The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Blalock inducted into Plano ISD Hall of Honor
05.13.2013 | Football
May 13, 2013
On Saturday night, May 18, at the Plano ISD Sockwell Center, former Texas Longhorns' first-team All-American offensive guard Justin Blalock was inducted into the Plano ISD Hall of Honor. And the unassuming current starter for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons reflected upon the honor with his typical humility and grace.
"Any honor is a huge deal, and not just because of the honor itself, but because of what it stands for," said Blalock. "Someone out there appreciates what you have done and thinks highly enough of you. I imagine that this was quite an undertaking for a lot of people, so for them to go through with that speaks volumes about what they think about you as a person and as a player.
"It is humbling to be thought of in that way. We've had some pretty outstanding people come through our system and to be mentioned with those likes is a pretty cool feeling."
But to those who honored Blalock on this night, he is well worthy of the praise and this accolade.
"Justin Blalock was a stellar athlete at Plano East Sr. High," said Gerald Brence, PISD athletic director. "Hands down, he is one of the most physical football players I ever seen come out of Plano ISD. He was extremely light on his feet playing offensive lineman. Justin comes from a great family and is a class act person."
During his days at Plano East, where Blalock once recorded a 21-pancake-block performance against rival Plano High, the relationships he built with team members and coaches were just as important as any on-the-field accomplishments.
"I think the teammates stand out the most," said Blalock. "I feel close to them because we went through similar experiences. I do keep in touch with the coaches as well. Authority figures at that time have a lot to do with how you view the game, how you accept other coaching once you move on and really give you a foundation or an idea of what it takes to have success while you are playing and going to school.
"I think it was special even before all these things happened. I think the experience really was enough in itself. I have a lot of good friends that I talk with to this day. We had a lot of great times, had some awesome coaches and really built a foundation that all these other things have sprung from."
Blalock built upon that foundation as a player and coming out of high school he was named a first-team all-state (5A), all-area and all-district selection and was rated as the nation's 15th-best high school prospect by The Sporting News. He signed with UT in 2002 and redshirted that season.
Blalock went on to become a four-year starter beginning in 2003, and held the UT record at the time for consecutive starts with 51 before finishing his eligibility after the 2006 season. He was a key part of a line that helped Texas rank first in the nation in scoring offense (50.2 ppg), second in rushing offense (274.9 ypg) and third in total offense (512.1 ypg) during Texas' 2005 National Championship season.
And before he hung up his cleats at Texas he was named a Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman) and Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) finalist in 2006. He was named a consensus first-team All-America selection that same year as well as being voted team captain by this peers. He was also a three-time first-team All-Big 12 pick. Blalock graduated in December 2006 with a degree in youth and commmunity studies and a minor in business and was drafted with the seventh pick in the second round (39th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Upon reflection, Blalock didn't foresee the future success that would come his way. The success born merely of playing a game he loves.
"I had no idea at the time," Blalock said. "If you would have asked me in high school, I would have just been elated to go to college and play football anywhere, let alone on the fields of the greatest school. It was more about having fun and being around my buddies.
"I have never really been a planner or goal setter. I think most people have at least a vague idea of the things they would like to do. I just try to make the most of each opportunity that presents itself."
Another opportunity that presented itself came this summer when Blalock conducted the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and became the face of the orchestra's "When I Play Music" Campaign for music education.
"That is something that came about last offseason. It really came from my affinity for music," Blalock explained. "I played in the band from sixth through 11th grade and really enjoyed myself. I became somewhat decent at it. I wanted to find a way to somehow get back involved with something that wasn't football related. So I reached out to the symphony orchestra, and they were very gracious to let me do the things that I have so far, [with me] not necessarily being an accomplished musician.
"I think it has really enabled me to get back into the niche if you will, and really peak my interest back to being a little boy once again. I am probably getting more out of it than any of the kids we help or with any of the people we interact with."
Blalock expects to spend more time with kids in the future as he plans to coach high school football after his days of playing on Sundays comes to an end. Entering his seventh season with the Falcons this fall, Blalock still loves the game and keeps his easygoing perspective on how his career has unfolded so far and what is left to come.
"Things could have always been better, but I am pretty pleased with the way things have gone. I've been happy, enjoyed myself and met a lot of interesting people. I got to travel to places I had never dreamed of. I didn't really try to imagine how things would be, because I realized I had no idea. It has been a lot of fun. I don't think you could do this if you weren't enjoying yourself. With that being said, football has always been something that is fun to do, and that's never changed.
"All in all, it has been a pretty good road, and I am looking forward to making the most of the rest of it."
