ABOUT WILL --
Quick Glance ...
• With three career punt returns for TDs, is tied with Desmond Howard
for the franchise record.
 •
In 2008, became only the fourth player in team history to return
multiple punts for TDs in the same season. Also led the team in special
teams tackles with 18.
• Scored his first two NFL TDs in the same game in 2007, returning a
punt 57 yards and recovering a fumble on a punt return vs. Oakland (Dec.
9) to earn ‘NFC Special Teams Player of the Week’. Marked first time a
Packers player scored two special teams TDs in the same game in 38
years.
• A versatile athlete, lined up at cornerback (2002-04) and wide
receiver (2005) at Boston College in addition to serving as the team’s
return specialist.
• Registered 2,700 career kickoff return yards at BC, 222 yards shy
of the Division I-A all-time mark, and earned all-conference honors in
his final three seasons (Big East – 2003-04; ACC –2005).
• Participated in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American game as a senior at
Bishop Hendricken High School (R.I.) along with 10 other 2006 NFL Draft
picks.
• Wears No. 27, his Pop Warner and high school number, after wearing
No. 1 in college.
PRO CAREER: Dynamic athletic talent will look to return to his
play-making ways as a return man in 2010 after sustaining a
season-ending knee injury in ’09, and will compete for time at
cornerback as well... Was limited to just three games last season after
tearing the ACL in his left knee in Week 4 at Minnesota... Became a
special-teams standout in 2008 as both a return specialist and coverage
player, running back two punts for TDs – only the fourth player in
franchise history to accomplish that in one season – and leading the
team with 18 special teams tackles, all of which landed him a spot on
USA Today’s All-Joe Team, which recognizes productive players who get
little fanfare... Ranked fourth in the NFC and ninth in the NFL with an
11.1-yard average on punt returns in ’08 while also handling kickoff
return duties... His combined 1,555 punt and kick return yards in 2008
ranks as the second-highest single-season total in franchise history...
Also made an impact as a nickel and dime cornerback, posting 17 tackles
and forcing two fumbles, by far his most extensive action on defense...
In 32 career games, has 30 special teams tackles and four touchdowns,
all on special teams... His three career punt returns for touchdowns
ties him for the franchise record with Desmond Howard... Had landed
kickoff and punt return job with big runbacks in the second preseason
game in 2007 vs. Seattle (Aug. 18), but suffered a thumb injury in the
next game and began the regular season with a cast on his hand,
relegating him to reserve corner duty... Then broke his foot Oct. 3, the
same foot he broke as a rookie in mini-camp, and missed seven games...
Resumed punt-return duties when healthy and scored his first two NFL
touchdowns in the same game, returning a punt 57 yards for a score and
recovering a fumble in the end zone to mark the first time a Packers
player scored two special teams TDs in the same game in 38 years, but
re-aggravated the foot injury in ’07 regular-season finale and missed
both playoff games... Impressed early in mini-camps as a rookie before
breaking his foot on one of the last plays of the final May camp...
Suffered a setback in his rehab, in addition to a subsequent rib injury
in Week 10, that limited him to just four games in 2006... Ability to
make things happen with the ball is no surprise, having made the switch
to wide receiver as a college senior to shore up a depleted receiving
corps at Boston College... Prior to the 2006 NFL Draft, worked out with
future teammate Greg Jennings and childhood hero Deion Sanders... A
fourth-round selection in 2006, was the 14th BC player to be drafted by
the Packers, the first since QB Matt Hasselbeck in 1998, and one of two
defensive backs chosen by Green Bay in 2006... Born Oct. 27, 1984, was
the youngest player on the league’s youngest team in 2006.
2009 SEASON: Played in just three games before sustaining
season-ending left knee injury in Week 4... Returned 10 kickoffs for 233
yards (23.3 avg.) and three punts for 11 yards (3.7 avg.)... Added one
stop on special teams... Inactive for season opener vs. Chicago (Sept.
13) due to quad injury sustained in preseason contest vs. Buffalo (Aug.
