VETERANS
WILL
BLACKMON
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 206
Third NFL Season
Third Packers Season
CORNERBACK
BOSTON COLLEGE
Born: Oct. 27, 1984
NFL Gm. Played/Started: 13/1
Acquired: D4b-06
MISC.
85
LAMBEAU
FIELD
Spent the first 11 weeks on the 53-man roster,
playing in four games while inactive for seven
before being placed on injured reserve, Nov. 25…Saw
most of the action during his rookie season in ‘nickel’ and
‘dime’ packages, in addition to special teams duty…Was
in on 11 snaps and posted one pass defensed, in addition
to three special teams stops…Missed all of training camp
after breaking his right foot during a May 21 mini-camp
practice and was unable to practice until Sept. 4, three
RECORDS &
HISTORY
2006
2007 REVIEW
Played in nine games with one
start and listed as inactive for the
other seven contests plus both playoff games…Made
three solo tackles and two passes defensed, plus two
special teams touchdowns, both vs. Oakland (Dec. 9)…
Sparked the Packers’ return game, bringing back eight
punts for 106 yards and a TD…After winning return job
with big preseason showing vs. Seattle (Aug. 18), suffered a thumb injury in the next preseason contest vs.
Jacksonville (Aug. 23) and began the season with a cast
on his hand, unable to perform in return role…Saw action
in the first four games, primarily on special teams…Vs.
Philadelphia (Sept. 9), played on defense as the dime back
and shifted to nickel when Al Harris went out for parts of
two series with an elbow injury and Jarrett Bush moved
to RCB; tied for a team high with three special teams
tackles in the contest…Had two special teams stops vs.
San Diego (Sept. 23)…Again filled in at nickel for Bush
at Minnesota (Sept. 30) when Harris went out for several
plays with a hand injury, coming away with his first pass
defensed of the season; PBU was nearly an interception,
but cast prevented him from catching the ball. Recorded
DRAFT &
FREE AGENTS
2007 season
BLACKMON
his first career solo tackle. In the third quarter, downed a
54-yard Jon Ryan punt on the Minnesota 7-yard line…
Broke his foot during practice on Oct. 3 and missed the
next seven contests; returned to practice Nov. 25 and
played at Dallas (Nov. 29), primarily on special teams…
Vs. Oakland (Dec. 9), earned ‘NFC Special Teams Player
of the Week’ for his two-touchdown outing. Fielded a
second-quarter punt on the run, and returned it 57 yards
for his first career touchdown; returned three punts for 63
yards, the first of his career. On a third-quarter Packers
punt, Jason Hunter forced PR Tim Dwight to fumble. The
ball was inadvertently kicked and eventually Blackmon
landed on it in the end zone for his second score. It was
the first time the same Packers player recorded two special teams touchdowns in a game since Travis Williams
accomplished the feat at Pittsburgh on Nov. 2, 1969. He
also played a handful of snaps as an extra DB and posted
one special teams tackle…At St. Louis (Dec. 16), resumed
his duties as the team’s punt returner (three returns for
30 yards) and also played as an extra cornerback, making one solo tackle and one pass defensed. Returned a
punt 16 yards in the second quarter; the Packers scored
a field goal on the next drive…Served as the nickel back
again at Chicago (Dec. 23)…Made his first career start vs.
Detroit (Dec. 30), filling in for Charles Woodson (coach’s
decision), recording one solo tackle…Left the game in the
second quarter after aggravating his prior foot injury and
was inactive for both playoff games.
ADMIN. &
COACHES
PRO
career
COMMUNITY
►►Enters third year vying for time
at cornerback and on special
teams after injuries have cut
short his first two seasons.
►►Scored his first two NFL touchdowns in the same game in
2007, returning a punt 57 yards
and recovering a fumble on a
at a glance…
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 number 27, his Pop Warner and high school number,
after wearing number 1 in college.
