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VETERANS
WILL
BLACKMON
CORNERBACK
BOSTON COLLEGE
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 206
Fourth NFL Season
Fourth Packers Season
Born: October 27, 1984
NFL Gm. Played/Started: 29/2
Acquired: D4b-06
PRO
career
Dynamic athletic talent
finally was on full
display in his third season
after injuries hampered his first two years…Became a
special-teams standout in 2008 as both a return specialist
and coverage player, running back two punts for touchdowns
– only the fourth player in franchise
history to accomplish that in one
season – and leading the team with 18
special teams tackles, all of which landed
him a spot on USA Today’s All-Joe Team, which recognizes
productive players who get little fanfare…Ranked fourth in
the NFC and ninth in the NFL with an 11.1-yard average on
punt returns last season while also handling kickoff return
duties…His combined 1,555 punt and kick return yards in
2008 ranks as the second-highest single-season total in
franchise history…Also made an impact as a nickel and
dime cornerback, posting 17 tackles and forcing two fumbles,
by far his most extensive action on defense in three
years…In 29 career games, has 29 special teams tackles
and four touchdowns, all on special teams…His three career
punt returns for touchdowns ties him for the franchise
record with Desmond Howard…Had landed kickoff and
punt return job with big runbacks in the second preseason
game in 2007 vs. Seattle (Aug. 18), but suffered a thumb
injury in the next game and began the regular season with
a cast on his hand, relegating him to reserve corner duty…
Then broke his foot Oct. 3, the same foot he broke as a
rookie in mini-camp, and missed seven games…Resumed
punt-return duties when healthy and scored his first two
NFL touchdowns in the same game, returning a punt 57
yards for a score and recovering a fumble in the end zone
to mark the first time a Packers player scored two special
teams TDs in the same game in 38 years, but re-aggravated
the foot injury in regular-season finale and missed
both playoff games…Impressed early in mini-camps as a
rookie before breaking his foot on one of the last plays of
the final May camp…Suffered a setback in his rehab, in
addition to a subsequent rib injury in Week 10, that limited
him to just four games in 2006…Ability to make things
happen with the ball is no surprise, having made the switch
to wide receiver as a college senior to shore up a depleted
receiving corps at Boston College…Prior to the 2006 NFL
Draft, worked out with future teammate Greg Jennings and
childhood hero Deion Sanders…A fourth-round selection
in 2006, was the 14th BC player to be drafted by the Packers,
the first since QB Matt Hasselbeck in 1998, and one of
In December
►►With three career punt returns
for touchdowns, is tied with
Desmond Howard for the franchise
record.
►►In 2008, became only the fourth
player in team history to return
multiple punts for touchdowns
in the same season. Also led at a glance…
the team in special teams tackles
with 18, giving him 29 in 29 career games, along with four
TDs, all on special teams.
►►Scored his first two NFL touchdowns in the same game in
2007, returning a punt 57 yards and recovering a fumble on a
punt return vs. Oakland (Dec. 9) to earn ‘NFC Special Teams
Player of the Week’. Marked first time a Packers player
scored two special teams TDs in the same game in 38 years.
►►A versatile athlete, lined up at cornerback (2002-04) and
wide receiver (2005) at Boston College in addition to serving
as the team’s return specialist.
►►Registered 2,700 career kickoff return yards at BC, 222 yards
shy of the Division I-A all-time mark, and earned all-conference
honors in his final three seasons (Big East – 2003-04;
ACC –2005).
►►Participated in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American game as a
senior at Bishop Hendricken High School (R.I.) along with 10
other 2006 NFL Draft picks.
►►Wears No. 27, his Pop Warner and high school number, after
wearing No. 1 in college.
two defensive backs chosen by Green Bay in 2006…Born
Oct. 27, 1984, was the youngest player on the league’s
youngest team in 2006.
2008 season
Played in every game with one
start...Ranked fourth in the NFC
and ninth the NFL with a 11.1-yard avg. on 36 punt returns...One
of only five players in the NFL to return two-ormore
punts for touchdowns in 2008, and one of only four
in Packers history, joining Howard (three in 1996), Billy
Grimes (two in 1950) and Willie Wood (two in 1961)...Also
had a 21.0-yard avg. on 55 kickoff returns…His 398 punt
return yards tied for the third-highest single-season total
in team history, his 1,157 kickoff return yards rank fourth,
and his combined return yardage total of 1,555 is second
in franchise annals…Recorded 17 tackles (16 solo), two
forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense, seeing
time as nickel and dime back, and led the team with a
career-high 18 special teams stops...Was on the field for
326 of the team’s 472 special teams plays (69.1 percent),
ADMIN. &
COMMUNITY COACHES BLACKMON
DRAFT &
FREE AGENTS
2008 REVIEW HISTORY
RECORDS &
LAMBEAU
FIELD
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has continued the tradition of December success in Green Bay. He is 8-5 in the regular season’s final
month since 2006.
u Over the past 10 seasons (1999-2008), Green Bay owns the league’s third-best record Dec. 1 and later (including January):
MISC.
Club W L T Pct
New England 36 10 0 .783
Pittsburgh 33 15 0 .688
Green Bay 32 15 0 .681
Indianapolis 32 16 0 .667
Philadelphia 30 15 0 .667
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