On Monday night, Reed Blankenship had the daunting task of coming into the game and playing safety for injured Eagles standout C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Reed intercepted the first pass ever targeted at him in the NFL. (Thrown by sure NFL Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers no less)
The former MTSU standout and current NFL rookie then exclaimed to the world
“Allow me to re-introduce myself. My name is Reed!!!”
No, he didn’t say that, but he didn’t have to. That play said a lot for him. His coaches and teammates were not at all surprised.
Prime Time Debut:
Monday night when C.J. left the game with a then unspecified injury, the Eagles called Reed to duty despite having played a mere 2 defensive snaps all season. And like all great Quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers went after the perceived weak link. To Aaron, and everyone else at the stadium’s surprise (except the Eagles players/coaches who worked with Reed all season) his first-ever target resulted in an interception.
“We call him Ghost. Can’t see him while he out there. Ghost. That’s why they threw that pick right to him.” Zech McPhearson
Despite everyone watching being shocked, “Ghost” went into the game with confidence, knowing that he was ready for the prime-time stage.
“I know that my name was going to get called eventually; it’s a long season. But I was ready for it, I was prepared for it and went in confident. I have guys in the room that are mature and I just learned from them every day.”
Blankenship finished the game playing 35 snaps, with six tackles and that aforementioned interception. One teammate Big Play Slay wished was his.
The week leading up to the game Slay had been talking up the opportunity to get a pick off Rodgers. He wanted to add him to his collection of what he called his “Mt Rushmore” of footballs that he has intercepted.
“The only person I haven’t gotten is A-Rod. He’s the only one I’m missing.”
Slay stated the balls he intercepted off the other “GOATS (greatest of all time) Brady and Brees, are displayed above his Pro Bowl jerseys in his home.
“I only got two. I need that third. A-Rod, give it to me.”
Big Play Slay did not get a clean chance for a pick, but he was happy for the rookie and jokingly added
“I’m low-key jealous. I’ve been in the league 10 years, he’s a rookie, but have to give props to him, my dog went off today. Low key jealous got a pick from A-Rod. I’ve been in this for (a long time) and he got one. Good for him.”
Good for Reed, indeed.
Before his thrilling MNF interception, most football fans around the league had never heard of Reed Blankenship. But the Philadelphia coaches had gained confidence in Blankenship back in camp.
Making the Roster:
A lot of people who follow the Eagles were surprised when unknown, undrafted, Reed Blankenship from Middle Tennessee State made the 53-man roster over Anthony Harris and Tartt. He was one of 3 undrafted players that made the team and it took every chance he was given, including an impressive tackle in the last pre-season game that seemingly accomplished that goal.
There were whispers at camp that Reed was showing solid fundamentals and instincts, but once he put on the pads, Sirianni stated.
“When we had pads on. It just seemed like every time he was coming up and making tackles. We liked him without pads on and now we really like him when he’s able to show his physicality out on the field. So, I think that’s where we really started talking about him more and more and more.”
The Eagles have a large role to fill with C.J. Gardner-Johnson missing an unspecified amount of time, but Reed Blankenship is ready for the test and to prove he deserves to be a member of this team.
And who knows maybe he will prove that he can be a star(ter) in this league.
He has proven himself at every other level as well.
Limestone High School:
Reed grew up in the same small Alabama town as teammate Quez Watkins, in Athens Alabama. While Quez went to neighboring Athens High School, Reed attended Limestone High School in Lester, Alabama.
Playing for a town with a population of 120–130 people is small, but as the Wildcat’s QB and DB, Reed was anything but.
His high school stats earned him the honor of being a two-time all-state selection while rushing for over 3192 yards, receiving 1004, passing for 1056, and totaling 46 touchdowns. The two-time team captain even managed to intercept 10 passes, guess he was a “ghost” back then as well.
The impressive numbers earned him being named the Limestone County Player of the Year as both a junior and senior.
Despite being an all-state QB and DB not many colleges showed interest. But he had his sights set on one of the schools that did.
Middle Tennessee:
Blankenship made it clear that MTSU was his choice all along. After verbally committing to them, he was excited to get to work.
“That was the main college I wanted to go to. I was like man, that felt good.”
Middle Tennessee was liking it too.
In 2017 Reed picked up in college where he had left off in High School. As a true freshman for MTSU, he started nine games, and never looked back.
During his sophomore year (2018), Reed led MTSU with 107 tackles (eight for losses), intercepted four passes (returning one for a score), and he also added 7 pass breakups.
Blankenship was off to another great start during the 2019 season, before suffering a season-ending leg injury after playing in seven games.
He still played well enough during those games, (58 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and two blocked kicks) to be named to the second-team All-Conference USA by the league coaches.
In 2020, Blankenship picked up where he had left off before the injury. Reed played in all nine games for the Blue Raiders and led the team with 76 tackles
Reed’s fifth and final season in 2021 was another healthy and productive campaign. He started all 13 games and was once again the school’s leading tackler. His 110 tackles (10 for a loss) 9 pass breakups, 3 fumble recoveries (which ranked third in the nation), and 2 forced fumbles. Those numbers were good enough for him to finish his collegiate career as MTSU’s all-time leader in tackles with 419.
Despite his college accolades, Blankenship went undrafted during the 2022 NFL Draft and he signed with the Eagles for $55,000 guaranteed including a $5,000 signing bonus.
Humbled by the experience of being one of three undrafted players that made the Eagles team out of camp, he knows there is a lot of hard work ahead to prove he belongs in the NFL.
The Future:
Blankenship isn’t your average rookie. As a five-year starter in college, Reed isn’t viewing himself as a backup. He wants to be a starter.
With both C.J. Gardner Johnson and Marcus Epps set to be free agents at the season’s end, he is aware that continually having good performances during these opportunities to play will go a long way to how the Eagles view their plans at safety heading into 2023.
Blankenship plans to make the decision to move forward with him an easy one. He also plans to introduce himself to those who don’t know him yet.
And for those who do remember him:
Allow him to re-introduce himself, his name is Reed!