A high-motor run stuffer who capped his college career on Miami's line during the Hurricanes' run to the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
David Blay Jr. bounced from West Chester to Louisiana Tech before landing at Miami for a final college season that ended on the sport's biggest stage. The undersized but disruptive defensive tackle signed with New England as an undrafted free agent after helping anchor a Hurricanes defensive front that reached the national title game.
Path to the league
Blay Jr. began his college career at West Chester, recording 39 tackles, including 13 for loss, and five sacks. He transferred to Louisiana Tech for 2023 and 2024, improving from 16 tackles in his first season to 46 tackles with 10.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks as a 2024 First Team All-Conference USA selection, before transferring again to Miami for his final season in 2025.
Career highlights
Blay Jr.'s breakout 2024 season at Louisiana Tech, which included All-Conference USA honors, established him as a disruptive interior presence despite being undersized for the position at 6-foot-2 and 292 pounds. Scouts praised him as a high-motor run stuffer with the quickness to collapse the pocket from the interior.
2025 season recap
In his lone season at Miami in 2025, Blay Jr. played in all 13 games and recorded 28 tackles while earning All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition. He was part of a Miami defense that helped carry the Hurricanes to a 13-3 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, a 27-21 loss to Indiana on January 19, 2026. He went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent.
Sources
- Wikipedia: David Blay Jr.
- ESPN: David Blay Jr.
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Miami
- Hometown
- Levittown, PA, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