Dynamic athletic talent
has yet to be on full
display due to injuries
in his first two seasons…Cornerback and return specialist
will compete for the third corner spot as well as a return
role…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 on 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 on
an Oakland punt return (Dec. 9)…Marked the first time
a Packers player scored two special teams TDs in the
same game in 38 years…Also was seeing more snaps
on defense as nickel and dime back, but re-aggravated
the foot injury in regular-season finale and missed both
playoff games…In 13 career games, has 11 special
teams tackles and three passes defensed…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…Has hands and ability to make things happen
with the ball, 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 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.
MISC.
LAMBEAU
FIELD
RECORDS &
HISTORY
2007 REVIEW
DRAFT &
FREE AGENTS
BLACKMON
ADMIN. &
COACHES
COMMUNITY
VETERANS
days after the preseason finale…Inactive for opener vs.
Chicago (Sept. 10), suffered additional setback in practice
leading up to New Orleans contest and remained inactive
for Games 2-5…Returned to practice Oct. 10 during the
bye week…Played in his first professional game, at Miami
(Oct. 22), seeing action mostly on special teams with 10
snaps at left cornerback; made one pass defensed and one
special teams tackle…Played exclusively on special teams
at Minnesota (Nov. 12), tallying two special teams tackles,
but suffered a rib injury in the contest and ultimately
landed on injured reserve Nov. 25…Second of the Packers’
two selections in the fourth round (115th overall), taken
with choice from Philadelphia acquired with the Eagles’
sixth-round selection (185) for Green Bay’s fourth-round
choice (109).
college
A three-year starter (2003-05), played in
48 games, including 34 starts…Spent his
first three years at cornerback (22 starts) before switching
to wide receiver as a senior and proceeded to lead team
in catches and receiving yards…Earned all-conference
distinction his final three seasons…Finished his career
with 141 tackles (104 solo), eight interceptions among
22 passes broken up, three forced fumbles, two fumble
recoveries and two tackles for loss at cornerback; recorded
3,995 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns as a wide
receiver and return specialist…Fell just 222 yards shy
of the NCAA Division I-A kickoff-return yardage record,
a mark set by Tulane’s Jeff Liggon (1993-96)…Also
established a number of school records, including career
kickoff-return yardage (2,700), career kickoff returns
(110), single-season kickoff-return yardage (922) and
single-season kickoff returns (36)…First player in school
history to return both a punt and kickoff for a touchdown
in the same season (2004)…Started all 12 games at wide
receiver as a senior in 2005 but saw action on both sides
of the ball…Earned All-ACC second-team honors as a wide
receiver…Led team in receptions (51) and receiving yards
(763); his four touchdown catches ranked second on the
team…Posted three 100-yard receiving games…Returned
22 kickoffs for 489 yards (22.2-yard average) and 15 punts
for 132 yards (8.8-yard average)…Amassed a career-high
1,405 all-purpose yards and finished with two solo tackles
in limited action at cornerback…In his final home game,
against North Carolina State (Nov. 12), notched three
receptions for a career-high 151 yards, including a careerlong 61-yard reception; also gained 67 yards on two kickoff
returns…In the MPC Computers Bowl vs. Boise State
(Dec. 28), had five receptions for 144 yards, including a
35-yard touchdown reception; also had a kickoff return
for 31 yards…Played in all 12 games as a junior in 2004,
starting nine at cornerback…A second-team All-Big East
selection, finished with 46 tackles (30 solo), three interceptions among six passes broken up and forced a fumble…
Returned 28 kickoffs for 762 yards (27.2-yard average) and
23 punts for 261 yards (11.3-yard average)…In season
opener at Ball State (Sept. 2), had eight tackles (six solo),
four punt returns for 37 yards and two kickoff returns for
105 yards, including a career-high 96-yard touchdown in
the second quarter…In the Continental Tire Bowl vs. North
Carolina (Dec. 30), registered four solo tackles and five
kickoff returns for a career-high 165 yards…Started all
13 games at cornerback in 2003…Earned second-team
All-Big East honors…Recorded career highs in tackles
(64), solo stops (50), interceptions (four), passes defensed
(14), tackles for loss (two) and kickoff-return yardage
(922 yards)…Also had a forced fumble and one fumble
recovery…Kickoff-return yardage mark set a new Boston
College standard…At Connecticut (Sept. 13), tallied career
highs in tackles (14), solos (nine), and interceptions (two)
while breaking up four passes and returning a kickoff 47
yards; awarded Big East Defensive Player of the Week for
his efforts…Saw action in 11 games as a true freshman in
2002…Finished the season with 29 tackles (22 solo), one
interception among two passes broken up, one forced fumble and a recovered fumble…Made an immediate impact
on special teams, returning 24 kickoffs for 527 yards
(22.0-yard average) and three punts for 26 yards (8.7-yard
average)…Registered 114 yards on four kickoff returns in
his collegiate debut, vs. Stanford (Sept. 7)…In the Motor
City Bowl vs. Toledo (Dec. 26), had five solo tackles, his
first career interception and returned four kickoffs for 103
yards…Earned B.A. in English.
