Justin Blackmon

Justin Blackmon (born January 9, 1990) is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, and was twice recognized as an All-American. Considered the best wide receiver in his class, Jacksonville traded up two spots to select him with the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Early years
Blackmon was born in Oceanside, California. He attended Plainview High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma, where he caught 61 passes covering 1,547 yards as a senior with 14 touchdowns. Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Blackmon was listed as the No. 91 wide receiver prospect in the class of 2008.

College career
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, but quickly earned a starting position in 2009. He was named the 2010 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the first receiver to earn the honor. He was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. Blackmon also holds the NCAA records for most consecutive games gaining 100 Yards or More and most games gaining 200 Yards or more. Statistically, Blackmon caught 102 passes for 1,665 yards and 18 touchdowns in 11 games during the 2010 regular season and also added a pair of scores with a 69-yard run and a blocked punt return. This performance earned him the 15th-best season in NCAA history.

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.

Blackmon announced at the 2012 Fiesta Bowl that he would declare for the NFL draft that year. He caught 8 passes for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game. He was also named the 2012 Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP.

2012 NFL Draft
Blackmon decided not to participate in any workouts at the NFL Combine, but he managed to erase questions about his long speed at the Oklahoma State Pro Day. He was considered the best wide receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft, and was predicted to go early in the first round. He has been compared to Anquan Boldin and Terrell Owens. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fifth pick in the first round of the draft. Jacksonville traded up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to draft him, exchanging their number seven selection and a fourth round pick for Tampa Bay's spot. Blackmon is the highest selected Oklahoma State Cowboy since Barry Sanders in 1989.

Jacksonville Jaguars
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 and the most since Jerry Rice as well as the second-most in a game in franchise history, trailing only 291 yards by Jimmy Smith in a September 2000 game at the Baltimore Ravens. Blackmon also combined with Andre Johnson (273 yards on 14 receptions) to have the most receiving yards in a game by two players on different teams.

Legal troubles
Blackmon was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol by a Payne County sheriff's deputy in Stillwater, Oklahoma on June 3, 2012, and was released later that day. He was previously arrested for DUI in Texas in 2010, and was suspended for one game by the Oklahoma State coaching staff.