Blanton Ready for Double Duty on Rattlers’ Special Teams

Colby Blanton

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

Punting has become second-nature for Colby Blanton, who for the past two seasons has been in that role for FAMU’s special teams.

 
But kicking field goals is something he’s getting used to for the first time since he handled place-kicking, field goals and punts at Jacksonville’s Atlantic Coast High School three years ago.

 
He is taking over placekicking by default just like Vince Coleman did in 1978. Cory Owens was projected to handle kicks this season, but he became an academic casualty.

 
That left Colby in his current situation, as the Rattlers open the season against Football Bowl Subdivision opponent South Florida in Tampa on Saturday.

 
Ironically, the only time that the Rattlers beat a FBS team, then known as Division I-A, was 16-13 over Miami in 1979 when Coleman was placekicker and punter. Back then, FAMU FCS division status was known as I-AA.

 
It was clearly a David vs. Goliath matchup until the closing minutes when the outcome came down to special teams. FAMU snapped a 13-13 tie on the field goal by Coleman, who later gave up football for a successful career in baseball.

 
The Hurricanes would later miss a 17-yard field goal, as Danny Miller’s attempt sailed wide right.

 
While South Florida (4-8 last season) is no Miami, the fact that the Bulls are an FBS program makes it unlikely to overlook the match up as anything more than a little school wanting to do what seems improbable.

 
Blanton seemingly gets a rush just thinking of the possibilities of winning a close game on a field goal.

 
“I’m up to it. It’s fun actually,” he said. “Kicking is really a game of playing against yourself mentally. From what I’ve heard their punter led the league last year (with a 43.8 average)and I like playing against someone like that.”

 
Blanton averaged 39.7 yards punting per game, which was fifth-best in the MEAC last season. He realizes that he could be hard pressed with double duty, but he’s spent preseason camp preparing himself with no illusions that he faces a similar easy situation as he did in high school.

 
“College is a lot different so I just have to be smart; save my legs and limit my kicks to make sure I don’t over kick my legs for this season,” Blanton said.

 
His assignment isn’t uncommon, but it’s not popular nowadays in college football. Head coach Alex Wood said he is no stranger to having a placekicker and punter in one player.

 
“It comes in handy if he is good at both and he is consistent at doing both,” Wood said, acknowledging that the rest of his special teams unit will have to be consistent as well. Especially because special teams might be the one area that the Rattlers could matchup with the Bulls in terms of depth.

 
“It all starts with protection and coverage,” Wood said. “If we can do that well we will have real good special teams. Obviously the kicker plays a role in all of that because we are covering his kicks. The timing and the operation is crucial. That operation has to happen in seconds.

 
“The crucial thing for us is; can you run out of (position) folks. Yes, you can, but we have to control the tempo. Plain and simple.