LeGarrette Blount
Encyclopedia
LeGarrette Montez Blount (born December 5, 1986) is an American football
running back
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
Blount rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons in junior college. He then committed to the Oregon Ducks football program
as a junior, for the 2008 season
. That year he ran for over 1,000 yards and scored a school record 17 touchdowns.
After the opening game of the 2009 season, Blount was suspended for punching an opponent and angrily confronting fans immediately after the nationally televised season-opening loss. Though the suspension was announced to be for the remainder of the season, due to his meeting of specific criteria set by the football staff, he was eventually reinstated after missing ten games.
, to Gary and Barbara Blount. Blount is the great-nephew of Sun Ra
(born Herman Poole Blount). He has one brother and one sister. He attended Taylor County High School in Perry, Florida
, where he was a four-year starter and three-time 1,000-yard rusher. He accorded second-team all-state player honors as a prep senior.
Considered only a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com
and Scout.com
, Blount was not ranked among the best running back prospects in the nation in 2005. Barely recruited out of high school, he attended camp at Auburn University
but was not offered an athletic scholarship
. He nonetheless intended to go to Auburn but did not qualify academically, so he headed for junior college
.
in Scooba, Mississippi
, Blount rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons, accumulating 367 carries for 2,292 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Among his career highlights was a 273-yard performance with three scores in a win over Northeast Mississippi Community College
during his freshman year; he led the state of Mississippi in rushing yards with 1,106 as early as October 2006. Blount was rated as the No. 1 junior college prospect by The Clarion-Ledger
and received Junior College All-American honors.
By the end of his sophomore year, Blount had become one of the highest ranked junior college prospects. He was named the nation’s top junior college running back and the No. 12 overall prospect in the Rivals.com Junior College Top 100. Blount was heavily recruited by several high-major schools, including Florida State
, Ole Miss
, and West Virginia
. He committed to Oregon in December 2007. Oregon coaches said Blount reminded them of Reuben Droughns
.
sharing the running back role with senior Jeremiah Johnson
. The two backs lived together, and the talkative Johnson advised Blount in his first Pac-10 season. For Blount, it was the first season in which he split time with another running back, and his reaction was mixed. The two backs each contributed nearly 100 yards and three touchdowns in an early 63–14 win over the Washington State Cougars
, and both again performed well in a late season victory over the Oregon State Beavers
. But Blount brought lackluster performances to games against USC
and Cal
. Overall, Blount rushed for 17 touchdowns, setting a single-season school record, and 1,002 yards. Blount and Johnson became only the second duo in team history to both clear 1,000 rushing yards in the same season; Johnson led the team with 1,201 yards.
He clashed several times during the season with veteran head coach Mike Bellotti
, earning a suspension for the first quarter of a November loss to the Cal Golden Bears
for "not following team rules."
After the end of the season, he missed a number of workouts. Bellotti suspended him indefinitely on February 10 for "failure to fulfill team obligations."
Blount responded fairly well to the suspension, improving his attendance in both academic and athletic pursuits. He was reinstated by newly-appointed head coach Chip Kelly
in March. He attended some, but not all, voluntary workouts during the off-season, but was praised for an improved attitude by fellow members of the football program. He arrived at training camp in better physical shape than in 2008. At 243 pounds (110.2 kg), he was somewhat above his optimal weight, but was slimming down, and aiming for a 2,000 yard season. Blount was named to the watch lists for the Walter Camp Award
and the Doak Walker Award
for the 2009 season
.
. Blount ended the game with negative yardage (-8) and points (-2 from a safety). Shortly after the end of the game, Boise State defensive end Byron Hout
taunted Blount and slapped his shoulder pad. Blount then blindside punched Hout in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Blount then hit teammate Garrett Embry, who was attempting to restrain him, in the helmet.
As he was escorted to the locker room, Blount confronted Boise State fans who were jeering at him after seeing the video replay. Blount says that one Boise State fan brandished a chair at him and another punched him. Two police officers and Oregon assistant coach Scott Frost
restrained Blount and escorted him into the locker room. Video of the incident spread rapidly on the Internet.
Blount apologized after the incident saying, "I just apologize to everybody that was watching this — ESPN, national TV — I just apologize to all of our fans, all the Boise fans. It was just something that I shouldn't have done. I lost my head, and I shouldn't have taken it that far."
