Best college football players of all time from every state

Rhode Island – Will Blackmon

With a total land area of just 1,214 square miles, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States and ranks very low in total population. Those facts and the added lack of FBS Football located in Rhode Island could be said to be an automatic weakness to the quality of football produced there.

However, those who say that would be correct, but there are some bright spots.

Former Boston College standout Will Blackmon was a standout in just about every way with the Eagles and served as a crucial part of the offense, defense and special teams. His freshman season with the Eagles, Blackmon played as a cornerback and special teams ace, intercepting one pass in limited time and being responsible for 630 return yards, with an average of 22.5 yards per return. In his time on defense for the first three years of his collegiate career, Blackmon had 8 interceptions in 36 games played.

After lackluster performances on the other side of the ball, however, the Eagles thought it was best for Blackmon to switch to the offensive side of the ball—and it made all the difference. Blackmon’s shift came along with an additional 51 passes caught for 763 yards and four touchdowns in his senior campaign.

It paid in dividends for the Eagles as a whole, too, as the team went on to win nine games in Blackmon’s senior season for the third time in his collegiate career. The eventual fourth round pick by the Packers would go on to force nine fumbles, intercepting four passes, and win a Super Bowl in Super Bowl XLVI.