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Fresno State DB DaRon Bland

As we work our way through the official 30 visit list there were a couple of names that stood out. DaRon Bland, the corner out of Fresno State was not a name I have heard mentioned in draft circles often. If the Cowboys are doing their homework on him, so should we. Frankly, after watching his film I’m left with more questions than I was left with answers. Bland was a two-way player in high school and was named second team all-state medium school by Cal-Hi Sports as a senior. After high school he enrolled at Sacramento State before transferring to Fresno State in 2021, exercising his extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19.

It’s tough to say his career took off at Fresno State, but he certainly garnished more attention than he was doing at Sacramento State. Bland would play in all 13 games for Fresno State, starting the last nine. He ended the season with an invite to the Tropic Bowl for a chance to showcase his talents for NFL teams. Do the Cowboys view him as a corner at the next level? Or is he a candidate for a position change? Let’s dive into the film to find out.

Measurables and Stats

Listed Height: 6-foot

Listed Weight: 200 pounds

Jersey Number: 1

Tackles (2021): 34 solo tackles, 45 total tackles

Impact Plays (2021): 1 tackle for loss, 2 interceptions, 5 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble

Film Study Information:

Games Watched: Oregon (2021), UCLA (2021), Nevada (2021), Boise State (2021)

Best Game: Boise State (2021)

Worst Game: Oregon (2021)

Physical Skills Evaluation:

Pro Day: Bland ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at his pro day, had a 35 1/2-inch vertical and measured in with 35-inch arms and nine-inch hands. His three-cone was 7.26 and his short shuttle time was 4.15.

Long speed: Ran a 10.73 40-yard dash in high school. Has the speed to keep up with the shiftier players. Once his hips are opened up he is generally running step…

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