Blanding Named Scout.com National Freshman Defensive Player of the Year

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Dec. 13, 2014

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia football player Quin Blanding was named Scout.com’s National Defensive Rookie of the Year. The free safety was also named a Scout.com freshman All-American.

Blanding (Fr., Virginia Beach, Va.) finished the regular season No. 2 in the ACC and No. 12 in the nation with 123 tackles. He finished his rookie campaign tied with Jamie Sharper (1996) for No. 10 in the UVa record book for tackles in a season and the 123 stops is the most tackles by a Cavalier in a season since Angelo Crowell had 155 in 2002. Blanding is one of two freshmen in the nation to lead his team in tackles (NC State’s Jerod Fernandez, 76) and he also led UVa with 79 tackles on rushing plays for the nation’s No. 21 rush defense (120.7 per game).

Blanding has also been named a True Freshman All-American by 247Sports.