Justin Blackmon

Justin Blackmon

refer to caption

Blackmon with Oklahoma State in 2011
No. 14 Jacksonville Jaguars
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: (1990-01-09) January 9, 1990
Place of birth: Oceanside, California
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school: Ardmore (OK) Plainview
College: Oklahoma State
NFL draft: 2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
Career history
Roster status: Suspended
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2014
Receptions: 93
Yards: 1,280
Touchdowns: 6
Player stats at NFL.com

Justin Carl Blackmon (born January 9, 1990) is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma State, where he was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Jaguars fifth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.[1][2] After playing a full rookie season with the Jaguars, he was suspended for the first four games of 2013 for violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy. He was suspended indefinitely for another violation in November 2013, and hasn't played a meaningful down for the Jaguars since.[3]

Early years

Blackmon was born in Oceanside, California. He attended Plainview High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma,[4] where he was a four-sport star in football, basketball, baseball and track. In football, he earned SuperPrep All-America honors as a senior after receiving 61 passes for 1,547 yards with 14 touchdowns, rushing for 152 rushing yards with two scores and returning four interceptions for touchdowns, leading his team to a 12-1 mark. In basketball, he was the conference MVP as a junior.[5]

Blackmon also lettered once in track & field. At the 2008 Oklahoma State T&F Championships, he captured the state title in the long jump with a leap of 7.01 meters (22 ft, 10 in), while also placing second in the high jump event, with a leap of 1.98 meters (6 ft, 6 in).[6] After spending the summer working on his 400-meter dash technique, he was challenged by his coach to run under 50 seconds, and he was clocked at 49.2.[7]

Recruiting

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Blackmon was listed as the No. 91 wide receiver prospect in the class of 2008.[8] Colorado and Missouri were among the programs seeking his signature.

College career

Blackmon received an athletic scholarship to attend Oklahoma State University, where he played for coach Mike Gundy's Oklahoma State Cowboys football team from 2008 to 2011. He was redshirted as a true freshman in 2008, but quickly earned a starting position in 2009. He was named the 2010 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the first receiver to earn the honor.[9] He was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver,[10] and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.[11] Blackmon also holds the NCAA records for most consecutive games gaining 100 yards or more and most games gaining 200 yards or more. Statistically, Blackmon caught 111 passes for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns in 12 games during the 2010 season and also added a pair of scores with a 69-yard run and a blocked punt return. This performance earned him the 15th-best season in NCAA history.[12]

Blackmon in 2011

Blackmon finished the 2011 regular season with 121 catches for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. He led the Big 12 in receiving and ranked second nationally in both receptions per game and total receptions. His 15 touchdown catches led the league and represented the third-highest total in the nation. Following his 2010 sophomore season, he was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.[11] Despite the extreme defensive game plans geared specifically at stopping him, he emerged as the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top receiver for the second consecutive season; former Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree is the only other player to win the Biletnikoff Award twice.[13]

Blackmon announced at the 2012 Fiesta Bowl that he would declare for the NFL draft that year. He caught 8 passes for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game.[14] He was also named the 2012 Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP.[15]

Professional career

2012 NFL Draft

Blackmon decided not to participate in any workouts at the NFL Combine, but he managed to erase questions about his long speed at the Oklahoma State Pro Day.[16] He was considered the best wide receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft, and was predicted to go early in the first round.[1][17] He has been compared to Anquan Boldin and Terrell Owens.[18] He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fifth pick in the first round of the draft. Jacksonville traded up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to draft him, exchanging their number seven selection and a fourth round pick for Tampa Bay's spot.[2] Blackmon was the highest selected Oklahoma State Cowboy since Barry Sanders in 1989.

Pre-draft measurables
Ht WtArm lengthHand size 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
6 ft 1 in 207 lb32½ in9¼ in 4.46 s 1.53 s 2.60 s 4.38 s 7.13 s 35 in 10 ft 3 in 14 reps
All values from Oklahoma State Pro Day.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2012–present)

2012

Blackmon was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol by a Payne County sheriff's deputy in Stillwater, Oklahoma on June 3, 2012, and was released later that day.

Blackmon scored his first career touchdown on November 4, 2012 against the Detroit Lions. On November 18, in a game against the Houston Texans, Blackmon had seven receptions for 236 yards. The 236 yards were third-most for an NFL rookie, the most since Jerry Rice as well as the second-most in a game in franchise history, trailing only 291 yards by Jimmy Smith in a September 2000 game at the Baltimore Ravens. Blackmon also combined with Andre Johnson (273 yards on 14 receptions) to have the most receiving yards in a game by two players on different teams.[19][20] Blackmon finished his 2012 season with 64 receptions and 865 yards receiving, both of which led all NFL rookies. Blackmon also led all rookie receivers in first downs. His 81-yard touchdown reception against Houston was the longest pass completion to any rookie.

