Mekhi Blackmon Selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2023 NFL Draft
Mekhi Blackmon’s journey from unranked high school recruit to NFL draft pick is complete as the Minnesota Vikings selected the USC cornerback with the No. 102 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Blackmon was the final pick of the third round.
His journey has been an inspiring one. The two-way high school athlete did not receive a scholarship offer coming out of Menlo-Atherton High School. Blackmon then attended College of San Mateo and received a single scholarship offer, from the Colorado Buffaloes.
He is the first USC cornerback selected since the 2019 draft. Iman Marshall went to the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of that draft. Blackmon is NFL draft pick No. 522 all-time for the USC Trojans. He’s also the highest-drafted USC cornerback since Adoree’ Jackson went in the first round of the 2017 draft.
Blackmon joins wide receiver Jordan Addison is heading to Minnesota. The Vikings used their first-round pick, No. 23 overall, on Addison. The two Trojans represent the only two picks of the first three rounds for the Vikings.
Blackmon in College
Blackmon contributed some at Colorado in his first few years. He recorded 35 tackles, eight pass deflections, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception in his first three years. But he really got going in 2021, when he logged eight starts and finished the season with 41 tackles, an interception, four pass deflections and a fumble recovery. Blackmon earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention for his play that year.
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His play also gave him enough confidence to bet on himself and enter the transfer portal, looking for a bigger and brighter stage than the one a struggling Colorado program offered.
Blackmon landed at USC and immediately stepped into a starting spot at cornerback for the Trojans. He never took his foot off the gas, turning in a stellar 2022 season as one of USC’s best defensive players.
Blackmon finished the season with 66 tackles, three interceptions, 12 pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He earned All-Pac-12 First Team defense honors. And he was one of the nation’s highest-ranked cornerbacks throughout the season according to PFF.
