Todd Blythe, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect
 | Wide Receiver 6' 4" 212 Lbs. Speed: NA Senior Iowa State  |
In the spring of 2006, Iowa State’s talented wide receiver Todd Blythe looked like one of the top receivers in the country and a candidate to enter the 2007 NFL Draft as a junior. However, an illness plagued junior season resulted in a drastic fall off in production. His yardage went from 1000 yards as a sophomore to just 484 as a junior.
Blythe suffered from a nasty virus in 2006 (junior season) and missed three games. Despite his illness, he still managed 8 touchdowns, which is a testament to his big play ability.
This year (2007) Blythe is a dark horse candidate to emerge as one of the top receivers in the nation. He is healthy again, and will have a talented, experienced senior quarterback throwing him the ball. Quarterback Brett Myer, yardage wise (7,979 yards), is one of the countries top returning signal callers.
As a sophomore in 2005, Big 12 coaches voted him first-team all-conference. Blythe finished first in the Big 12 and second nationally, averaging 19.61 yards per catch. His 83.3 receiving yards per game ranked him second in the Big 12. He also broke the school record with 18 TD receptions in just 24 games and his 1,833 career receiving yards ranked him fourth in ISU history.
As a redshirt freshman in 2004 Blythe quickly emerged as one of the elite scoring threats in the Big 12 Conference. He set a school record with nine touchdown receptions and led the team in receiving yards, average per catch and touchdowns, which broke a number of school freshman and all-time single-season records. Blythe redshirted his initial collegiate season in 2003.
In high school he had 150 catches for 2,222 yards and 25 touchdowns in three years. He played both ways, and as a defensive back recorded 13 career interceptions and was named Class 4A Player of the Year by the Iowa Coaches Association, elite all-state, first-team Class 4A all-state, elite all-conference and first-team all-conference at wide receiver. He was also a track stud, a four-time participant at the prestigious Drake Relays and the Iowa Boys’ State Track Meet, finishing fifth in the 400 and 200 meters as a senior. Blythe is a smart kid with a good family background; he was an academic all-conference in football, basketball and track, and National Honor Society member. His dad Jim was a catcher on
Blythe has prototype NFL size at 6’ 4” 212 pounds; while he doesn’t have blazing speed, he is a great leaper as evidenced by his 26 career touchdowns going into his senior season. Right now he is looking like a mid-round sleeper, but with a strong senior season could emerge as a 2nd or 3rd round prospect in the 2008 NFL Draft. He reminds me of Notre Dames Jeff Samardzija.