2013 and suspension

On April 20, 2013, Blackmon received a four-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league's Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.[21] In July, he underwent groin surgery. The Jaguars placed him on the PUP list in which he missed training camp and the start of the preseason. Blackmon returned to the active roster and practiced on August 12, however he missed the first four games of the regular season due to his suspension. In his first game back, he caught 5 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. In his next game, against the Denver Broncos, he recorded 14 catches for 190 yards.[22]

On November 1, during the Jaguars' bye week, he was suspended indefinitely without pay for again violating the NFL's Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.[23] He would have been eligible to apply for reinstatement prior to the 2014 season.

2014

However, on May 2, 2014, Jaguars general manager David Caldwell announced that it was unlikely that Blackmon would join the team for the 2014 season. Blackmon was arrested following a traffic stop on July 23, 2014 in Edmond, Oklahoma for possession of marijuana.[24]

On October 1, 2014, Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said Blackmon had voluntarily checked into a 90-day program at an undisclosed location. He also said Blackmon had completed nearly half of his commitment, was doing very well and learning a lot.[25]

2015

On May 10, 2015, Blackmon was reportedly denied reinstatement by the NFL, effectively ending his 2015 season.[26]

On September 1, 2015 Sportsnet.ca reported that Blackmon was added to the Toronto Argonauts' "confidential" negotiating list in August. In order for him to sign with the Argonauts, Jacksonville must release him from his contract and he must also be reinstated to play by the NFL as the CFL honors all NFL suspensions.

On December 19, 2015, Justin was arrested for DUI in his hometown of Ardmore, Oklahoma.[27]

Career statistics

Season Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
2012 Jacksonville Jaguars 16 14 64 865 13.5 81T 5 2 23 11.5 12 0 1 0
2013 Jacksonville Jaguars 4 4 29 415 14.3 67T 1 1 -1 -1.0 -1 0 -- --
Total 20 18 93 1,280 13.8 81 6 3 22 7.3 12 0 1 0

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "NFL Draft - 2013 WR Draft Prospects". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Jaguars trade up, select Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon with 5th pick in NFL draft". The Washington Post. Associated Press. April 26, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Jags still waiting for Blackmon". Tulsa World. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Tramel, Jimmie (2010-12-23). "OSU's Justin Blackmon: The pride of Plainview". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  5. ↑ http://www.jaguars.com/team/roster/Justin-Blackmon/26bcac0e-e1a6-4a4e-ade0-ef4a53087c30
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ http://www.usatodayhss.com/amfam/article/justin-blackmon-everything-to-prove-high-school
  8. ↑ "Wide receivers 2008". Rivals.com. January 16, 2008.
  9. ↑ Chatmon, Brandon (December 1, 2010). "OSU’s Justin Blackmon makes history as Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year". The Oklahoman.
  10. ↑ Chatmon, Brandon (10 December 2010). "OSU’s Justin Blackmon, Dan Bailey win national awards". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  11. 1 2 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 12 (2011). Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Blackmon Wins Biletnikoff Award". okstate.com. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Blackmon Earns Unanimous All-America Status". okstate.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  14. ↑ NFL.com news: Blackmon: 'Time to go,' apply for entry into 2012 NFL Draft
  15. ↑ Luck who? Blackmon steals the spotlight
  16. ↑ Thomas, Jim (March 10, 2012). "Blackmon impresses in 40-yard dash at pro day". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  17. ↑ Banks, Don (March 23, 2012). "2012 NFL Mock Draft has Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin going in first two picks". SI.com.
  18. ↑ Bunting, Wes (March 10, 2012). "Is Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon now a top 5 pick?". National Football Post.
  19. ↑ "Jaguars, Texans put up big numbers on Sunday". actionnewsjax.com. November 18, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  20. ↑ Kuharsky, Paul (November 18, 2012). "Wrap-up: Texans 43, Jaguars 37 (OT)". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Blackmon suspension "disappointing," Caldwell says". Jaguars.com. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  22. ↑ "Justin Blackmon - Jacksonville Jaguars - 2013 Player Profile". Rotoworld.com. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  23. ↑ "Jaguars' Justin Blackmon suspended, will miss season". NFL.com. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  24. ↑ Wesseling, Chris (July 24, 2014). "Justin Blackmon arrested for marijuana possession". NFL.com. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  25. ↑ http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11624949/jacksonville-jaguars-say-suspended-justin-blackmon-treatment-doing-well
  26. ↑ http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/report-justin-blackmon-denied-reinstatement-by-nfl/ar-BBjyHzc?ocid=iehp
  27. ↑ "Justin Blackmon arrested in Oklahoma, charged with DUI". ESPN. December 21, 2015.

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