Suspension
Oregon coach Kelly suspended Blount for the rest of the 2009 season. According to the Associated Press, "On Friday [Kelly] told a sobbing Blount of his decision: That punch would cost Blount the season, and ultimately his career with the Ducks. 'He understands that his actions are unacceptable. We will not put up with that.' Kelly said." Blount was not dismissed from the team, however, and will be permitted to attend practice and retain his scholarship.
Chip Kelly consulted with Oregon officials in advance of Blount's suspension. Afterward, the Pac-10 expressed support for the suspension. Kelly stated that he made his judgment based on the entire event and had not theorized how it would have changed had only certain parts of the incident occurred.
Following the announcement of Blount's punishment, a number of sports writers and analysts questioned whether or not suspension for the entire season was excessive. Wrote analyst Tom Dienhart: "But did Blount's punishment (banned from games the rest of the season) fit the crime? Blount should have been benched for three to five games, giving him a break for being in an emotional spot after being provoked by Hout."
Blount called Hout and Petersen to apologize on September 5. Kelly participated in the calls. Hout was not suspended for his taunting, though Petersen stated that he did receive disciplinary action. Petersen accepted the apology as sincere, and expressed the wish that Blount would be able to go on playing football, and that many parties would learn from the experience.
Blount was given the opportunity to continue practicing with the team but was not at the first practice due to unspecified obligations. However, Blount was on the sidelines at practice the following day and began practice with the scout team a week later.
Reinstatement
On October 1, an apology letter from Blount was published in the Oregon school newspaper the Oregon Daily Emerald
. Later that day, the Oregon Athletic Department released a statement indicating that a plan that could reinstate Blount to the team was under consideration. The next day, head coach Chip Kelly announced that if Blount meets certain guidelines, he could return for the November 7 game against the Stanford Cardinal
. Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott responded that the conference alone had the power to reinstate Blount and would take Oregon's appeal under consideration if it occurred.
Blount was not reinstated in time for the Stanford game, but two days after the Ducks' loss to Stanford, the Ducks requested, and the Pac-10 approved, Blount's reinstatement for the Ducks' November 14 game against Arizona State
. Blount released a statement thanking head coach Kelly for showing that he "cares enough to offer me this second chance" and that it was up to Blount to "prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise." Blount suited up for the Arizona State and Arizona games, but since his replacement, LaMichael James
, was playing so well, Blount did not see any playing time in those games.
In their final game of the season, the Civil War
against rival Oregon State
, the Ducks trailed by 9 points in the third quarter. Blount came into the game for James and several plays later, scored on a 12-yard run to bring the Ducks within 2 points. Blount ended up rushing for 51 yards in the game and the Ducks would go on to win the game 37–33 and earn a berth in the 2010 Rose Bowl
against Ohio State
.
but agreed in principle to a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers
following the draft. However, after a meeting with Tennessee Titans
head coach Jeff Fisher
, Blount decided to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Titans instead. In August 2010, Blount was involved in another incident in which he threw a punch, this time with a Tennessee Titans teammate, defensive end Eric Bakhtiari
, a few moments after having his own helmet ripped off in practice. The play ended with some pushing and shoving, Blount threw a right fist, contacting Bakhtiari's facemask.
Blount quickly talked to Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher before leaving the field. "He apologized, and I said he didn't have to apologize," Fisher said. "It's football. It's training camp." "His past is his past. Is that the first punch you've seen in camp this year? No. I'm not disappointed whatsoever. I have great confidence in the young man that he learned from his mistake, and he's very competitive. That's why we brought him in here is to watch him run the football like that," Fisher said. Blount survived the final roster cut and was placed on the Titans' 53 man roster. Blount was then waived to make room for veteran linebackers Tim Shaw (Chicago Bears) and Patrick Bailey
(Pittsburgh Steelers). Titans sources indicated that Blount would be signed to the rookie practice squad, if Blount cleared waivers. Blount was waived on September 5, 2010.
. He played in his first regular-season NFL game in a week three 38-13 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, gaining 27 yards on six rushes and scoring one touchdown.
