Justin Blackmon, a former NFL player who was drafted out of Oklahoma State University in 2012, was arrested on Saturday, April 19, on the charge of public intoxication. Blackmon has a history of arrests, which is what derailed the talented wide receiver’s career. In a mug shot released to the media, the 35-year-old looks like he has fallen far from his athletic days and is now described as nearly “unrecognizable”.
Justin Blackmon’s Successful Career Derailed
Justin Blackmon is a former superstar wide receiver for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys football team. Blackmon was due to be inducted into the school’s Ring of Honor during the upcoming season, on November 15. As a college player, Blackmon finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2010, the year he was a unanimous All-American and named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Last year, Blackmon was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Justin Blackmon’s career was strong enough that he entered the 2012 draft as one of the highest-rated wide receivers in the draft class. The Jacksonville Jaguars liked what they saw and traded up in the first round to draft Blackmon fifth overall that year. Given his career numbers in college football, Blackmon was expected to easily adapt to the grind of the NFL.
Justin Blackmon’s first season was a success, when he had 64 catches for 865 receiving yards and five touchdowns. That rookie performance gave hope to NFL fans, and especially the Jacksonville Jaguars, that they had a future superstar on their hands. Unfortunately, that never materialized, as Blackmon soon found himself in trouble with the law. He was ultimately arrested for various drug or alcohol-related crimes multiple times over the year, and he was never able to establish himself in the league and was ultimately forced out.
Justin Blackmon Arrested Once Again
Early on Saturday morning, Justin Blackmon was arrested once again. At 2:17 AM, the former star was arrested by the Payne County, Oklahoma, Police Department, allegedly for public intoxication. The police have not released an official statement regarding the cause of the arrest.
However, according to TMZ Sports as reported in The Daily Mail, “Police responded to a call regarding a ‘larger black male’ laying on the ground at 1:32 am Saturday. When they arrived on the scene, the ex-Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver, 35, had roamed into a campus building, before they quickly made contact with him. Officers observed that he was unsteady on his feet and smelling strongly of alcohol while in wet clothes. Blackmon, who was said to be ‘slurred and confusing’, repeatedly told them he was trying to walk home to ‘Stillwater’. When told that was a town and not an address, he reportedly admitted to not living there while saying: ‘You got me.'”
Police officials have not confirmed the validity of the reports. What was also concerning was that, when Justin Blackmon was arrested, he gave in at 6’2 230 pounds, far beyond the weight he was as a player. Law enforcement officials reportedly required two sets of handcuffs to detain him and a larger vehicle to transport him for processing. The mugshot released in conjunction with the arrest reveals a scruffy adult male who looks nothing like the younger Justin Blackmon that entered the NFL. Many described the picture as “unrecognizable”.
It is incredibly sad to see a young man with that level of potential struggling with substance abuse and any other mental or physical health problems that may be persisting. If you or someone you know is struggling, please encourage them to seek help. There is support out there. Hopefully, Justin Blackmon will find support and help him through these trying times. As more information is released about the arrest and subsequent judicial process, the report will be updated.
