His family moved to Princeton, New Jersey while his father worked as offensive coordinator for the Princeton Tigers football team and Blackledge attended Princeton High School in Princeton, New Jersey, from 1975–76.[1] He returned to the Canton area to finish his high school career at North Canton Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1979.
Following the 1982 season, Blackledge won the Davey O'Brien Award for best quarterback in the nation. As a senior, Blackledge threw for 2218 yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, while also rushing for three touchdowns.[2][3]
Blackledge led the Nittany Lions to the National Championship with a 27-23 victory over Georgia and Herschel Walker in the 1983 Sugar Bowl. Blackledge was the MVP of the game, throwing for 228 yards and a 4th quarter 47-yard touchdown to Gregg Garrity.[4]
Professional career[]
Blackledge was the seventh pick in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was picked behind John Elway (#1, Baltimore) but ahead of Dan Marino (#27, Miami) , astounding both Marino (who believed that he was better than Blackledge) and Blackledge himself (who had expected to be picked in the middle of the round).[5] He was also drafted ahead of Hall of FamerJim Kelly (#14 Buffalo), as well as Tony Eason (#15, New England) and Ken O'Brien (#22, New York Jets).[6]
Blackledge was a Chief for five seasons (1983–1987) before ending his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1988–1989). He served mainly as a back-up to Pro-Bowl QB Bill Kenney in Kansas City. [7][8]
Blackledge was the backup to Bubby Brister in Pittsburgh his final two seasons, going 2-3 in games started due to Brister injury.[7]
Overall, Blackledge was 15-14 as a starter in the NFL, throwing for 5,286 yards with 29 touchdowns and 38 interceptions.[7]
From 1994–1998, he worked as a college football analyst for ABC Sports. In 1999, Blackledge joined CBS Sports as the lead analyst for the network's college football coverage. On September 10, 2000 he called the Oakland Raiders Indianapolis Colts game with Greg Gumbel as he filled in for Phil Simms who underwent an emergency appendectomy. In 2006, he began serving on the first team alongside Mike Patrick for ESPN College Football Saturday Primetime on ESPN. As part of his duties he is featured on "Todd's Taste of the Town", a segment where he visits a local restaurant and samples its fare. Blackledge has facetiously stated this is the most difficult part of his broadcasting experience.[citation needed]
Blackledge is now paired with Sean McDonough, who returns to calling games at the College level, after spending 2 years with Monday Night Football, and Holly Rowe, whom he has been paired with over the past few years.
Coaching career[]
In April 2014, Blackledge was hired as the head varsity basketball coach at Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio.[9]
Personal life[]
Todd is the son of former NFL assistant coach Ron Blackledge.
Blackledge lives in the village of Hills & Dales in Jackson Township Ohio with his wife, Cherie, and their four children.[10]
Blackledge earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication from Penn State in 1983, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a 3.8 grade point average. Named a first team Academic All-American, he was also awarded the Eric Walker Award, given to the Penn State senior student who has most "enhanced the esteem and recognition of the University." Blackledge was inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1997. He sits on the Board of Visitors for Penn State’s Center for Sports Journalism.[11]
Blackledge was selected to receive the prestigious 2008 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, recognizing former student-athletes who excelled both in their collegiate and professional careers.[11] On June 5, 2009, Blackledge received Penn State's prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award.[12]
References[]
↑Wilheim, John. "Penn State title stirs memories of prep quarterback", Battle Creek EnquirerJanuary 4, 1983. Accessed October 2, 2017. "Princeton also is in Mercer County, and that fall Princeton had a new offensive coordinator for its football team by the name of Ron Blackledge. Blackledge's family moved to Princeton with him, including his son, Todd, who enrolled as a sophomore at Princeton High School and tried out for the football team as a quarterback."
↑Mary Ann (Ryza) Blackledge, Blackledges in America (2002), page 540. ISBN 0-9722704-0-X(provides biography plus lineage [ancestors and descendants] for Todd Blackledge)
