PROVO, Utah – Blake Freeland arrived at BYU having never played a snap along the offensive line in a football game. After four quick seasons, he leaves the BYU football program as one of the best offensive tackle prospects for the 2023 NFL draft.
Freeland, who had accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl last month, sent an official goodbye to BYU on Tuesday. The 6-foot-8, 305-pound offensive lineman wrote on Instagram and Twitter, “Thank you BYU” with a hype video showing some of his accomplishments and highlights.
Thank you BYU💙🤙 pic.twitter.com/uMuLmOCAGE
— Blake Freeland (@FreelandBlake) January 17, 2023
Freeland started in 41 games at offensive tackle for BYU. From 2019 to 2020, he lined up at right tackle. In the final two seasons of his collegiate career, he played at left tackle in place of Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Brady Christensen.
Blake Freeland was a four-year starter at BYU
During his four seasons as an offensive lineman, Freeland allowed only two sacks in his 41 career starts. In 2022, Freeland was the second highest-rated offensive tackle behind only Notre Dame’s Joe Alt by Pro Football Focus.
Due to the free year of eligibility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Freeland had the option to return to BYU for another season. But entering the 2022 campaign, Freeland was already garnering buzz as a day one or two draft prospect.
Since 2005, BYU has only had one offensive lineman selected in the NFL draft. That was the aforementioned Brady Christensen. Freeland will likely be the second, both being coached under Kalani Sitake.
Rare athlete at the offensive tackle position
Freeland’s path to becoming a dominant offensive lineman will likely be discussed often leading up to April’s NFL draft in Kansas City. In high school, Freeland did not play offensive line. Instead, he was a quarterback, tight end, and all-around athlete at Herriman High School.
Along with football, he played basketball and track & field during his prep career.
Freeland signed with BYU over an offer from Utah as a three-star prospect. He arrived at BYU as a 260-pound prospect and immediately got to work on adding weight to his frame. Now he’s up to 305 pounds.
The 2023 NFL Draft takes place in Kansas City, Missouri, from April 27 to April 29. In addition, BYU will hold a Pro Day in late March.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU moving to the Big 12 Conference on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
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