A D-II-to-ACC climber who earned rotational snaps on a Miami defense that reached the national championship game, Blay is a physical, technically sound interior defender whose best football may still be ahead of him. His calling card is run defense — he showed the ability to control the point of attack and absorb double teams at the Shrine Bowl — but his pass-rush upside is raw and unrefined despite flashes at Louisiana Tech. At 6-4, 303, he has NFL size at defensive tackle, and his willingness to compete at the Shrine Bowl just four days after the title game speaks to a relentless competitor. The floor is a training camp body who doesn't make it; the ceiling is a rotational nose tackle who sticks on a 53-man roster through effort, size, and run-stopping ability.
- Excellent size (6-4, 303) for an interior defensive lineman with good natural leverage
- Demonstrated ability to control the point of attack and hold ground against double teams at Shrine Bowl
- Strong run defense grades from PFF across multiple seasons (76.9 at Louisiana Tech, 77.3 in spot checks at Miami)
- Exceptional competitor and worker — competed at Shrine Bowl four days after the national championship game
- Ascending trajectory through three levels of college football (D-II → C-USA → ACC/CFP) shows adaptability and growth
- Pass-rush production collapsed at Miami — zero sacks in 2025 after 6.5 at Louisiana Tech, with a 64.7 PFF pass-rush grade in 2024
- Limited to a rotational role at Miami (412 snaps across 16 games including playoffs) despite being a senior transfer
- Lack of any Tier 1 or Tier 2 analyst coverage suggests he is not viewed as a meaningful NFL prospect by the mainstream scouting community
- Competition level of previous production is a significant concern — breakout year came in C-USA, and output dropped sharply against ACC competition
Similar profile as an undersized defensive tackle who played his way up from a lower level of competition, relied on size and effort in the run game, and projected as a late-round or UDFA depth piece. Dial stuck around as a rotational lineman through effort and run-stopping ability without ever developing consistent pass-rush value.