Al Blades
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | March 19, 1977 |
| Died: | March 20, 2003 (aged 26) Miami, Florida |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: | Miami (FL) |
| Position: | Safety |
| Undrafted: | 2001 |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Alphonso "Al" Blades (c. March 1977 – March 20, 2003) was a standout safety who went to the University of Miami.[1][2][3][4][5] He was selected as a first-team All-Big East player at Miami.[6] He spent two years with the San Francisco 49ers.[7][8] In March 2003, he was the passenger of former Plantation High School teammate Martel Johnson who was driving Blades' 1999 Mazda Millenia when it hit another car. Both died in the crash.[9][10]
Personal
Al is the late younger brother of former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Brian Blades and former Detroit Lions safety Bennie Blades, and late uncle of H. B. Blades, who played 4 seasons for the Washington Redskins in the NFL as well. His son, Alphonso Blades II (Al Blades Jr.) is currently playing high school football at Fort Lauderdale-University as a defensive back. The younger Blades verbally committed to play with the Hurricanes in 2015.[11]
References
- ^ Blades Family Legacy Grows: Al Blades, the Younger Brother of Bennie and Brian, Has Made a Name for Himself at Miami, Orlando Sentinel, Jan 1, 2001.
- ^ Uncle drives Blades’ NFL dream, USA Today, March 2007.
- ^ Al Blades, A Free Spirit, Miami Herald, 2003.
- ^ Blades Finds a Savior in Football, Miami Herald, September 15, 1995.
- ^ Kinship With ‘Canes Al Blades Makes His Way in Brothers’ Shadows, Palm Beach Post, December 1998.
- ^ Sports Lauderdale.
- ^ Former Cane Safety Al Blades Killed in Crash, Lakeland Ledger, 2003.
- ^ Blades of a Feather, Miami Herald, February 8, 1996.
- ^ Plantation Honors Al Blades, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 2003.
- ^ Former Miami, 49ers safety killed in car accident, ESPN, March 21, 2003.
- ^ http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/02/22/son-of-al-blades-commits-to-miami-hurricanes/