53 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Blake Slaughter

#53 Blake Slaughter True Senior 5-10 | 227 Missouri City, Texas Bio

Position: Linebacker Previous College: None Projection: Second-String Status: On Scholarship

Blake Slaughter (b. March 14, 1990) is one of my favorite players simply because he has one of the greatest football names of all time, especially for a linebacker. It reminds me of an Iron Maiden song.

If any member of the linebacking corps is likely to break into the starting rotation this fall in place of Arthur Brown (not bloody likely), Jarell Childs, Justin Tuggle or Tre Walker (also not likely), it's probably Slaughter.

Although a little on the short side, he makes up for it with tenaciousness and physicality. And unlike Alex Hrebec, his speed is not a major drawback, although he's certainly not a burner by any stretch.

Slaughter never redshirted, but he did grayshirt due to a knee injury during his senior year of high school. He's certainly experienced, having seen action in two seasons under Bill Snyder, including several starts in 2010.

But in 2011, he virtually disappeared except for a little relief time and on special teams. That doesn't bode particularly well for his playing time prospects this year, consider Childs was hurt in 2011 and Tuggle was a QB.

It's a great sign that we have recruited the position well enough that a starter from two years ago can't see the field.

And with the incoming talents of Will Davis and Mike Moore, both of whom are fast as hell, the trend doesn't appear to be ceasing.