for Blackmon’s agility. He doesn’t always get his head around for the football when carrying receivers vertically.

Overall, Blackmon is an experienced, savvy, and physical cornerback who knows how to contribute from a variety of roles, but his physical limitations prevent him from contending for a top 100 selection. Blackmon’s demeanor early in the route and his understanding of leverage are two of his best weapons. He projects as a priority late-round selection.

Role & Scheme Fit: Boundary corner in a zone-heavy scheme with press opportunities

Round Projection: Mid Fifth to Mid Sixth

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 11-29-22