If the Steelers were to base their draft plans on genetic bloodlines alone, one prospect stands head and shoulders above the rest: linebacker Akil Blount from Florida A&M. He is the son of former Steelers Hall of Famer and NFL rule changer, cornerback Mel Blount.

Blount has not used his father’s name in any way to enhance his credentials, which in part has kept him off our radar. With only a few weeks until the NFL Draft, we have been searching far and wide for sleeper candidates, when we came across this player. Blount is not an uncommon name, after all, but as we looked closely, the family connection was spotted, buried at the bottom of his college biography page.

Understandably, Blount grew up a Steelers fan and attended Linsly High School near Pittsburgh. It seems he initially had dreams of playing basketball at the next level, but by the end of high school realized his future was in football, something he spoke to Dale Lolley from the Observer Reporter about recently:

“Coming out of high school at Linsly, I thought my future would be in basketball,” said Blount, who averaged 24 points per game in his senior season at Linsly. “I had a great senior year. We went undefeated, and I was the player of the year. But the offers just weren’t there. Florida A&M had offered me for football and so I took that offer.”

By virtue of having attended a relatively small school, in football terms, Blount was off the radar of many teams too, until his Pro Day a few weeks ago.

Blount posted some eye-catching numbers including a 4.6 40-yard dash and 31 reps on the bench press, as well as running both linebacker and defensive back drills.

When he spoke with Jordan Culver of the Tallahassee Democrat he was happy with his performance, and so it seems were a number of NFL teams:

“I can feel good going into the draft knowing I put up good numbers,” he said. “I’ll be able to rest at night. I put my best foot forward, especially with all of the work I put in every day now that I graduated. It’s just workout, workout, workout, every day. I’m happy with what I did.”

Culver also noted

“Blount, who added some noticeable muscle mass in preparation for Pro Day, participated in workouts and drills for nearly two hours Tuesday afternoon while FAMU’s coaches and a large crowd of supporters looked on.”

Florida A&M has not had a player drafted by the NFL since 2013 when linebacker Brandon Hepburn was selected by the Detroit Lions. Although his college team was not successful on the field, Blount has come a long way as a player and has made significant strides in the weight room thanks to a dedicated work ethic. Something which should be no surprise given his father’s renowned dedication to his craft.

To make the Pittsburgh connections even more enticing, his head coach at Florida A&M (FAMU), for a time, was former Steelers linebacker Earl Holmes, a man who certainly knows a thing or two about excelling at the professional level and was himself also a graduate of FAMU.

“What makes him special is the kid is smart,” said Holmes to the Tallahassee Democrat. “He is quiet until he puts the shoulder pads on. He’s a leader and he’s the type of player you want.”

Blount was a third-team All-MEAC selection for the 2015 season and led the defense with 75 tackles. He also had two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns, and was invited to play in the 2016 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

At 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, Blount has the size to play inside linebacker but the flexibility in coverage could make him an every down player, something he was trying to highlight at his Pro Day.

“I know he’s been working out, obviously,” FAMU coach Alex Wood said. “He’s always had that work ethic in terms of maintaining great physical condition when he was here. He’s a weight room guy. I’m sure he’s in great shape and ready to roll.”

Blount understands there is a slim chance he will get drafted, and if he does, he would have to make his mark on special teams.

“At FAMU, you’ve got to work for everything you get,” he said. “You really got to do it yourself, sometimes. I’m glad I went to FAMU. I feel like I’m different from players at bigger schools because work ethic – especially at a small HBCU – is something that really separates us from players at bigger schools.

When it comes to his famous father, Blount seems keen to downplay the obvious hype associated with the connection, as he told Lolley: “Regardless of what he did, I can’t live off of that,” Blount said. “I’ve always embraced what my dad has done, but at the same time, I’ve got to make my own way.

“I just would be thankful for the chance to play for any one of the 32 teams. I know the questions will come about my dad, but I’ve got to make my own way.”

Having lost a couple of options at middle linebacker to free agency, the Steelers could be on the lookout for a late-round option at the position. Regardless of the family name, Blount could be the sort of player to really help the team. If he even has a fraction of his father’s talent, his selection on draft day or a signing as a free agent with the Steelers needs to happen.