Justin Blackmon is a front-runner for the college football top wide receiver award (the Biletnikoff). The junior playing for the Oklahoma State Cowboys is also the top WR in this NFL Draft class. He’ll definitely come out this year, as he seems to be a top 5 pick this April.
In the scouts’ eyes, Blackmon is rated ahead of South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery currently. Blackmon’s size and agility make him able to stretch out and corral any balls thrown anywhere near his vicinity.
Coming out of Plainview High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma, he was ranked a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, and the#91 wide receiver prospect in the class of 2008.
In 2010 he was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the first receiver to earn the honor, and the Fred Biletnikoff Award recipient. Blackmon also holds the NCAA records for most consecutive 100 Yard games and most 200 yard games. Blackmon needs to further develop his “go-to-guy” philosophy on offense. He’s the biggest weapon on the #3 ranked team and needs to have the same alpha dog mentality in the NFL.
“I don’t go to the line automatically assuming (I’m going to get the ball) but once I get up there and kind of see the coverage I can somewhat tell if the ball is going to come my way or not depending on what the defense is doing against us,” Blackmon said on a media conference call this week.
One thing that will greatly affect his immediate playing time on the next level is how much he chips on special team. He’s returning punts again.
“It felt good to get back there, it’s been since high school since I’ve returned a punt, and felt good to get back in the groove. I’m not really too involved in special teams and we start off practice that way every day and I wanted to try so I asked coach if I could go in there and do it,” he said.
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