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Akil Blount aims to be his own man. Although, this goal isn't as simple as it sounds when you're the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount.
For most kids, the chance to play in the
NFL isn't simply their dream; it's also their father's. Most fathers aspire to see their sons achieve more than they did.
This perspective drastically changes when your father was named to the Pro Bowl five times, received All-Pro honors six times, won four Super Bowls, revolutionized the way the game is played and became enshrined in the Hall of Fame years before you were even born.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers CB Mel Blount
For Akil Blount, Mel Blount is simply "dad," and the linebacker is concentrating on his opportunity to make an impact in the NFL.
The younger Blount played at Florida A&M and signed with the
Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent after this year's NFL draft. A year ago, three undrafted linebackers—Zach Vigil, Mike Hull and Neville Hewitt—made the roster. But a new staff is in place under first-year head coach Adam Gase. Any time a new staff takes over a team, this provides every player on the roster with a second chance or an opportunity to make a good first impression.
Akil Blount is ready to move beyond the questions about his father, work hard to make a good first impression and become a valuable member of the Dolphins roster with a good training camp.