Justin Blatchford Season 2008

Honors & Awards

• Academic All-Big Ten (2011, 2012)
• Second-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2010)
• First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2009)
• Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2011, 2012; Spring 2012, 2013)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll (2008, 2010)
• Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll (2009, 2010)

Justin Blatchford was a key contributor for Nebraska each of the past four seasons, both on special teams and in the Nebraska secondary. Blatchford was a fixture on Nebraska's special teams for the past four years, while playing a key role on the Husker defense in his final two seasons. The Capital One Bowl against Georgia marked Blatchford's 50th career game.

Blatchford was one of five former walk-ons who were placed on scholarship before the start of the 2012 season. The Ponca, Neb., native went on to play in 13 games as a senior and saw significant action in the final half of the regular season, as Nebraska made a run to the Big Ten Championship Game.
Blatchford was named to the academic All-Big Ten team in early December, marking the fourth consecutive year he was named to an academic all-conference team. Blatchford is on track to earn his degree in May of 2013.

2012 (Senior)
Blatchford saw action as an extra defensive back in Nebraska's secondary. He finished the season with 12 tackles, including four solo stops. He made a season-high four tackles against Penn State and had three stops against Idaho State. Blatchford also had three pass breakups on the season, including key breakups late in victories over Michigan State and Penn State. Blatchford also served on Nebraska's kickoff and punt coverage units throughout the season, with five of his tackles coming on special teams.

2011 (Junior)
Blatchford appeared in all 13 games, and earned his first career start against Washington. He finished with 11 total tackles, including eight solo stops and three assists. Seven of his tackles came on special teams.  

Blatchford had a season-high three tackles against both Chattanooga and Fresno State. He added a pass breakup against Michigan State and a quarterback hurry against Chattanooga.

2010 (Sophomore)
Blatchford missed the first two games while recovering from a knee injury. He made five tackles, including two solos, and had a career-high three tackles at Kansas State.

2009 (Redshirt Freshman)
Blatchford played in 12 games on Nebraska's punt return and kickoff coverage teams. He made three unassisted tackles, one each vs. Colorado, Baylor and Arizona. His biggest play came in the 20-10 win against Baylor, when he returned a block punt 25 yards for a touchdown after the Bears' opening series, giving NU a 7-0 advantage.

2008 (Redshirt)
A walk-on, Blatchford redshirted in 2008.

Before Nebraska (Ponca HS)
Blatchford was a four-sport athlete at Class C-2 Ponca High School. He was a two-time all-state football selection at running back for Coach Joe Kvidera, and also played linebacker. He set the school career record with 66 rushing touchdowns, while gaining more than 1,000 yards three times. He also set the school's single-game rushing record with a 283-yard performance against Randolph. He was all-state honorable mention as a sophomore and was an all-conference selection all four years, while leading Ponca to the state playoffs three seasons. He played in the 2008 Shrine Game.

Blatchford also lettered four times each in basketball, baseball and golf. He was a two-time all-conference pick as a guard in basketball, while leading his squad to a state title his junior year. He placed in the top 10 all four years at the state golf tournament, and guided Ponca to a state runner-up finish his junior season. On the diamond, he played numerous positions, including outfield and catcher, and was a two-time state champion for the Wakefield Legion program. In the classroom he was a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal
Justin is the son of Bruce and Rhonda Blatchford, and was born Jan. 3, 1990. He earned his bachelor's in May 2013 after majoring in nutrition, exercise and health science and was a four-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. He was also a four-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection, and a three-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll pick.

Blatchford's Career Statistics

Single-Game Highs
» Tackles-3 three times (Chattanooga, Fresno State in 2011; Penn State in 2012)
» Solo Tackles-2 three times (Chattanooga, Fresno State in 2011; Idaho State in 2012)
» Pass Breakups-1 three times (Idaho State, Michigan State, Penn State in 2012)