22)... Placed on injured reserve on Oct. 12 with knee injury and had
surgery on Oct. 29... Vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 20): Made season debut,
returning five kickoffs for 113 yards (22.6 avg.)... At St. Louis (Sept.
27): Recovered Josh Brown FG attempt blocked by DE Johnny Jolly in the
first quarter, catching the ball in mid-air at the Green Bay 25-yard
line and returning it 18 yards down the left sideline to help set up a
Packers FG. Returned two kickoffs for 49 yards (24.5 avg.), two punts
for 11 yards (5.5 avg.), and posted a stop on special teams... At
Minnesota (Oct. 5): Returned three kickoffs for 71 yards (23.7 avg.),
but sustained season-ending ACL injury to left knee on return with just
under five minutes remaining in the second quarter.
2008: Played in every game with one start...Ranked fourth in the
NFC and ninth the NFL with a 11.1-yard avg. on 36 punt returns...One of
only five players in the NFL to return two or more punts for TDs in
2008, and one of only four in Packers history, joining Howard (three in
1996), Billy Grimes (two in 1950) and Willie Wood (two in 1961)...Also
had a 21.0-yard avg. on 55 kickoff returns... His 398 punt return yards
tied for the third-highest single-season total in team history, his
1,157 kickoff return yards rank fourth, and his combined return yardage
total of 1,555 is second in franchise annals... Recorded 17 tackles (16
solo), two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense, seeing time
as nickel and dime back, and led the team with a career-high 18 special
teams stops...Was on the field for 326 of the team’s 472 special teams
plays (69.1 percent), which ranked third on the team, and landed a spot
as a returner on USA Today’s All-Joe Team, which recognizes productive
players who receive little fanfare...Vs. Minnesota (Sept. 8): Earned
‘NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors’ for the second time in his
career as he returned a punt 76 yards for a TD in the third quarter, a
career long. Fielded the low kick from Chris Kluwe at the 24, started
down the left sideline, just keeping his feet in bounds, before cutting
across the field and running down the right sideline for the score...Vs.
Dallas (Sept. 21): Saw time at nickel back after CB Al Harris left game
in second quarter with spleen injury. Forced a fumble on a Marion Barber
run in the fourth quarter and recovered the ball. Led team with three
special teams tackles... Vs. Atlanta (Oct. 5): Posted season-long
45-yard kickoff return in second quarter. Registered two tackles as
nickel back and an additional stop on special teams... Vs. Indianapolis
(Oct. 19): Started first game of season as team opened up in nickel
package, matching up with WR Marvin Harrison much of the afternoon and
holding him to just two receptions for 11 yards, his lowest yardage
output of the season. Also recorded season-high four tackles... At
Minnesota (Nov. 9): Returned Kluwe’s punt 65 yards for a TD with just
over three minutes remaining in the third quarter to give the Packers
their first lead of the game at 24-21. The TD was his second of the
season and he became the first NFL player since Cowboys WR Wane McGarity
(vs. Arizona, 2000) to post a punt return for a score against the same
team in two different games in a season. Also had a 31-yard kickoff
return out to the Green Bay 41 late in the fourth quarter... At New
Orleans (Nov. 24): Returned three punts for 50 yards, including a
game-long 27-yard return down to the New Orleans 37 to set up Green
Bay’s first TD of the contest. Had season-high eight kickoff returns for
159 yards (19.9 avg.) and led team with two special teams tackles... Vs.
Houston (Dec. 7): Served as nickel back with Williams starting and
Charles Woodson at SS, and matched season high with four tackles. Tied
for team lead with three special teams tackles and had 99-yard kick
return for TD in the second quarter nullified by holding penalty... At
Jacksonville (Dec. 14): Saw limited action as nickel back and forced a
fumble on a run by QB David Garrard in the fourth quarter that Garrard
recovered at the Green Bay 2...At Chicago (Dec. 22): Led team with a
career-high four tackles on special teams and posted two 32-yard kickoff
returns, including one out to midfield late in the fourth quarter with
score tied at 17.