name
personal Given
Blackmon…Born
William Edwards
in Providence, R.I.
…Girlfriend is Shauna Danielle…Earned 2001 All-America
first-team honors from USA Today, ESPN.com, SuperPrep
and PrepStar as a senior at Bishop Hendricken High
School in Warwick, R.I., which retired his No. 27 this past
year…Three-year letterman was selected to participate
in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Game played at
San Antonio’s Alamodome…Starred for the East team
on defense by registering four tackles, two recovered
fumbles and an interception returned for 32 yards…Game
featured 10 picks from the 2006 NFL Draft, including firstround selections Vince Young (Tennessee), Haloti Ngata
(Baltimore) and Kamerion Wimbley (Cleveland)…Named
Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year after his senior
season, in which he rushed for 1,618 yards and 24 touchdowns…Also had 100 tackles and three interceptions…
Chosen as the top player in New England by SuperPrep
and PrepStar…A two-time all-state and three-time all-city
honoree…Recorded 13 career interceptions…Lettered
in track three years, winning the 100-meter dash in the
Rhode Island state meet (10.87)…Trained with Sanders,
his all-time favorite player, in preparation for the 2006 NFL
Draft; also trained with other 2006 draft picks, including
eventual teammate Jennings and Devin Hester (Chicago
Bears)…Has funded and started a new Pop Warner foot-
Avenging a division loss
The Packers since 2000 now are 10-3 with an opportunity to avenge a division loss from earlier in the season. The list:
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Earlier loss
vs. Chicago
at Detroit
at Tampa Bay
at Tampa Bay
at Minnesota
at Minnesota
vs. Minnesota
vs. Chicago
at Minnesota
at Detroit
at Chicago
vs. Chicago
vs. Chicago
Rematch
W, at Chicago
W, vs. Detroit
W, vs. Tampa Bay
W, vs. Tampa Bay
W, vs. Minnesota
W, vs. Minnesota
W, at Minnesota
W, at Chicago
L, vs. Minnesota
W, vs. Detroit
L, vs. Chicago
W, at Chicago
L, at Chicago
86
VETERANS
ball team called the Providence Packers which his father
manages…Father, Wayne, played football in junior college
and was offered a tryout by the New York Jets…Aspires to
own an Arena League football team, following in Sanders’
footsteps…Participated in the Edgar Bennett Celebrity
Bowl-A-Thon and helped refurbish the Green Bay West H.S.
football field as part of Home Depot Neighborhood MVP
program, in honor of teammate Daryn Colledge winning
weekly MVP award…Rang the Salvation Army bell during
the holidays to solicit donations and attended the team’s
annual holiday party for families of children with cancer…
Worked as a reporter for WFRV in the week leading up to
the 2007 NFL Draft, a career path he is considering once
his playing days are over…Enjoys reading non-fiction novels and is currently reading books by Rick Warren (a pastor
from California), surfing the Internet, cooking (especially
Italian food), and playing Wii…He is also involved with his
clothing line – which he and his best friend Pat Dipippo
created – called Dirty Couture…Worked as assistant purchasing agent for Gilbane, Inc., a construction company…
Spent much of his offseason in Orange County, Calif. …
Residence: Miami, FL.
