Photos by Craig T. Greenlee
In his only high school season in which he played defense, Blair (18 in red)
recorded 16 sacks.
Blair (18) rushes the quarterback during the East-West All-Star Game.
Outlook is very promising for
former Mount Tabor standout
Blair at S.C. State
BY CRAIG T. GREENLEE
FOR THE CHRONICLE
Jementre' Blair's stellar senior season at Mount Tabor proved that being a defensive
lineman is his true calling,
played on the offensive line in
two-time All-Central Piedmont
tackle.
Entering his senior season,
given the chance to play defen
was an all-league pick who fin
les, which included 23 stops for
"When I got the green light
ed," said Blair. "For me, it's more
have to hold anything back. I
the opportunity and show what I
As a defensive lineman, Blair
Because of team needs, Blair
his first three years, and was a
Conference pick at offensive
Blair, 6-feet-2,230 pounds, was
sive end, and he flourished. He
ished with 16 sacks and 87 tack
lost yardage.
to play defense, I was so excit
fun because I don't feel like I
was able to take advantage of
could do."
benefited from his experience
playing on the other side of the ball. He figured out how to take full advantage of his
speed and quickness.
"I felt like I had an advantage (on defense)," said Blair, who signed with South
Carolina State earlier this year. "For me, instincts are key. I'm usually in the right place
at the right time. I can read the opposing lineman's footwork and use that to help me win
those one-on-one match-ups."
When Blair started out in high school, he weighed 260 pounds. But over the last
three years, he shed 30 pounds, which greatly enhanced his foot-speed (runs 4.62 sec
onds in the 40-yard dash) and lateral quickness. During that time, he played a lot of
pick-up basketball, which he credits with aiding his agility and footwork.
Yet, there's more to Blair's game than speed and quickness. His weight room num
bers are far from shabby. Here are some of his max totals: bench press, 365 pounds;
squat lift, 520 pounds; power and clean, 315 pounds. The combination of speed, quick
ness and strength make him a top-flight college prospect.
At 230 pounds, Blair isn't the biggest of defensive linemen at the college level. So,
it comes as no surprise that he'll probably end up playing outside linebacker, which will
showcase his physical tools as a dominant pass rusher who's also fast enough to provide
solo pass coverage on tight ends and running backs.
Blair's college career at South Carolina State will get a delayed start. In the fourth
quarter of the East-West All-Star Football Game played three weeks ago, he dislocated
his right shoulder and had surgery two days later.
With the injury, Blair will be sidelined for three months. As a result, he'll sit out this
season in order to be fully healed and ready to go for 2016.
Blair confessed that it will feel strange to have to sit and watch as he recuperates.
"This will be the first time in about 10 years that I won't be taking part in a pre-season
practice," said Blair, who will double major in Business Administration and Computer
Science. "I'll be OK. When next season comes around, I'll be good to go."
Blair
WSSU FOOTBALL
Punter William Johnson selected to
InstantScouting 2015 Division-2
preseason All-America Team
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Winston-Salem State University junior
kicker/punter William Johnson has been
selected to the InstantScouting 2015
Division-2 Preseason All-American Team.
InstantScouting is a Canadian-based
independent global scouting service that is
committed to helping aspiring athletes at
the collegiate and free agent level show
case their abilities to all professional foot
ball teams in North America and Europe.
InstantScouting offers coaches and
professional scouts the opportunity to view
some of the best football talent from
around the world from their computers.
InstantScouting has selected its first
All-America & All-Canadian team and
currently selects teams in PCS, Division 2,
Division 3, NAIA and CIS. They are the
only teams chosen
exclusively by the
scouts who work to
create professional
football opportunities
for athletes.
William Johnson
(Jr. 5-11, 175, High
Point, NC / HP
Central) was also
voted to the 2015
Preseason All-CIAA
Team as a punter.
Johnson averaged 39.4
yards per punt (second
in the CIAA). Johnson also connected on
three of five field goal attempts from 40-49
yards. He will be counted on heavily in
2015 to take on the fulltime duties of all
kicking portions for the Rams.
Johnson
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