On October 31, 2010 Blount recorded his breakout game as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. He accumulated 120 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries, and chipped in 9 receiving yards in the Buccaneers' 38-35 victory at the Arizona Cardinals
. Highlighting the performance was a late game 43-yard run in which Blount hurdled approaching player Kerry Rhodes
. At the end of his rookie season Blount had played in 13 games and accumulated 1007 rushing yards; the most by a rookie in the 2010 NFL season. Blount became the second undrafted running back in NFL history to accumulate 1000 yards in his rookie year (Dominic Rhodes
was the first).
. The next week Blount reestablished his strong running ability with 13 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings
. This includes the game-winning touchdown with 30 seconds left to play. In week 5 in a game with the 49'ers, Blount injured his knee after accumulating only 15 yards rushing and was forced to miss weeks 6 and 7. Blount would ultimately return for the matchup with the New Orleans Saints. In the game with New Orleans, Blount threw another punch; this time against Saints DE Will Smith and, in doing so, drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct which would effectively stall a Tampa Bay drive and cause them to have to settle on a long field goal.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of 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 signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
Blount rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons in junior college. He then committed to the Oregon Ducks football program
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
as a junior, for the 2008 season
2008 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2008 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2008. This was the final season for Mike Bellotti as the Ducks' head coach; he was promoted to become the school's athletic director after the season. The Ducks played their home games at...
. That year he ran for over 1,000 yards and scored a school record 17 touchdowns.
After the opening game of the 2009 season, Blount was suspended for punching an opponent and angrily confronting fans immediately after the nationally televised season-opening loss. Though the suspension was announced to be for the remainder of the season, due to his meeting of specific criteria set by the football staff, he was eventually reinstated after missing ten games.
Early life and high school career
Blount was born December 5, 1986 in Madison, FloridaMadison, Florida
Madison is a city in Madison County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,061 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,195...
, to Gary and Barbara Blount. Blount is the great-nephew of Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
(born Herman Poole Blount). He has one brother and one sister. He attended Taylor County High School in Perry, Florida
Perry, Florida
Perry is a city in Taylor County, Florida, United States. The population was 7,017 at the 2010 census. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 7,017....
, where he was a four-year starter and three-time 1,000-yard rusher. He accorded second-team all-state player honors as a prep senior.
Considered only a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
and Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
, Blount was not ranked among the best running back prospects in the nation in 2005. Barely recruited out of high school, he attended camp at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
but was not offered an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
. He nonetheless intended to go to Auburn but did not qualify academically, so he headed for junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
.
East Mississippi Community College
While at East Mississippi Community CollegeEast Mississippi Community College
East Mississippi Community College , also known as East Mississippi Junior College, is a community college system in Mississippi with its headquarters in the Thomas L. Davis, Jr...
in Scooba, Mississippi
Scooba, Mississippi
Scooba is a town in Kemper County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 632 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Scooba is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
, Blount rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons, accumulating 367 carries for 2,292 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Among his career highlights was a 273-yard performance with three scores in a win over Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Northeast Mississippi Community College, also known as NEMCC, is a public, comprehensive community college. NEMCC is a located in Booneville, Mississippi, USA...
during his freshman year; he led the state of Mississippi in rushing yards with 1,106 as early as October 2006. Blount was rated as the No. 1 junior college prospect by The Clarion-Ledger
The Clarion-Ledger
The Clarion-Ledger is the Pulitzer Prize winning daily newspaper of Jackson, Mississippi. It is the second oldest company in the state of Mississippi and is one of only a few newspapers in the nation that continues to circulate statewide...
and received Junior College All-American honors.
By the end of his sophomore year, Blount had become one of the highest ranked junior college prospects. He was named the nation’s top junior college running back and the No. 12 overall prospect in the Rivals.com Junior College Top 100. Blount was heavily recruited by several high-major schools, including Florida State
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, Ole Miss
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, and West Virginia
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
. He committed to Oregon in December 2007. Oregon coaches said Blount reminded them of Reuben Droughns
Reuben Droughns
Reuben Droughns is an American football running back who is currently the head coach for the Serbian team Vukovi Beograd, the two-time champions of the Central European Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
.
