Redskins: Five standouts from the East-West Shrine Game

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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – JANUARY 19: Tyree Kinnel #32 from Michigan playing on the West Team celebrates after recovering the ball during the second quarter against the East Team at the 2019 East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field on January 19, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

No. 5 – LB B.J. Blunt – McNeese State

Other Standouts at LB: Ulysses Gilbert – Akron

Depending on how the situation with Reuben Foster ends up, and depending on how much development Shaun Dion Hamilton undergoes in the offseason, the Redskins’ pressing need at inside linebacker could soon become little more than a need for depth.

If this happens, the Redskins could be in the market for a player like B.J. Blunt. Blunt, in his final season with the McNeese State Cowboys, was a stat machine, logging 102 total tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, six pass deflections, and a blocked kick.

Blunt has a nose for the plays to make, and he also has an air of confidence. Blunt talked all week at the Shrine practices, and on Saturday, he backed up his talk with stellar play.

At 6-foot-1, 220, Blunt is a bit undersized for an NFL linebacker, as he made a position switch from safety. But his size wasn’t a problem yesterday. Rather, his speed, and his tenacity, was a problem for the opposing offense. Already possessing a hybrid linebacker with solid length in Josh Harvey-Clemons, the Redskins could do well to add an energetic reserve. Blunt stood out on Saturday, and with a chance, he could do the same on Sundays.

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