We’ve had some success over the years with former players heading off to play college football but for the first time a former player has reached the NFL.
Blake Muir has decided on an offer with the San Francisco 49ers and will head there for off season training before returning home to Australia in a few weeks. He will be team mates with fellow Australian and former Rugby League star Jarryd Hayne.
Blake played for the Sutherland Seahawks Colts and then Senior team in 2009, leading both teams in sacks and forced fumbles, playing defensive line, tight end and offensive line.
He joined the University of Hawai’i Warriors in January 2011 and redshirted as an offensive tackle. In 2012 he set testing records for the OL in the Clean, shuttle and vertical leap then started all 12 games at Left Tackle. A new coaching staff had taken over in Hawai’i and Blake felt that his football career would be better off elsewhere, a good decision given the 10-37 record the program had from 2012-2015.
Blake was able to find a new home at Baylor University in Texas, part of the Big 12 Conference. The school had turned around 2 decades of poor performances into a new era of success with new Head Coach Art Briles. Blake would be joined by his brother Sean at the school and the two of them were able to spend the last 3 years together going to school, training and playing.
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| With room mates in Texas. |
| Bringing back some Baylor gear for the Sutherland Seahawks Junior players. |
| Running out at the new home stadium. |
Blake was present for two Big 12 Conference Championships, 3 Bowl Games, a win in the Russell Athletic Bowl at the end of the 2015 season and the highest ever rankings for the program. His 37 career starts in 37 eligible games set him up as a genuine prospect for the NFL in 2016.
Blake’s Pro Day results were excellent, having the best performance in the broad jump at his position and several other top 10 results.
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| As captain for the 2015 Texas Tech game. |
There are numerous people to thank.
Coach Gordon Shaw was the only coach to offer a scholarship in the beginning as the OL coach at Hawai’i from 2009-2011 and Blake’s first OL Coach.
Paul Manera at Bring It On Sports who was integral in introducing connections for Blake to explore when he decided to transfer to a new school and help his brother Sean to join him at Baylor.
Coach Randy Clements and Coach Art Briles at Baylor who really wanted Blake as a prospect and coached him his final 3 years.
Shire Speed and Strength has been the home of training and development of players at the club since 2009. Contact Coach Pete to find out how you can learn skills for general preparation training in the weight room, sprinting, agility and jump development.
It has been to the club’s benefit that Blake has gone on to bigger and better things. He is a great example of what student athletics is all about, adding to his football successful with numerous conference academic awards and Dean’s lists at Baylor.
As always you can follow Blake and Sean’s diary page here, and pay attention to the club Facebook page for more information when it comes.
Peter Upham
President
Sutherland Seahawks
coachupham@shirespeedandstrength.com.au