Khari Blasingame Explained

Khari Blasingame
Current Team:Chicago Bears
Number:35
Position:Fullback
Birth Date:1 July 1996
Birth Place:Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:233
High School:Buckhorn
(New Market, Alabama)
College:Vanderbilt (2015–2018)
Undraftedyear:2019
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Rushing yards
Statvalue1:32
Statlabel2:Rushing average
Statvalue2:2.9
Statlabel3:Rushing touchdowns
Statlabel4:Receptions
Statvalue4:13
Statlabel5:Receiving yards
Statvalue5:99
Statlabel6:Receiving touchdowns
Pfr:BlasKh00

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.

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. 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

Minnesota Vikings

After going undrafted, the Minnesota Vikings signed Blasingame as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2019.[6] He was waived on August 31, 2019, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[7] [8]

Tennessee Titans

On November 13, 2019, the Tennessee Titans signed Blasingame to their active roster off the Vikings practice squad.[9] In Week 14, Blasingame caught two passes for 47 yards against the Oakland Raiders.[10]

Blasingame was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on October 4, 2020,[11] and was activated from the list on October 16.[12]

Blasingame signed a one-year contract extension with the Titans on March 5, 2021.[13] He was placed on injured reserve on November 6, 2021.[14] He was activated on November 27.[15]

Chicago Bears

On March 22, 2022, Blasingame signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears.[16]

He signed a two-year contract extension on March 8, 2023.[17] 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.[18]

External links

Notes and References

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