Will Blackwell
No. 89
Born: (1975-07-09) July 9, 1975
Texarkana, Texas, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Wide receiver
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight196 lb (89 kg)
CollegeSan Diego State
High schoolSkyline (Oakland, California)
NFL draft1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 53
Career history
As player
1997–2001Pittsburgh Steelers

William Herman Blackwell Jr. (born July 9, 1975) is a former American football player who played wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL). Blackwell was picked in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft with high expectations based on his successful career at San Diego State University, but he played sparingly in five years in the NFL.[1] He now coaches the Skyline High School football team in Oakland, California.[2]

College

Blackwell decided to attend San Diego State University. Blackwell was WAC freshman of the year in 1994.[3] Blackwell was Individual Statistical Leader with 86 catches and 1206 yards.[4] Blackwell was coached by Dino Babers and Curtis Johnson.[5][6] Blackwell was a 1000-yard receiver in 1996.[7] Blackwell's combine results were enough to get him to the NFL.[8]

Blackwell was Freshman of the year, 1994 and first team Western Athletic Conference in 1995 and 1996.

College stats

Receiving and Rushing

YearReceiving
RecYdsAvgTD
19945168913.56
199586120714.08
199660100016.711
Total197289614.725

Scoring

YearReceiving
GRecPts
199411636
199512848
199691166
Total25150

NFL

Career stats

YearRushingReceiving
AttYdsAvgTDLngRecYdsAvgTDLng
19972147.00111216814.0146
199800000322979.3124
199900000201869.3026
20000000022311.5014
200100000188.008
Total2147.0006768210.220

Blackwell was part of The Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship, an annual program administered by the NFL Management Council and NFL Player. Blackwell was one of four interns hand picked.[9]

Blackwell was only one of five Steelers to have returned kickoffs for touchdowns (JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2017, Antonio Brown in 2010, Allen Rossum in 2007, Antwaan Randle El in 2002 and Will Blackwell in 2000).[10][11] In 2001, Blackwell reinjured his left knee in Pittsburgh's 21-3 loss to Jacksonville. Coach Bill Cowher said Blackwell, who missed the first half of last year with a knee injury.[12] Blackwell along with four other LSU players were released August 28, 2012 in the first round of major cuts.[13]

Blackwell spent one month with the St Louis Rams and was cut August 31, 2002.[14]

Personal life

Blackwell lives in California. Blackwell works for Oakland Unified School District. He is a Receiver Coach, Restorative Practice Facilitator and Assistant Athletic Director for McClymonds High School. Blackwell also is the Head Coach for Varsity Baseball and a Community relations liaison.

Blackwell is the African American Male Achievement Program Manager helping Oakland’s public schools fight to save black boys.[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ "1997 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  2. ↑ DeWitt, Nick. "The 10 Biggest Draft Mistakes in Pittsburgh Steelers History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  3. ↑ "Google Books". books.google.com. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  4. ↑ "Google Books". books.google.com. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  5. ↑ "Syracuse University Athletics - 2017 Football Coaching Staff". cuse.com. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  6. ↑ "Football Bowl Guide" (PDF). static.hurricanesports.com/custompages/old_site/pdf/m-footbl/bowlguide.pdf.
  7. ↑ "Aztecs rally past UW". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  8. ↑ "Will Blackwell | WR | San Diego State - NFL Combine Results". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  9. ↑ "Coaches join Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship". swac.org. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  10. ↑ Bires. "Steelers Get A Good Return on Logan" (PDF).
  11. ↑ Marczi, Matthew (January 1, 2018). "JuJu Smith-Schuster's Kick Return Score The First For Steelers Since Antonio Brown In 2010".
  12. ↑ "Will Blackwell, Steelers Blackwell, a wide receiver..." tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  13. ↑ "Ex-LSU players Will Blackwell, Ryan Baker among cuts at NFL camps". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  14. ↑ "2002 St. Louis Rams Transactions: Free Agency, Trades & more". www.foxsports.com. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  15. ↑ "Will Blackwell".
  16. ↑ "How Oakland's public schools are fighting to save black boys". MSNBC. Retrieved 2018-01-28.


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