2007: Played in nine games with one start and listed as inactive
for the other seven contests plus both playoff games... On defense, had
three solo tackles and two passes defensed, plus eight tackles on
special teams and two TDs, both in the same game... Returned eight punts
for 106 yards (13.3 avg.) and a TD... After winning return job with big
preseason showing vs. Seattle (Aug. 18), suffered a thumb injury in the
next preseason contest vs. Jacksonville (Aug. 23) and began the season
with a cast on his hand, unable to perform in return role... Saw action
in the first four games, broke his foot during Oct. 3 practice and
missed seven contests, returned for final five games of regular season,
but aggravated foot injury and missed postseason... At Minnesota (Sept.
30): Filled in at nickel for Jarrett Bush when Harris went out for
several plays with a hand injury, coming away with his first pass
defensed of the season and his first career solo tackle; PBU was nearly
an INT, but cast prevented him from catching the ball. In the third
quarter, downed a 54-yard Jon Ryan punt on the Minnesota 7-yard line...
Vs. Oakland (Dec. 9): Earned ‘NFC Special Teams Player of the Week’ for
his two-touchdown outing. Fielded a second-quarter punt on the run, and
returned it 57 yards for his first career TD. On a third-quarter Packers
punt, Jason Hunter forced PR Tim Dwight to fumble, and the ball was
inadvertently kicked. Eventually landed on it in the end zone for his
second score. It was the first time the same Packers player recorded two
special teams TDs in a game since Travis Williams at Pittsburgh on Nov.
2, 1969... Vs. Detroit (Dec. 30): Made his first career start, filling
in for Woodson (coach’s decision), recording one solo tackle. Left the
game in the second quarter after aggravating his prior foot injury and
was inactive for both playoff games.
2006: Spent the first 11 weeks on the 53-man roster, playing in
four games while inactive for seven before being placed on injured
reserve Nov. 25... Saw most of the action during his rookie season in
‘nickel’ and ‘dime’ packages, in addition to special teams duty... Was
in on 11 snaps and posted one pass defensed, in addition to three
special teams stops... Missed all of training camp after breaking his
right foot during a May 21 mini-camp practice and was unable to practice
until Sept. 4, three days after the preseason finale... Suffered
additional setback in Week 2 practice and remained inactive until
returning to practice Oct. 10 during bye week... At Miami (Oct. 22):
Made pro debut, seeing action mostly on special teams with 10 snaps at
LCB, posting one pass defensed and one special teams tackle... At
Minnesota (Nov. 12): Played exclusively on special teams, tallying two
special teams tackles, but suffered a rib injury and ultimately landed
on injured reserve Nov. 25... 2006 Draft: Second of the Packers’ two
selections in the fourth round (115th overall), taken with choice from
Philadelphia acquired with the Eagles’ sixth-round selection (185) for
Green Bay’s fourth-round choice (109).
COLLEGE: A three-year starter (2003-05), played in 48 games,
including 34 starts... Spent his first three years at CB(22 starts)
before switching to WR as a senior and proceeded to lead team in catches
and receiving yards... Earned all-conference distinction his final three
seasons... Finished his career with 141 tackles (104 solo), eight
interceptions among 22 passes broken up, three forced fumbles, two
fumble recoveries and two tackles for loss at CB; recorded 3,995
all-purpose yards and six touchdowns as a WR and return specialist...
Fell just 222 yards shy of the NCAA Division I-A kickoff-return yardage
record, a mark set by Tulane’s Jeff Liggon (1993-96)... Also established
a number of school records, including career kickoff-return yardage
(2,700), career kickoff returns (110), single-season kickoff-return
yardage (922) and single-season kickoff returns (36), all of which he
still holds... Earned B.A. in English... Senior season (2005): Started
all 12 games at WR but saw action on both sides of the ball... Earned
All-ACC second-team honors at WR... Led team in receptions (51) and
receiving yards (763); his four TD catches ranked second on the team...
