Top Ten Players of The Mike Price Era: #8 Antwon Blake

One of the best cover corners of the Mike Price era is number eight in our countdown, Pittsburgh Steelers special teams ace Antwon Blake.

Blake played for the Miners from 2008-2011, in his career he amassed 137 tackles, 19 pass breakups, was THE gunner on special teams, and no disrespect to Drew Thomas but he also was the best press corner UTEP has had in my modern era of watching games.

His best statistical season was his junior year in 2010 where he racked up 60 tackles, a fumble recovery, forced two fumbles, and broke up ten passes while starting every game in helping notch UTEP's last bowl appearance.

During Blake's senior year, he again led the team in pass break ups with seven, blocked two kicks, and had five or more tackles in four games, also adding in an interception.

His elite 4.3, 4.4 speed turned literally heads in his UTEP pro day, prompting his birthplace franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars to ink him in a reported three year rookie free agent deal.

In one season with the Jaguars in which Blake saw mostly special teams time early on, then saw time as a corner late in the year, Blake recorded 10 solo tackles, and also recovered a fumble.

He was released by the Jaguars at the end of 2013 training camp, but was claimed by the Steelers the next day who in turn would eventually give Blake the opportunity to be a specials teams star once he got his feet wet in their system.

After claiming Blake off waivers in week one of the 2013 season, the Steelers eased him in as a gunner and once he was put full time on special teams, Blake has never took a step back.

Not only has Blake etched himself as a top up and coming NFL special teams player, reports from Steelers camp over the past couple of weeks say Blake is making headway into the Steelers plans as a corner back as well.

The upcoming pre-season is a huge step for Antwon to leap his NFL career to another level, his Madden speed rating is another reason why he is number eight on the Top Ten Players of The Mike Price era countdown.

Mike Price Era Top Ten Honorable Mention:

Joe Banyard-RB

Trevor Vittatoe-QB

Kris Adams-WR

Robby Felix-OL

Joe Fleskoski-DB

Cornelius Brown-DB