Growing up only 10 minutes away from Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium, you probably would have thought the No. 13 overall player and No. 2 player in the state of Florida by ESPN, Travis Blanks, would have chosen to continue his football career as a Seminole.
“Florida State was my favorite team when I was a little kid”, Blanks said. “That was my first college football game.”
Highly recruited by Florida State just a few minutes down the road from where he lived, Blanks chose a longer road; a road that would lead him to an undefeated regular season and a chance at winning the National Championship.
Blanks chose Clemson.
“Ultimately it just came down to this is where I felt like the Lord wanted me to be”, Blanks said. “It was the best fit for me as a person and a player and that’s how I ended up here.”
Blanks endured a successful start to his career at Clemson. As a freshman, he started eight games at nickel back and totaled 51 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. He was named a second-team freshmen All-American.
During his sophomore year, the Clemson linebacker started 10 of the 11 games before suffering a torn knee ligament that would require surgery. In order to fully recover and build back the strength in his knee, he asked the coaching staff if he could redshirt the 2014 season.
Blanks then injured his knee once again last December that would require yet another surgery. He missed a total of 13 games but that didn’t stop him from continuing his role as a leader on the team.
“Travis is a good leader on this team,” head coach Dabo Swinney said. “He was even a leader when he couldn’t play.”
Blanks finished up one of Clemson’s most successful and historic seasons with a total of 36 tackles and four tackles for loss.
“It’s hard not to see the rewards of preparation, but I made the right decision,” he said. “I did what I had to do to be where I am at now.”
And he did just that. After graduating from Clemson in December, Blanks announced he will enter the 2016 NFL draft.
If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.
