Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Justin Blackmon #81 in action against the Stanford Cardinal during the BCS Tostitos Fiesta Bowl football game at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Charles Baus/Cal Sport Media/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: csmphoto547134
The top of the NFL Draft is looking pretty well set leading up to draft day. That is until the Cleveland Browns are put on the clock with the fourth pick in the draft. The Browns have a number of needs as they continue to “rebuild” but among the names being talked about is the strong and fast Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.
Blackmon is the 22-year-old son of Warren and Donna Blackmon and played his high school football for Plainview High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma. In addition to being a stand-out football player he was the conference MVP in basketball during his junior year. Following high school Blackmon turned down offers to play football at Missouri and Colorado to stay in-state and play for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys vs the Arizona Wildcats at the Alamodome in San Antonio Texas... Oklahoma State defeated Arizona 36-10. Robert Backman/Cal Sport Media/Newscom. Fidn it on Newscom.com: csmphoto401108
After red shirting in 2008 Blackmon took the field in 2009 for his freshman year where he got 20 catches for 260 yards and two touchdowns to lead the talented Cowboy freshman receivers. In 2010 wide receiver Dez Bryant left OSU early to enter the NFL draft making way for Blackmon to become the top receiver for the Cowboys. Blackmon made the most of the opportunity and racked up the hardware to prove it including the Big 12 offensive player of the year award, the Paul Warfield Trophy and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s top receiver.
Following the successful 2010 season Blackmon was projected to be a first round NFL draft pick but he chose to return to OSU to play his junior season where he continued his success helping the Cowboys finish with 12-1 record. Blackmon also earned a second Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2011 and was named the MVP of the 2012 Fiesta Bowl following a 41-38 overtime win over Stanford.
Oklahoma State star receiver Justin Blackmon (81) is hoisted on the shoulders of fans after the Cowboys defeated Oklahoma Sooners, 44-10, for the Big XII title at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Tom Fox/MCT/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: krtphotoslive525375
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy hugs wide receiver Justin Blackmon (81) after defeating the Stanford Cardinal, to win the 2012 Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. RICK SCUTERI/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rtrlfour982201
Blackmon is now considered a top 10 pick in the NFL draft and could even be a top 5 with a number of teams at the top of the draft with a need for a wide receiver like the Browns at 4 who look to be considering Blackmon or Trent Richardson. Tampa Bay could use an upgrade at the receiver position too but it looks like the most likely landing spot for Blackmon is at No.6 St. Louis. The Rams traded down from the second overall pick because they don’t need a quarterback however they do desperately need a top receiver for Sam Bradford to throw to. Bradford to Blackmon could be a great tandem to watch if it all works out that way on Thursday night.
For more pictures of Blackmon’s college career check out Newscom.
WR Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys vs the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Texas. Robert Backman/Cal Sport Media/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: csmphoto502698
Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Justin Blackmon (81) hauls in a long touchdown pass during the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl football game between the Arizona Wildcats and Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Tx. John Albright / Icon SMI 276/John Albright / Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotostwo775860
Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys vs the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Texas...Oklahoma State defeated Texas 33-16. Robert Backman/Cal Sport Media/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: csmphoto385112
Cowboys receiver Justin Blackmon straight arms Tulsa defender Marco Nelson after making a catch. The Oklahoma State Cowboys of the Big 12 conference defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes of Conference USA 65 to 28 at Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Oklahoma. AD/Icon SMI 480/AD/Icon SMI/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: iconphotostwo660318
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Tags: Cleveland Browns, college football, Justin Blackmon, NCAA, nfl, NFL Draft, Oklahoma State, St. Louis Rams