Justin Blackmon's Collegiate Career: A Legacy Forged at Oklahoma State
Justin Carl Blackmon, born on January 9, 1990, is an American former professional football player whose college career at Oklahoma State University cemented him as one of the most prolific wide receivers in college football history. This article delves into Blackmon's remarkable achievements with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, highlighting his record-breaking performances and the impact he had on the program.
Early Years and High School Career
Before his stellar college career, Blackmon honed his athletic abilities at Plainview High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma. A four-sport star, he excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In football, he earned SuperPrep All-America honors as a senior, recording 61 receptions for 1,547 yards with 14 touchdowns, rushing for 152 yards with two scores, and returning four interceptions for touchdowns. He led his team to a 12-1 record and 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). 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.
Arrival at Oklahoma State and Redshirt Season
Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, 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.
Breakout Seasons: 2010 and 2011
Blackmon quickly earned a starting position in 2009 but it was the 2010 and 2011 seasons that truly defined his college career. In 2010, he became the first receiver in conference history to be named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. Blackmon also holds the NCAA record for most consecutive games gaining 100 yards or more and most games gaining 200 yards or more.
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. 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.
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Statistical Dominance
Justin Blackmon became one of the most dominant receivers in college football history, twice garnering unanimous First Team All-American laurels during his time in Stillwater. Only the second player in history to twice win the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver, Blackmon was the back-to-back recipient in 2010 and 2011. Blackmon holds the NCAA record with 14-straight games with at least 100 receiving yards and 14-straight games with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. He turned in the sixth-best receiving season in NCAA history with 1,782 yards on 111 receptions with 20 touchdowns in 2010. His 20 touchdown receptions in 2010 ranked seventh-most in NCAA history and his 1,782 receiving yards set an NCAA record for a sophomore. He became the first receiver in conference history to be named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, claiming the honor in 2010. A two-time First Team All-Big 12 performer, he ranks third in Big 12 single-season annals with 122 receptions (2011), 1,782 receiving yards (2010) and 20 receiving touchdowns (2010). He led the league in receiving (148.5 ypg), scoring touchdowns (11 ppg) and all-purpose yards (155.5 ypg) in 2010, and in 2011, he led the Big 12 with 9.4 receptions per game. He holds multiple spots in the Pokes' record books, boasting the single-season records- for receptions (122 in 2011), receiving yards (1,782 in 2010) and receiving touchdowns (20 in 2010). His OSU career totals include 253 receptions for 3,564 receiving yards and 42 touchdowns.
Impact on Oklahoma State's Success
Oklahoma State went 32-7 during Blackmon's time in Stillwater. The 2011 campaign produced one of the most successful seasons in school history with the Pokes' first-ever Big 12 title and first outright conference title since 1948. The team finished with a 12-1 record and a final No. 3 AP ranking after a 41-38 victory in the Fiesta Bowl over Stanford. At the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, Blackmon caught 8 passes for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns and was named the game's offensive MVP after catching eight passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. In 2010, OSU went 11-2, finishing as Big 12 South Co-Champions and marking the school's first 11-win season. They beat Arizona, 36-10, in the Alamo Bowl, finishing No. 13 in the AP Poll.
College Statistics
| Year | Class | Games | Receptions | Yards | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Freshman | Redshirted | - | - | - | - |
| 2009 | Freshman | 13 | 107 | 1165 | 10.9 | 14 |
| 2010 | Sophomore | 13 | 111 | 1782 | 16.1 | 20 |
| 2011 | Junior | 13 | 122 | 1522 | 12.5 | 18 |
| Totals | 39 | 340 | 4469 | 13.1 | 52 |
NFL Career and Subsequent Challenges
Selected fifth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, Blackmon played two seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars and was named to the 2012 NFL All-Rookie Team. 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, (currently the fourth-most), the most since Jerry Rice had 241 in his rookie season of 1985, 27 years previously; as well as the second-most in a game in Jaguars franchise history, trailing only 291 yards by Jimmy Smith in a September 2000 game at the Baltimore Ravens. Blackmon combined with Andre Johnson (273 yards on 14 receptions) to have the most receiving yards in a game by two players on different teams. 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.
However, his professional career was cut short due to off-field issues. On June 3, 2012, Blackmon was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol in Stillwater, Oklahoma and was released from custody later that day. On April 20, 2013, Blackmon received a four-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy. In July, he underwent groin surgery. The Jaguars placed him on the physically unable to perform (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. On May 2, 2014, Jaguars general manager David Caldwell announced that it was unlikely that Blackmon would join the team for the 2014 season. On December 19, 2015, Blackmon was arrested for DUI in his hometown of Ardmore, Oklahoma. He pleaded guilty to DUI, and in August 2016 was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended pending the completion of one year of probation. He was also fined $1,000 and ordered to undergo 100 hours of community service. If he ever decided to play again, he would have to go through a two-month vetting process after applying for reinstatement.
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