Dolphins sign son of Pro Football Hall of Famer, hope he's the next basketball player turned star tight end
The Miami Dolphins are hoping they just signed the next Antonio Gates. The team made a bold move Friday, picking up former college basketball player Jibri Blount as a tight end.
Blount spent two seasons at Cleveland State before transferring to North Carolina Central. During his final college season, Blount averaged 19.1 points and 9.3 rebounds. He was the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player of the year, and made the All-MEAC team.
It's not unheard of for college basketball players to turn into dominant tight ends in the NFL. Gates, Tony Gonzalez and Jimmy Graham all played basketball in college before becoming elite tight ends. Comparisons to those players are completely unfair for Blount, as all those players are worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Dolphins are hoping Blount — who stands 6-foot-7 — can be the latest player to perform well after making that transition.
Blount's chances of making a big impact are slim. Plenty of former college basketball players have tried to play tight end in the NFL and washed out of the league. Blount is also coming in as an undrafted free-agent, and would need to show plenty of ability in camp to even make the team — or its practice squad.
Jibri Blount is the son of Mel Blount
There's at least one reason to be optimistic about Blount sticking around. He's the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount.
Mel Blount played 14 seasons in the NFL, all with the Steelers. He made five Pro Bowls, was named to two All-Pro teams and won four championships with the team. Blount was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. He is also a member of the Steelers Hall of Honor.
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