Baylor Bears centre Philip Blake is starting to become a household name in NFL circles.
The Toronto native impressed several scouts, notably NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, during his workout at the NFL Combine on Saturday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
“I like the big Canuck,” Mayock told QMI Agency. “I had a third- or fourth-round grade on him, and I believe that he’s a starting centre in this league. I thought he did everything (Saturday) that I hoped he would do, and he actually did a tad better in the measurables than I expected.”
Mayock referred to Blake, who grew up and went to high school in Toronto, as one of the best “value” prospects during a segment on NFL Network. He has Blake ranked No. 5 on his list of the top five interior lineman for this draft class.
The Canadian lineman didn’t play football until his senior year in high school at Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School.
Blake, 26, developed into a reliable leader on the offensive line where he started three seasons for Baylor. He played a critical role in the team’s offence during the 2011 season where quarterback Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy.
“He called all the blocking up front,” Baylor head coach Art Briles told QMI Agency. “We run the zone and we run, of course, the man schemes. And he calls all the protection schemes. He’s done a great job, because he also has to snap in the shotgun most of the time – so he’s had a lot going through his mind on every snap, and he handled it all extremely well.”
He is expected to be selected in the third or fourth round in the upcoming NFL Draft, which takes place from April 26-28.
Canadian offensive linemen were drafted high last season as Danny Watkins (23rd overall) of the Philadelphia Eagles and Orlando Franklin of the Denver Broncos (46th overall) both started for their respective teams during the 2011 season.
