Jerry Rice, Walter Payton and the 30 best HBCU football players of all time
By Dante Pryor
8. Mel Blount, cornerback, Southern University
One often overlooked aspect of the “Steel Curtain” defense is the secondary. Known for their hard-hitting physical style, the Steeler defense was one of the most athletic defenses of their era. It seemed as if everyone on the Steelers’ defense could run.
The secondary, led by Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount, was such a player. Any time you have a rule named after you that is a guaranteed place in history or any player. “The Mel Blount” rule was put in place to allow receivers release after five yards.
The rule was enacted because teams could not throw against Blount and the Steelers secondary.
After an All-American career at Southern, Blount was a third-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bill Nunn, Jr. was the catalyst behind Blount coming to Pittsburgh.
The Georgia native was a rare combination of size and speed, large enough to play safety, fast enough to play corner.
Though Blount is often remembered as a hard hitter, he had phenomenal ball skills. Blount ended his career with 57 interceptions and had one every season of his 14-year career, leading the league in 1975 with 11 interceptions.
Blount was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.