—Tackles—
Interceptions
Year Team
GP GS Tot SoloAsst Sk Yds No Yds Lg TD PD
2006 Green Bay . . . . . . . . . 4 0
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0 0
1
2007 Green Bay . . . . . . . . . 9 1
3
3 0
0 0
0
0
0 0
2
NFL totals (two years) . . . . 13 1
3
3 0
0 0
0
0
0 0
3
CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRATION: After 2009
2006, GREEN BAY
2007, GREEN BAY
1
87
NFC Divisional Playoff, 2NFC Championship
MISC.
Date Opp GPGSTot So As Sk Yd Int YdLg TDPD FF FR
09/9 Phi-W 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
09/16 at NYG-W1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
09/23 SD-W 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
09/30 at Min-W 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
10/7 Chi-L(inactive — foot)
10/14 Was-W(inactive — foot)
10/29 at Den-W(inactive — foot)
11/4 at KC-W(inactive — foot)
11/11 Min-W(inactive — foot)
11/18 Car-W(inactive — foot)
11/22 at Det-W(inactive — foot)
11/29 at Dal-L 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12/9 Oak-W 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12/16 at StL-W 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
12/23 at Chi-L 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12/30 Det-W 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
‘07 TOTALS 9 1 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
01/12 Sea-W 1(inactive — foot)
01/20 NYG-L2(inactive — foot)
PLAYOFFS - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LAMBEAU
FIELD
Date Opp GPGSTot So As Sk Yd Int YdLg TDPD FF FR
09/10 Chi-L(inactive — foot)
09/17 NO-L(inactive — foot)
09/24 at Det-W(inactive — foot)
10/02 at Phi-L(inactive — foot)
10/08 StL-L(inactive — foot)
10/22 at Mia-W 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
10/29 Ari-W 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/05 at Buf-L 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/12 at Min-W 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11/19 NE-L(inactive — rib)
11/27 at Sea-L(injured reserve — rib)
12/03 NYJ-L(injured reserve — rib)
12/10 at SF-W(injured reserve — rib)
12/17 Det-W(injured reserve — rib)
12/21 Min-W(injured reserve — rib)
12/31 at Chi-W(injured reserve — rib)
‘06 TOTALS 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
RECORDS &
HISTORY
Will Blackmon Game-by-Game
2007 REVIEW
CAREER TRANSACTIONS
u2006 Selected by Green Bay Packers as second of two
fourth-round choices (115th overall) in ’06 NFL
Draft, April 30…Signed first contract, July 14…
Placed on injured reserve (rib), Nov. 25.
Kickoff Returns
Returns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, at Chi. (12/23/07)
Yards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, at Chi. (12/23/07)
Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, at Chi. (12/23/07)
Punt Returns
Returns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, two times
(last: at StL, 12/16/07)
Yards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63, vs. Oak. (12/9/07)
Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57t, vs. Oak. (12/9/07)
DRAFT &
FREE AGENTS
NFL debut: at Miami, 10/22/06
NFL first start: vs. Detroit, 12/30/07
First return touchdown: vs. Oakland, 12/9/07 (57 yards)
Additional touchdowns (1): vs. Oakland, 12/9/07
(special teams fumble recovery in end zone)
BLACKMON’S SINGLE-GAME
CAREER HIGHS
BLACKMON
Additional statistics: Recovered fumble on special teams
vs. Oakland, 12/9/07, in the end zone for touchdown.
Special teams tackles — 3 in 2006, 8 in 2007; NFL total: 11.
PUNT RETURNS
No FC Yds Avg Lg TD
0 0
0 0.0
0 0
8 0 106 13.3 57t 1
8 0 106 13.3 57t 1
ADMIN. &
COACHES
KICKOFF RETURNS
Year Team
No Yds Avg Lg TD
2006 Green Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
0
0.0
0
0
2007 Green Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
3
3.0
3
0
NFL totals (two years) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
3
3.0
3
0
Inactive for Packers’ two games during 2007 playoffs
Fumbles
FF FR Yds
0 0
0
0 0
0
0 0 0
COMMUNITY
Will Blackmon’s Pro Statistics