Oregon Ducks
Blount entered his junior year at Oregon2008 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2008 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2008. This was the final season for Mike Bellotti as the Ducks' head coach; he was promoted to become the school's athletic director after the season. The Ducks played their home games at...
sharing the running back role with senior Jeremiah Johnson
Jeremiah Johnson (American football)
Jeremiah Alex Johnson is an American football running back who is currently a member of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
. The two backs lived together, and the talkative Johnson advised Blount in his first Pac-10 season. For Blount, it was the first season in which he split time with another running back, and his reaction was mixed. The two backs each contributed nearly 100 yards and three touchdowns in an early 63–14 win over the Washington State Cougars
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
, and both again performed well in a late season victory over the Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
. But Blount brought lackluster performances to games against USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and Cal
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. Overall, Blount rushed for 17 touchdowns, setting a single-season school record, and 1,002 yards. Blount and Johnson became only the second duo in team history to both clear 1,000 rushing yards in the same season; Johnson led the team with 1,201 yards.
He clashed several times during the season with veteran head coach Mike Bellotti
Mike Bellotti
Robert Michael "Mike" Bellotti is a college football analyst for ESPN and ABC. A native of California, he was hired as football offensive coordinator by the University of Oregon in 1989. From 1995 to 2009, he was the head coach of the Oregon Ducks football team...
, earning a suspension for the first quarter of a November loss to the Cal Golden Bears
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
for "not following team rules."
After the end of the season, he missed a number of workouts. Bellotti suspended him indefinitely on February 10 for "failure to fulfill team obligations."
Blount responded fairly well to the suspension, improving his attendance in both academic and athletic pursuits. He was reinstated by newly-appointed head coach Chip Kelly
Chip Kelly
Charles "Chip" Kelly is the head football coach at the University of Oregon. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football today, the 2009 and 2010 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, 2010 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, 2010 Walter Camp Coach of the Year, 2010 Sporting...
in March. He attended some, but not all, voluntary workouts during the off-season, but was praised for an improved attitude by fellow members of the football program. He arrived at training camp in better physical shape than in 2008. At 243 pounds (110.2 kg), he was somewhat above his optimal weight, but was slimming down, and aiming for a 2,000 yard season. Blount was named to the watch lists for the Walter Camp Award
Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors under the auspices of the Walter Camp Football Foundation;...
and the Doak Walker Award
Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
for the 2009 season
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
.
Boise State incident
The Ducks opened their 2009 season with a 19–8 loss to the Boise State BroncosBoise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
. Blount ended the game with negative yardage (-8) and points (-2 from a safety). Shortly after the end of the game, Boise State defensive end Byron Hout
Byron Hout
Byron Hout is an American football Middle Linebacker in his Senior year at Boise State University in Idaho.-High school:Hout was born in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, and played linebacker at Lake City High School in Coeur d’ Alene...
taunted Blount and slapped his shoulder pad. Blount then blindside punched Hout in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Blount then hit teammate Garrett Embry, who was attempting to restrain him, in the helmet.
As he was escorted to the locker room, Blount confronted Boise State fans who were jeering at him after seeing the video replay. Blount says that one Boise State fan brandished a chair at him and another punched him. Two police officers and Oregon assistant coach Scott Frost
Scott Frost
Scott Andrew Frost is an American football coach. He played collegiately for Nebraska as a quarterback. He was drafted in the third round by the New York Jets and played six years in the National Football League as a defensive back with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers and...
restrained Blount and escorted him into the locker room. Video of the incident spread rapidly on the Internet.
Blount apologized after the incident saying, "I just apologize to everybody that was watching this — ESPN, national TV — I just apologize to all of our fans, all the Boise fans. It was just something that I shouldn't have done. I lost my head, and I shouldn't have taken it that far."
Suspension
Oregon coach Kelly suspended Blount for the rest of the 2009 season. According to the Associated Press, "On Friday [Kelly] told a sobbing Blount of his decision: That punch would cost Blount the season, and ultimately his career with the Ducks. 'He understands that his actions are unacceptable. We will not put up with that.' Kelly said." Blount was not dismissed from the team, however, and will be permitted to attend practice and retain his scholarship.
Chip Kelly consulted with Oregon officials in advance of Blount's suspension. Afterward, the Pac-10 expressed support for the suspension. Kelly stated that he made his judgment based on the entire event and had not theorized how it would have changed had only certain parts of the incident occurred.
Following the announcement of Blount's punishment, a number of sports writers and analysts questioned whether or not suspension for the entire season was excessive. Wrote analyst Tom Dienhart: "But did Blount's punishment (banned from games the rest of the season) fit the crime? Blount should have been benched for three to five games, giving him a break for being in an emotional spot after being provoked by Hout."
