The Cardinal Countdown: 13 Days Until Kickoff

#13 PJ Blue

Class: RS Junior

Ht/Wt: 6-3/229

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Jemison, AL

Twitter: @Ocho_Blu8

Thoughts: My excitement about PJ Blue has unfortunately taken a small step down year over year since he arrived on campus. Some of it has been within his control but some of it is well outside of it.

After taking a redshirt his first year (which I loved) Blue unfortunately tore his ACL the following year (which I did not love) and saw no action. Heading into 2018 I was still high on Blue but knew that the injury would limit him some and he was going to be stuck behind some talented guys on the outside. While still seeing time last year (eleven games) Blue wasn’t blowing me away with his performance and was doubling down with some poor discipline plays as well (including 2 personal fouls on the same play at one point). He didn’t owe me anything, but last year I went out on a limb and singled him out as one of the guys I was rooting real hard for heading into the season, thinking he still had the juice to impress. Blue finished the year with 39 tackles, 3 of them for loss, but in my opinion he has so much more to offer.

Heading into 2019 I still believe that Blue has the capability to not only contribute, but be a solid piece of this unit. There are multiple guys on the outside that can play, and play very well, but with a clean slate Coach Brown and Coach Dennison can hopefully see the potential that PJ has and what he offers that is slightly different than Whitlow, Okeke, Abdullah, etc. I still got a special spot for PJ and subconsciously I guess I’ve projected that onto my daughter as well....

Best of luck to Blue this year, I hope the next couple seasons he turns it up to eleven, regains his confidence, and takes that next step.

Sweet Tweet:

I’ve seen multiple tweets about this. Grey uniforms are happening folks. Prepare yourselves.

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#13 Christian Perez

Class: Freshman

Ht/Wt: 6-1/2175

Position: Quarterback

Hometown: Smyrna, TN

Twitter: @Yaboychristian1

Thoughts: Mr. Perez comes to the Cards as a walk-on via Naval Academy Prep. Christian was a Navy commit out of East St. Louis high school and spent a year at the Academy before determining that some “personal reasons” required him to get back closer to home.

Out of high school Perez was a Top 100 dual threat QB who dropped over 1,700 passing yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior. Equally as important his ball security was on point, only giving up a single interception the whole year. Take a peek at Christian back as a senior in 2017. He shows some good vision, and flashes some of his elusiveness, but what impressed me the most was his touch on the deep ball. More than a handful of times he dropped a ball into a spot where only his guy could get it or in a spot that didn’t require his wide out to alter his route.

Pulling the young man into the QB room was important back in May when he committed to joining the team but it became even more important with Cunningham suffering an injury a couple weeks back. Having another dual threat option to take reps is key in development and for scout team purposes this year. Perez will be a solid asset in both areas.

Sweet Tweet:

[steps in the booth]...”turn up my snare...yeah...yeah...”