Will Blackmon
Encyclopedia
William Edwards Blackmon (born October 27, 1984 in Providence, Rhode Island
) is an American football
Return specialist
/ Defensive Back
who is currently a member of the New York Giants in the National Football League
. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft
(115th pick overall) by the Green Bay Packers
. He played college football
for the Boston College Eagles
.
Blackmon has had injury trouble, having suffered two breaks of his left foot which kept him sidelined for much of the past two years.
In the first game of his 2008 season with the Packers, Blackmon returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. He was later named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for games played Sept 4-8.
In week 10 of the 2008 NFL season, against the Minnesota Vikings once again, Blackmon recorded another returned punt for 65 yards.
In the Packers game .vs. the Raiders in the 2007 season he recorded a punt return of 57 yards and after crossing the touchdown line, he threw himself to the fans, the touchdown helping the Packers to win a 38-7 against the Raiders. He was released on an injury settlement from the Packers during 2010 roster cut downs.
Blackmon signed with the New York Giants
on October 29, 2010. After being placed on Injured Reserve, the Giants waived Blackmon on January 2, 2011.Then on November 23 2011 after the Giants secondary got depleted with injuries the latest being CB Michael Coe after a shoulder injury in the week 11 Giants-Eagles game, they again Signed Blackmon.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
Return specialist
Return specialist
A Return Specialist is a player on American football or Canadian football special teams who specializes in returning punts and kickoff returns. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most play other positions as well. The special teams counterpart of a return specialist is a...
/ Defensive Back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
who is currently a member of the New York Giants in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
(115th pick overall) by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Boston College Eagles
Boston College Eagles
The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams representing Boston College. They compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Hockey East. The women's crew team competes in the Eastern Association of Women's Rowing...
.
2002
- One of four true freshmen to earn playing time
- Recorded 29 tackles playing as a DB
- Saw significant action on special teams as a kick returner
2003
- Recorded 64 tackles, 10 passes defensed, and 4 interceptions as a DB
- Earned Big East Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a game against the University of ConnecticutUniversity of ConnecticutThe admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
2004
- Recorded 46 tackles, 1 pass defensed, and three interceptions as a DB
- Amassed over 1000 return yards on special teams
- Earned All-Big East Second Team honors
2005
- Moved his primary position from DB to WR
- Led team with 51 receptions for 763 yards
- Earned preseason second-team All-America honors
- Selected to participate in the Senior BowlSenior BowlThe Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
- 119 yards shy of being DI-A all time kickoff returner
Professional career
Blackmon had a 57 yard punt-return touchdown and a fumble-return touchdown as the Packers wrapped up the NFC North title with a 38-7 win on December 10, 2007 over Oakland. They were the first and second touchdowns of his career. He became just the fourth player in NFL history to accomplish the feat of a kick and fumble return in the same game, and the first since 1974. In 9 games, he recorded 4 solo tackles and a pass deflected.Blackmon has had injury trouble, having suffered two breaks of his left foot which kept him sidelined for much of the past two years.
In the first game of his 2008 season with the Packers, Blackmon returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. He was later named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for games played Sept 4-8.
In week 10 of the 2008 NFL season, against the Minnesota Vikings once again, Blackmon recorded another returned punt for 65 yards.
In the Packers game .vs. the Raiders in the 2007 season he recorded a punt return of 57 yards and after crossing the touchdown line, he threw himself to the fans, the touchdown helping the Packers to win a 38-7 against the Raiders. He was released on an injury settlement from the Packers during 2010 roster cut downs.
Blackmon signed with the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 29, 2010. After being placed on Injured Reserve, the Giants waived Blackmon on January 2, 2011.Then on November 23 2011 after the Giants secondary got depleted with injuries the latest being CB Michael Coe after a shoulder injury in the week 11 Giants-Eagles game, they again Signed Blackmon.