Florida three-star 2024 TE Benjamin Blackburn updates three ACC visits
Holding 33 offers, there may still be more around the bend for 2024 tight end Benjamin Blackburn (6-6, 230). The Columbus (Miami) three-star prospect is highly coveted and has been making the rounds this spring to find his next level fit. Three ACC teams have hosted him this week five stops slated for next week. Behind the scenes, there is a list of schools that could jump on the scholarship offering list soon.
Blackburn ran down his spring trips.
“I was at Pitt today, Boston College yesterday, and Virginia on Monday,” Blackburn said. “This spring I have been to Rutgers, FSU, Florida, UCF, and I try to get to Miami as much as possible; they are in my backyard. I have also been to FAU and Louisville.”
The three ACC visits this week were detailed.
Virginia: “I really liked it. I felt like the coaches showed a lot of love. It was great talking to coach (Tony) Elliot and coach (Des) Kitchens (TE). I love their facilities. I got to see them practice and I got to see the campus. They have new facilities being built, if I were to go there, they would be finished by the time I got there. I really enjoyed my visit.”
Boston College: “Boston College was great too. I was fortunate to see them practice. Coach (Jeff) Hafley and coach Chud (Rob Chudzinski – OD) showed love. I got to interact with the players, saw the culture, the hard work, and the toughness that is Boston College. I love the Boston area. I had a great time with my family.”
Pitt: “That was great too. I talked to coach Pat Narduzzi and coach (Tim) Salem (TE). We talked, went over film, and they showed me around the campus. I really liked what I saw. My parents were impressed. They share facilities with Steelers, everything is state of the art. It is amazing.”
The next week will be even busier for Blackburn and his family.
“I am going to be at West Virginia on Friday,” Blackburn said. “Next week I’m at Duke on Tuesday, UNC Chapel Hill on Wednesday, Georgia Tech on Thursday, and then Vanderbilt on Friday.”
Blackburn shared why he’s hyped to spend time with the Blue Devils.
“I am really excited to head up there with my family, my aunt will be there too,” Blackburn stated. “I am honored to be recognized by such a prestigious school. Coach (Mike) Elko is building something special at Duke. That is somewhere I could see a fit as a potential player.”
The Yellow Jackets could also be a contender as a next level fit.
“I have been to Atlanta a couple of times; I love the area and the weather, and Georgia in general,” Blackburn said. “Coach (Buster) Faulkner (TE) is a great coach. I know he would help me develop as a player and as a man. Georgia Tech also has great academics. I am excited to see what they have to offer. They have great academics, I could see myself there in the future.”
Blackburn has not scheduled any official visit yet but has a plan for putting together that list.
“After these visits, I will narrow down the list to see which schools are good fits for me,” Blackburn shared. “After that, I will schedule two or three officials from the schools I have visited. I will probably leave two open just in case, and I will take it from there.”
Blackburn listed the program in regular contact, “I’d say the teams reaching out the most are Rutgers, Pitt, Boston College, Duke, and probably Virginia.”
The list of interested teams is growing, “There are a couple. To name a few, Florida, Florida State, Miami – some of the big Florida schools. UNC Chapel Hill and Penn State are a couple out of state schools that are showing interest but haven’t offered yet.”