High School and College Career

Blake Freeland a 3-star recruit from Herriman High School, committed to Brigham Young University (BYU) in 2019.

During his freshman year, Freeland played in 7 games and subsequently played a total of 502 snaps for the Cougars. Although he allowed 10 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, and one sack, he managed to hold his position as a right tackle for the team.

In his sophomore year, Freeland appeared in 11 games and a total of 452 snaps. He showed notable improvement in his skills, conceding 11 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and no sacks while playing at right tackle.

During his junior year in 2021, Freeland continued to make progress in his football career as he switched positions to left tackle. Throughout the season, he played in 13 games and totaled 876 snaps. He only gave up 3 QB hurries, one QB hit, and one sack.

In 2022, as a senior, Freeland showed incredible consistency as he played in 12 games and totaled 805 snaps for the Cougars. He allowed only 5 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and no sacks.

Blake Freeland Scouting Report Introduction

BYU offensive tackle Blake Freeland has been a successful starter at the college level for several seasons and his size and experience give him a good chance of finding a place on an NFL team. However, his athletic profile makes him a scheme-specific left tackle prospect who may not fit all systems and ideologies across the league.

Freeland was a three-sport athlete in high school, excelling in shotput, javelin, and basketball, and ultimately chose to follow in his father’s footsteps by playing for BYU. He has steadily added weight and carries his frame well, with an athletic build that doesn’t carry any unnecessary mass.

On the field, Freeland is a solid run blocker who is effective at setting the hook early and latching onto defenders. He has good grip strength, reach, and urgent push, allowing him to stick on blocks and create opportunities for his backs. He also shows intelligence in pass protection, identifying opportunities to pass off or exchange his gap versus games.

However, Freeland’s pliability is unlikely to improve, as he is a linear mover with a high center of gravity and stiffness in his core and hips. This limits his ability to break down in space or absorb power through his lower half, and he often struggles with pad level as a result. He tends to rely on brute strength to handle power rushes and can be vulnerable to holding penalties.

In pass protection, Freeland will need to be a top technician to overcome his limitations in redirection ability and foot speed. His wingspan helps compensate for short-area losses, but he will need to develop the proper cadence if he goes to an offense that requires him to set vertically for deeper progressions.

Overall, Freeland’s size and mass make him an attractive prospect for teams looking for an edge blocker in a zone-based system. He has sufficient linear athleticism to be effective in that type of scheme, but he may struggle in other systems that require more mobility and quickness. The key for Freeland will be finding a team that can develop him further and protect him from his limitations while leveraging his strengths as a starter.

Strengths

Blake Freeland is a highly talented offensive lineman with a unique set of skills that set him apart from his peers. Despite standing at an impressive 6-7 and weighing in at a hefty 302 lbs, Freeland possesses supreme athleticism that has garnered the attention of coaches and scouts alike.

At the Combine, Freeland set a new record for offensive linemen with a vertical jump of 37 inches, placing him in the 94th percentile for his forty-yard dash and the 99th percentile for his broad jump. These impressive measurements are indicative of his exceptional explosiveness and power, which are further evident in his elite short area quickness, which is on par with that of a giant tight end.

Freeland’s athleticism and quickness are not the only things that make him stand out. He is an intelligent player who possesses a keen sense of timing and a good understanding of the game. He is quick to recognize and react to twists and stunts, making him an effective blocker on reach blocks and combo blocks.

In the run game, Freeland displays excellent burst and power off the line of scrimmage. He is capable of winning at the point of attack and is agile enough to move to the second level for more aggressive blocks.

In pass protection, Freeland is equally impressive. He exhibits outstanding technique and uses his powerful grip and extensive reach to control opposing rushers. He employs good hand placement to deliver a powerful punch while maintaining excellent coordination between his upper and lower body. This allows him to deliver well-timed and forceful hand punches that disrupt opposing defenders.

Freeland’s exceptional run-blocking skills shine in particular when engaging with defenders quickly and effectively. His ability to control rushers makes him a critical asset in any team’s offensive strategy.

In conclusion, Blake Freeland’s unique combination of size, athleticism, and intelligence make him a highly sought-after player in the NFL. His ability to dominate opposing defenders using his quickness, power, and exceptional handwork make him a valuable asset to any team. It is apparent that Freeland’s career in the NFL will be a long and successful one.

Weaknesses

Freeland often lacks pass protection instincts, regularly oversets and gets beaten inside. Additionally, he has a tendency to lunge when trying to reach speedy wide rushers off the edge coming out of his stance, which can lead to him being beaten. This impatience to sit back in his set compromises Freeland’s balance.

Although Freeland is fluid in his movements, he still appears awkward and choppy as a pass protector. His movements are often unnatural when moving back into his set, and he tends to stand too upright, leaving him vulnerable to being beaten by rushers. Freeland struggles with maintaining proper leverage due to his tall stature. This deficiency can make it difficult for him to counter agile edge rushers who can change direction quickly.

Blake Freeland is our 75th prospect on our draft big board.