Blount called Hout and Petersen to apologize on September 5. Kelly participated in the calls. Hout was not suspended for his taunting, though Petersen stated that he did receive disciplinary action. Petersen accepted the apology as sincere, and expressed the wish that Blount would be able to go on playing football, and that many parties would learn from the experience.
Blount was given the opportunity to continue practicing with the team but was not at the first practice due to unspecified obligations. However, Blount was on the sidelines at practice the following day and began practice with the scout team a week later.
Reinstatement
On October 1, an apology letter from Blount was published in the Oregon school newspaper the Oregon Daily Emerald
Oregon Daily Emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is an independent daily newspaper published at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The paper, which has been published for more than 100 years, has trained many now-prominent writers and journalists and has made important contributions to journalism...
. Later that day, the Oregon Athletic Department released a statement indicating that a plan that could reinstate Blount to the team was under consideration. The next day, head coach Chip Kelly announced that if Blount meets certain guidelines, he could return for the November 7 game against the Stanford Cardinal
2009 Stanford Cardinal football team
The 2009 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinal was coached by third-year coach Jim Harbaugh and played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California....
. Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott responded that the conference alone had the power to reinstate Blount and would take Oregon's appeal under consideration if it occurred.
Blount was not reinstated in time for the Stanford game, but two days after the Ducks' loss to Stanford, the Ducks requested, and the Pac-10 approved, Blount's reinstatement for the Ducks' November 14 game against Arizona State
2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 2009 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Sun Devils were coached by third-year coach Dennis Erickson and played their home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona...
. Blount released a statement thanking head coach Kelly for showing that he "cares enough to offer me this second chance" and that it was up to Blount to "prove to people that their lasting impressions of me are not what they saw in Boise." Blount suited up for the Arizona State and Arizona games, but since his replacement, LaMichael James
LaMichael James
LaMichael Keondrae James is a college football running back for the Oregon Ducks football team. The 2010 season was a breakout one for James, as he rushed for 1,682 yards during the regular season, the highest in the nation. He finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy and received the...
, was playing so well, Blount did not see any playing time in those games.
In their final game of the season, the Civil War
Civil War (college football game)
The Civil War is the colloquial name for an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Oregon Ducks football team of the University of Oregon and the Oregon State Beavers football team of the Oregon State University...
against rival Oregon State
2009 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2009 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the college football 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach, in his second stint with the Beavers, was Mike Riley who was in his seventh straight season and ninth overall with the football...
, the Ducks trailed by 9 points in the third quarter. Blount came into the game for James and several plays later, scored on a 12-yard run to bring the Ducks within 2 points. Blount ended up rushing for 51 yards in the game and the Ducks would go on to win the game 37–33 and earn a berth in the 2010 Rose Bowl
2010 Rose Bowl
The 2010 Rose Bowl, the 96th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Friday, January 1, 2010 at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. It featured the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Oregon Ducks...
against Ohio State
2009 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of The Ohio State University for the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. They finished with a record of 11–2 and...
.
College statistics
| Date | Opponent | Att | Yds | TD | Avg | Rec | Yds | TD | Avg | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 30 | Washington | 4 | 21 | 0 | 5.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 21 | 0 |
| Sep. 6 | Utah State | 18 | 132 | 2 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 132 | 2 |
| Sep. 13 | Purdue | 11 | 131 | 2 | 11.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 131 | 2 |
| Sep. 20 | Boise State | 18 | 99 | 1 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 99 | 1 |
| Sep. 27 | Washington State | 15 | 98 | 3 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 98 | 3 |
| Oct. 4 | USC | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct. 11 | UCLA | 7 | 111 | 2 | 15.9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 111 | 2 |
| Oct. 25 | Arizona State | 8 | 58 | 2 | 7.3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | 60 | 2 |
| Nov. 1 | California | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov. 8 | Stanford | 10 | 90 | 2 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 90 | 2 |
| Nov. 15 | Arizona | 9 | 75 | 1 | 8.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 75 | 1 |
| Nov. 29 | Oregon State | 17 | 112 | 1 | 6.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 112 | 1 |
| Dec. 30 | Oklahoma State | 7 | 74 | 1 | 10.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 74 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 137 | 1002 | 17 | 7.3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.0 | 1004 | 17 | |
| Date | Opponent | Att | Yds | TD | Avg | Rec | Yds | TD | Avg | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 3 | Boise State | 8 | -5 | 0 | -0.6 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 6.5 | 13 | 0 |
| suspended until November 14 | |||||||||||
| Nov. 14 | Arizona State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov. 21 | Arizona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec. 3 | Oregon State | 9 | 51 | 1 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 51 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 17 | 46 | 1 | 2.7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6.5 | 64 | 1 | |
| Jan. 1, 2010 | 2010 Rose Bowl 2010 Rose Bowl The 2010 Rose Bowl, the 96th edition of the annual game, was a college football bowl game played on Friday, January 1, 2010 at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. It featured the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Oregon Ducks... |
5 | 36 | 1 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 36 | 0 |
2010 NFL Draft
Tennessee Titans
Blount was not drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
but agreed in principle to a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
following the draft. However, after a meeting with Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
head coach Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher
Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:...
