Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday night lights bring fond memories for Blankenship
11/15/2017 4:00:00 PM | Football
Freshman having strong season
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee freshman safety Reed Blankenship will feel right at home Friday at WKU in a special Friday night lights edition of the 100 Miles of Hate rivalry.
Before starring in the secondary for the Blue Raiders as a freshman, Blankenship solidified himself as one of the best players to ever play on Friday nights at West Limestone High School in Lester, Alabama, just about two hours from Murfreesboro.
He was named a two-time all-state member in Alabama's Class 4A and Back of the Year in 2016, but it wasn't just for his prowess as a safety, where he's made nine starts in his first year for MT.
Blankenship was a force all over the field, lining up as a quarterback, receiver, running back, safety, cornerback and returner. He finished his high-school career with 3,192 rushing yards, 1,056 passing yards, 1,004 receiving yards, 46 total touchdowns, 295 tackles and 10 interceptions.
Despite his videogame-like numbers, Blankenship's recruitment was late to bloom. Once teams started getting a glimpse of what he could do, though, it started to accelerate. Eventually, teams like Southern Miss, Illinois and Minnesota extended offers.
He first entered Middle Tennessee's radar after attending a Blue Raider camp. Blankenship lined up on both sides of the ball, but it was at safety where he caught the eye of head coach Rick Stockstill.
"He came to our camp and worked out at free safety and a little at wide receiver," Stockstill said, "and he showed a lot of athleticism and great ball skills. That's when we started recruiting him, and all along we thought he would be a really good safety."
Playing multiple offensive positions in high school has helped the learning curve be less severe for Blankenship in his first season of collegiate football. His basketball background – he was a member of West Limestone's 2015 4A state championship team – also shows.
He said he can almost sense what opposing quarterbacks and receivers are going to do, because just a year ago he was in their shoes on the high-school level. Then, he can use ball skills he developed as a receiver and basketball player to help high-point passes.
"I know what the quarterback and receivers are thinking, because I've been in those positions," he said. "I know what coverages they look for, and that helps a lot.
"I'd say I'm a ball-hawking safety."
Blankenship wasn't initially planning to be a standout on the gridiron for the Wildcats. He really favored baseball growing up, but before his freshman year of high school he decided his future wasn't on the diamond.
"I got burned out on baseball," he said. "I honestly wasn't even going to play football my freshman year of high school until I got talked into it by my head coach."
Just like what's happened at Middle Tennessee, Blankenship made an immediate impact as a freshman for West Limestone, making starts as a cornerback and receiver.
His big-play ability made it impossible for Wildcats head coach Jordan Cantrell to take him off the field, and that skillset has carried over to the college game. Blankenship currently leads the Blue Raiders with two interceptions and is second with seven tackles for loss. With receiver Richie James sidelined due to injury, he's also assumed punt returner duties.
Just about the only thing that Blankenship hasn't done yet is line up on the offensive side. Don't count him out for a play as a receiver, either, though it may not be likely.
"I tease him all the time that we're going to get him on the offense, but he says he's fine where he is," Stockstill said.
Blankenship has proven he's one of the best first-year players in Conference USA and a force in the Blue Raider secondary. But, he knows there's still plenty to improve on, including putting weight on his slender, 6-foot-1 frame. He currently weighs in at 175 pounds.
"I just have to stay humble and stay in the film room, and my footwork and weight aren't where I want them to be," he said. "You're never going to be a perfect safety, but you just have to keep working.
"I've just always been told to play the game at my speed and slow things down so you can learn things better, so that's what I'm going to do."
The Hilltoppers better keep an eye on Blankenship Friday night. If they don't, he'll show them what made him a star on Friday nights the past four years.
Before starring in the secondary for the Blue Raiders as a freshman, Blankenship solidified himself as one of the best players to ever play on Friday nights at West Limestone High School in Lester, Alabama, just about two hours from Murfreesboro.
He was named a two-time all-state member in Alabama's Class 4A and Back of the Year in 2016, but it wasn't just for his prowess as a safety, where he's made nine starts in his first year for MT.
Blankenship was a force all over the field, lining up as a quarterback, receiver, running back, safety, cornerback and returner. He finished his high-school career with 3,192 rushing yards, 1,056 passing yards, 1,004 receiving yards, 46 total touchdowns, 295 tackles and 10 interceptions.
Despite his videogame-like numbers, Blankenship's recruitment was late to bloom. Once teams started getting a glimpse of what he could do, though, it started to accelerate. Eventually, teams like Southern Miss, Illinois and Minnesota extended offers.
He first entered Middle Tennessee's radar after attending a Blue Raider camp. Blankenship lined up on both sides of the ball, but it was at safety where he caught the eye of head coach Rick Stockstill.
"He came to our camp and worked out at free safety and a little at wide receiver," Stockstill said, "and he showed a lot of athleticism and great ball skills. That's when we started recruiting him, and all along we thought he would be a really good safety."
Playing multiple offensive positions in high school has helped the learning curve be less severe for Blankenship in his first season of collegiate football. His basketball background – he was a member of West Limestone's 2015 4A state championship team – also shows.
He said he can almost sense what opposing quarterbacks and receivers are going to do, because just a year ago he was in their shoes on the high-school level. Then, he can use ball skills he developed as a receiver and basketball player to help high-point passes.
"I know what the quarterback and receivers are thinking, because I've been in those positions," he said. "I know what coverages they look for, and that helps a lot.
"I'd say I'm a ball-hawking safety."
Blankenship wasn't initially planning to be a standout on the gridiron for the Wildcats. He really favored baseball growing up, but before his freshman year of high school he decided his future wasn't on the diamond.
"I got burned out on baseball," he said. "I honestly wasn't even going to play football my freshman year of high school until I got talked into it by my head coach."
Just like what's happened at Middle Tennessee, Blankenship made an immediate impact as a freshman for West Limestone, making starts as a cornerback and receiver.
His big-play ability made it impossible for Wildcats head coach Jordan Cantrell to take him off the field, and that skillset has carried over to the college game. Blankenship currently leads the Blue Raiders with two interceptions and is second with seven tackles for loss. With receiver Richie James sidelined due to injury, he's also assumed punt returner duties.
Just about the only thing that Blankenship hasn't done yet is line up on the offensive side. Don't count him out for a play as a receiver, either, though it may not be likely.
"I tease him all the time that we're going to get him on the offense, but he says he's fine where he is," Stockstill said.
Blankenship has proven he's one of the best first-year players in Conference USA and a force in the Blue Raider secondary. But, he knows there's still plenty to improve on, including putting weight on his slender, 6-foot-1 frame. He currently weighs in at 175 pounds.
"I just have to stay humble and stay in the film room, and my footwork and weight aren't where I want them to be," he said. "You're never going to be a perfect safety, but you just have to keep working.
"I've just always been told to play the game at my speed and slow things down so you can learn things better, so that's what I'm going to do."
The Hilltoppers better keep an eye on Blankenship Friday night. If they don't, he'll show them what made him a star on Friday nights the past four years.
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