An NFL scout has identified Auburn defensive lineman Angelo Blackson as a breakout prospect on a national scale, and among a group of burgeoning defensive pro prospects at Auburn that are more impressive than those at Alabama.
"They better watch out," the scout said, according to si.com, "because Auburn is coming."
The scout has visited both schools recently. Blackson has made just three tackles in two games this season without a sack or a tackle for loss, but has been credited with two quarterback hurries, both against San Jose State. Not exactly a breakout year on the stat line, but then again, defensive tackles aren't easily judged on a statistical basis. They can be dominant without necessarily piling up a lot of tackles, particularly if taking on double teams.
As well, NFL scouts can evaluate college prospects on any day of the week, not just on Saturdays. They frequently attend practices, as well, and this particular scout could be basing his expectations of Blackson on practice observations. If that's the case, Blackson could potentially be a significantly more productive piece of Auburn's 46th-ranked defense. The 6-foot-4, 306-pound defensive tackle made just four starts as a junior last year.
Auburn will be on a nationally-televised stage on Thursday night at Kansas State.
There's not another Thursday-night game on the FBS schedule this week, so if Blackson wants a chance to validate his secret admirer's evaluation, Thursday will be an ideal opportunity.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter *@ChaseGoodbread.*