, Blount decided to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Titans instead. In August 2010, Blount was involved in another incident in which he threw a punch, this time with a Tennessee Titans teammate, defensive end Eric Bakhtiari
Eric Bakhtiari
Eric Bakhtiari is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
, a few moments after having his own helmet ripped off in practice. The play ended with some pushing and shoving, Blount threw a right fist, contacting Bakhtiari's facemask.
Blount quickly talked to Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher before leaving the field. "He apologized, and I said he didn't have to apologize," Fisher said. "It's football. It's training camp." "His past is his past. Is that the first punch you've seen in camp this year? No. I'm not disappointed whatsoever. I have great confidence in the young man that he learned from his mistake, and he's very competitive. That's why we brought him in here is to watch him run the football like that," Fisher said. Blount survived the final roster cut and was placed on the Titans' 53 man roster. Blount was then waived to make room for veteran linebackers Tim Shaw (Chicago Bears) and Patrick Bailey
Patrick Bailey
Patrick Bailey is an American football linebacker who is currently with the Tennessee Titans. He was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
(Pittsburgh Steelers). Titans sources indicated that Blount would be signed to the rookie practice squad, if Blount cleared waivers. Blount was waived on September 5, 2010.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On September 6, 2010 Blount was claimed off of waivers by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. He played in his first regular-season NFL game in a week three 38-13 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, gaining 27 yards on six rushes and scoring one touchdown.
On October 31, 2010 Blount recorded his breakout game as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. He accumulated 120 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries, and chipped in 9 receiving yards in the Buccaneers' 38-35 victory at the Arizona Cardinals
2010 Arizona Cardinals season
The 2010 Arizona Cardinals season is the 91st season for the team in the National Football League, and their 23rd season in Arizona. The Cardinals failed to improve on their 10–6 record from 2009, and were eliminated from postseason contention in Week 15....
. Highlighting the performance was a late game 43-yard run in which Blount hurdled approaching player Kerry Rhodes
Kerry Rhodes
Kerry Rhodes is an American football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. At the end of his rookie season Blount had played in 13 games and accumulated 1007 rushing yards; the most by a rookie in the 2010 NFL season. Blount became the second undrafted running back in NFL history to accumulate 1000 yards in his rookie year (Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
was the first).
2011 Season
Blount started off the season with only 5 carries for 15 yards against the Detroit Lions2011 Detroit Lions season
The 2011 Detroit Lions season is the franchise's 82nd season in the National Football League, the 10th playing its home games at Ford Field and the third year under head coach Jim Schwartz. Currently 7–4, the team has improved on its 6–10 record from 2010, which is its third consecutive improved...
. The next week Blount reestablished his strong running ability with 13 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings
2011 Minnesota Vikings season
-Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks:-Week 3: vs. Dallas Cowboys:-Week 4: vs. Houston Texans:-Schedule:COLOR KEY & NOTES:-Week 1: at San Diego Chargers:-Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:-Week 3: vs. Detroit Lions:-Week 4: at Kansas City Chiefs:...
. This includes the game-winning touchdown with 30 seconds left to play. In week 5 in a game with the 49'ers, Blount injured his knee after accumulating only 15 yards rushing and was forced to miss weeks 6 and 7. Blount would ultimately return for the matchup with the New Orleans Saints. In the game with New Orleans, Blount threw another punch; this time against Saints DE Will Smith and, in doing so, drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct which would effectively stall a Tampa Bay drive and cause them to have to settle on a long field goal.