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Khari Thomas Blasingame (born July 1, 1996) is an American football fullback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL).[1] He played college football at Vanderbilt and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019.[1]

Early years

Blasingame was a two-year captain and two-way starter at safety and running back for Buckhorn High School in Huntsville, Alabama.[2] In his senior year, Blasingame posted 64 tackles, two interceptions, 966 rushing yards, and 10 touchdowns.[2] As a three-star safety, Blasingame committed to Vanderbilt. He also received offers from Minnesota and Northwestern.[3]

College career

Blasingame signed with Vanderbilt as a linebacker in 2015. He started seven games in his freshman year, recording 12 total tackles. When he switched positions to halfback, the position he had played in high school, he experienced more success. Blasingame started 13 games, carrying the ball 97 times for 446 yards and 10 touchdowns. Starting 10 games as a junior, he rushed 45 times for 147 yards and no touchdowns. He also accumulated six receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. Blasingame became a full-time starter during his senior season, taking 96 carries for 400 yards and five touchdowns, as well as racking up 25 catches for 320 yards and another touchdown.[4]

In 2019, Blasingame was named the Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. [5]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+1⁄8 in
(1.83 m) 		233 lb
(106 kg) 		32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.55 s 1.52 s 2.61 s 4.18 s 6.94 s 38.5 in
(0.98 m)		 10 ft 11 in
(3.33 m)		 20 reps
All values from Pro Day[6]

Minnesota Vikings

After going undrafted, the Minnesota Vikings signed Blasingame as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2019.[7] He was waived on August 31, 2019, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[8][9]

Tennessee Titans

Blasingame in 2021

On November 13, 2019, the Tennessee Titans signed Blasingame to their active roster off the Vikings practice squad.[10] In Week 14, Blasingame caught two passes for 47 yards against the Oakland Raiders.[11]

Blasingame was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on October 4, 2020,[12] and was activated from the list on October 16.[13]

Blasingame signed a one-year contract extension with the Titans on March 5, 2021.[14] He was placed on injured reserve on November 6, 2021.[15] He was activated on November 27.[16]

Chicago Bears

On March 22, 2022, Blasingame signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears.[17]

He signed a two-year contract extension on March 8, 2023.[18] Blasingame became the Bears' emergency running back during the team's week 5 matchup against the Washington Commanders following injuries to the team's three running backs. He carried the ball eight times for 26 yards. Blasingame only had three rushing attempts in his entire career prior to the game.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b "Former Vanderbilt RB Khari Blasingame Back in Nashville, Ready to Help the Titans". www.titansonline.com. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Khari Blasingame". Vanderbilt University Athletics – Official Athletics Website. May 4, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  3. ^ "Khari Blasingame Recruit Interests". 247sports.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  4. ^ "Khari Blasingame College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Ashe Scholar Committed to Serving Others". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. Cox, Matthews and Associates. April 4, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Khari Blasingame College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Peters, Craig (July 26, 2019). "2-Minute Drill: Get to Know Vikings FB Khari Blasingame". Vikings.com. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  8. ^ "Khari Blasingame: Cut by Vikings". CBSSports.come. September 1, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Vikings Fill Initial 2019 Practice Squad". Vikings.com. September 1, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  10. ^ Wyatt, Jim (November 13, 2019). "Titans Add Former Vanderbilt – and Vikings – RB/FB Khari Blasingame to 53-Man Roster". www.titansonline.com. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  11. ^ Moraitis, Michael (December 9, 2019). "Titans: A.J. Brown, Khari Blasingame get national attention for Week 14 performances". TitanSized.com. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  12. ^ Moraitis, Mike (October 4, 2020). "Tennessee Titans to add FB Khari Blasingame to COVID-19 list". USAToday.com. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  13. ^ Wyatt, Jim (October 16, 2020). "Titans Activate FB Khari Blasingame from Reserve/COVID-19 List". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  14. ^ Wyatt, Jim (March 5, 2021). "Titans Agree to Terms With RB/FB Khari Blasingame". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  15. ^ Wyatt, Jim (November 6, 2021). "Titans Make a Flurry of Roster Moves Ahead of Sunday's Game vs the Rams". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  16. ^ Wyatt, Jim (November 27, 2021). "Titans Place WR A.J. Brown on Injured Reserve While Activating FB Khari Blasingame from IR". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  17. ^ Mayer, Larry (March 22, 2022). "Roster Move: Bears sign FB Khari Blasingame". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  18. ^ Williams, Charean (March 8, 2023). "Bears agree to two-year extension with Khari Blasingame". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  19. ^ Inabinett, Mark (October 5, 2023). "NFL Thursday night: Bears win after losing Dick Butkus". al.com. Retrieved October 6, 2023.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khari_Blasingame