Reed Blankenship

Reed Blankenship's Biography

Reed Scott Blankenship, an American professional football safety currently signed with Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL), was born on March 2, 1999, in Athens, Alabama. An illustrious player from a young age, Blankenship grew up showing a proclivity for sports that would go on to set the trajectory for his future.

During his high school tenure at West Limestone, Blankenship showcased his tactical supremacy in both football and basketball. He was honored with multiple accolades, including all-state, all-region, all-county, and all-area selection in football. The apex of his high school sports career came in 2016 when he was named the Player of the Year. As the team’s captain for two seasons, Blankenship seized the gridiron, accumulating 3,192 rushing yards, 1,004 yards of receiving, 1,056 yards through the air, and a total of 46 touchdowns.

Blankenship’s exceptional performance in high school generated interest from several universities. He received scholarship offers from Middle Tennessee, Alabama A&M, Marist, Minnesota, Southern Miss, Georgia State, Tulane, Troy, Samford, Arkansas State, Western Carolina, Arkansas Tech, Mercer, UT Martin, and Central Arkansas. Ultimately, he accepted an offer from Middle Tennessee.

Commencing his college tenure in 2017, Blankenship played in 13 games, starting in nine. He secured fourth place on the team with 68 tackles, a sack, and two interceptions. This strong performance as a true freshman resulted in him being bestowed with honorable mention all-conference and C-USA All-Freshman honors.

Blankenship’s sophomore year in 2018 saw him starting in 12 out of 13 games, leading the team with 107 tackles. Additionally, he racked up four interceptions, seven defended passes, and was ranked 16th nationally for his interceptions. A notable performance came in a game against Old Dominion, where Blankenship’s extraordinary display of skill led him to be named Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week and conference defensive player of the week. This also resulted in a first-team all-conference nomination at the season’s close.

Although Blankenship is a determined player, just like anyone else, he faced a stumbling block in his junior year when he sustained a season-ending leg injury after just seven games. Despite the setback, he managed to secure 58 tackles, two interceptions, three defended passes, and a forced fumble, also ranking first in the nation for two blocked kicks.

Returning to the field in 2020, Blankenship started all nine games and led his team with 76 tackles. Despite projections of being a mid-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, he opted to extend his tenure at Middle Tennessee for another year.

As a fifth-year senior in 2021, Blankenship made his mark when he started all 13 games. His decisive gameplay culminated in 110 stops, three fumble recoveries, and an eighth-place national ranking for solo tackles per game.

Despite not being drafted in the 2022 NFL draft, Blankenship’s impressive profile did not go unnoticed. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. He made his NFL debut in week five against the Arizona Cardinals and made significant contributions on the field, eventually being named the team’s starting free safety in 2023. By the following year, Blankenship had become a central figure on the team, racking up 113 total tackles, three interceptions, 11 defended passes, and one fumble recovery.

On April 1, 2024, Blankenship secured a one-year contract extension with the Eagles. In September 2024, during a matchup against Green Bay Packers, Blankenship halted a potential game-winning drive with a stunning interception in the third quarter. Demonstrating his ability to shape the course of a game, he scored another key interception in week three against the New Orleans Saints to give his team victory. To date, Blankenship continues to prove that he is a force to be reckoned with on the football field.