By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
As soon as
Cole Blackman made the catch, he saw the end zone. After all he had gone through and overcome, a touchdown would be his reward.
Alas, a defender somehow tripped him up from behind at the 5-yard line. The 45-yard reception set up a William & Mary touchdown, but it wasn't Blackman on camera raising the ball over his head.
"That's been haunting me since it happened," Blackman said with a laugh. "When I checked my phone after the game, all my friends were texting me saying 'You can't let that happen!' I've played that back a hundred times."
Blackman didn't get the touchdown, and his team lost the Capital Cup to Richmond, but it was very much a personal win. Partly because of his five catches for 89 yards, easily the best game of his career. But mainly because of the rocky path that brought him here.
Â
In 2017, going into his sophomore season at the University of Virginia, Blackman broke his leg during a scrimmage. It was a compound fracture, nearly identical to what former Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware experienced during the 2013 NCAA tournament.
By the time Blackman was healthy enough to play again, he had slid down the Cavaliers' depth chart behind younger players. He transferred to Illinois State, where he had only two catches the entire 2019 season.
That led to another fresh start. And a chance to play for
Mike London, who was the head coach at Virginia when Blackman committed there prior to his junior year of high school.
So on March 6, in his hometown with his mother and uncle in the stands,
Cole Blackman had the best day of his college football career. By far.
"It was tough because I was battling the feeling of being so grateful to be back on the field after all the trials and tribulations but at the same time, we lost our rivalry game," Blackman said. "It was definitely bittersweet because a lot of sweat and tears went into it."
Few understand that better than Billy McMullen, a former Virginia and NFL wide receiver who Blackman considers his mentor.
"It was huge, so huge that I was ready to put the pads back on," McMullen said. "I got with Cole right after his 10
th grade year, and I've seen all the ups and downs. To see him have that game was huge."
Blackman was going into his junior year at Glen Allen High when he committed to Virginia. It was his dream school and where McMullen had been a two-time All-ACC receiver. London, who was going into his fifth season in Charlottesville, played Mariano Rivera and closed the deal.
"I knew from the start Coach London had the same values as me," Blackman said. "He's a huge family guy and huge on effort. I could tell right away he was the type of coach I wanted to play for."
That would have to wait. London resigned following the 2015 season, which was Blackman's senior year at Atlee High. He ended up honoring his commitment to Virginia and played four games as a true freshman.
In 2017, Blackman was expected to move up the depth chart. But in the Cavaliers' final preseason scrimmage, he went up near the sideline to make a catch. As he tried to get his left foot inbounds, Blackman landed awkwardly.
The tibia in his left leg was broken and protruding through his skin. Blackman also fractured his fibula.
"It was really loud," he said. "At first, I didn't really feel anything. I was rolling on the ground, and that's when I saw it.
"After that, it was all a blur. I passed out and woke up in the hospital with a rod in my leg. I was like, 'What happened?'"
At least he made the catch.
"I made sure of that," Blackman said. "I went back and looked at the film."
His left leg was off limits, but Blackman made sure to stay in shape. Working to strengthen his right leg, he overdid it a little and broke a bone in his foot. That left him with a rod in his left leg, a screw in his right foot, and two walking boots.
Blackman was declared good to go for the 2018 season, but he saw most of his playing time on special teams. In three seasons with the Cavaliers, two on the field, he had yet to catch a pass. Looking for a new beginning, he entered the transfer portal.
"I fell on the depth chart because I was out a year and a half," Blackman said. "I was labeled as injury prone, so I knew I needed a fresh start somewhere."
Illinois State is a Championship Subdivision program, so Blackman was eligible right away. The Redbirds traditionally have had a strong passing game, but 2019 saw a more run-heavy playbook.
The reason was James Robinson, who rushed for 1,899 yards and averaged 24 carries a game. (As an undrafted rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he ran for 1,070 yards last fall). Blackman played in eight games and caught two passes for 23 yards.
He earned his degree in political science at Illinois State and went back in the portal. As a grad transfer, he again would have immediate eligibility. A familiar name reached out.
"I'll never forget it: I was in my living room and Coach London called," Blackman said. "It reminded me of when I was in high school. We talked 30, 45 minutes, and probably 10 minutes of that was football. The rest was 'How's life, how's the family?'
"When I got off the phone, I was like, 'Now I remember why I committed to him so early.' Once he gave me the opportunity to come here, I was like, 'Coach, you know I'm coming.'"
After all these years, London was glad to be able to coach him.
"The opportunity to get back together with Cole presented itself, and we jumped at the chance," London said. "He's a great individual. We love everything about Cole and what he represents."
Blackman enrolled in William & Mary's Elementary Education Master's program, but there would be no fall season due to the pandemic. He made sure to be ready come spring, when William & Mary would open its season at Richmond.
After no catches in the first half, Blackman had four for 44 yards in the third quarter. Then came the big one. On first down from midfield, Blackman got open across the middle and caught a bullet from quarterback
Hollis Mathis just outside the 30-yard line.
Blackman was five yards from glory when Spiders free safety Aaron Banks dove from behind and clipped his left foot. Four plays later, Mathis threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Anthony Mague.
In one afternoon, Blackman had three more receptions and 66 more yards than his career totals coming in. It was a just reward, and McMullen believes there is more ahead.
"He has a fire in his belly and wants to be great," he said. "I know this is only the beginning."
Â