Posted three 100-yard receiving games... Returned 22 kickoffs for 489
yards (22.2-yard average) and 15 punts for 132 yards (8.8-yard
average)... Amassed a career-high 1,405 all-purpose yards and finished
with two solo tackles in limited action at CB... In his final home game,
against North Carolina State (Nov. 12), notched three receptions for a
career-high 151 yards, including a career-long 61-yard reception... In
the MPC Computers Bowl vs. Boise State (Dec. 28), had five receptions
for 144 yards, including a 35-yard TD reception... Junior season (2004):
Played in all 12 games, starting nine at cornerback, and became first
player in school history to return both a punt and kickoff for a TD in
the same season... A second-team All-Big East selection, finished with
46 tackles (30 solo), three INTs among six passes broken up and forced a
fumble... Returned 28 kickoffs for 762 yards (27.2-yard average) and 23
punts for 261 yards (11.3-yard average)... In season opener at Ball
State (Sept. 2), returned kickoff a career-long 96 yards for a TD in the
second quarter... At West Virginia (Nov. 13), ran back a punt 71 yards
for a score... In the Continental Tire Bowl vs. North Carolina (Dec.
30), registered four solo tackles and five kickoff returns for a
career-high 165 yards... Sophomore season (2003): Started all 13 games
at CB... Earned second-team All-Big East honors... Recorded career highs
in tackles (64), solo stops (50), INTs (four), passes defensed (14),
tackles for loss (two) and kickoff-return yardage (922 yards, a school
record)... Also had a forced fumble and one fumble recovery... At
Connecticut (Sept. 13), tallied career highs in tackles (14), solos
(nine), and INTs (two) while breaking up four passes and returning a
kickoff 47 yards; awarded Big East Defensive Player of the Week for his
efforts... Freshman season (2002): Saw action in 11 games, posting 29
tackles (22 solo), one INT among two passes broken up, one forced fumble
and a recovered fumble... Made an immediate impact on special teams,
returning 24 kickoffs for 527 yards (22.0-yard average) and three punts
for 26 yards (8.7-yard average)... Registered 114 yards on four kickoff
returns in his collegiate debut, vs. Stanford (Sept. 7)... In the Motor
City Bowl vs. Toledo (Dec. 26), had five solo tackles, his first career
INT and returned four kickoffs for 103 yards.
PERSONAL: Given name William Edwards Blackmon... Born in
Providence, R.I. ... Married the former Shauna Danielle in June 2009, a
recording artist who was previously signed by So So Def as part of a
group; she has since then chosen to pursue a solo career... Father,
Wayne, played football in junior college and was offered a tryout by the
New York Jets... High school: Earned 2001 All-America first-team honors
from USA Today, ESPN.com, SuperPrep and PrepStar as a senior at Bishop
Hendricken High School in Warwick, R.I., which retired his No. 27 in
2008... Three-year letterman was selected to participate in the 2002
U.S. Army All-American Game played at San Antonio’s Alamodome... Starred
for the East team on defense by registering four tackles, two recovered
fumbles and an INT returned for 32 yards... Game featured 10 picks from
the 2006 NFL Draft, including first-round selections Vince Young
(Tennessee), Haloti Ngata (Baltimore) and Kamerion Wimbley
(Cleveland)... Named Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year after his
senior season, in which he rushed for 1,618 yards and 24 TDs... Also had
100 tackles and three INTs... Chosen as the top player in New England by
SuperPrep and PrepStar... A two-time all-state and three-time all-city
honoree... Recorded 13 career INTs... Lettered in track three years,
winning the 100-meter dash in the Rhode Island state meet (10.87)...
Trained with Sanders, his all-time favorite player, in preparation for
the 2006 NFL Draft; also trained with other 2006 draft picks, including
eventual teammate Jennings and Devin Hester (Chicago Bears)... Community
involvement: Has funded and started a Pop Warner football team called
the Providence Packers, which his father manages... Helped distribute
cans of soup to 30 Wisconsin area food pantries, as part of Campbell’s
Chunky soup’s ‘Click for Cans’ online food drive... Has participated in
the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon and the United Way Hometown
Huddle project, helping spread woodchips to complete a new playground
area for local Beaumont Elementary School students... Also helped
refurbish the Green Bay West H.S. football field as part of the Home
Depot Neighborhood MVP program, in honor of teammate Daryn Colledge
winning weekly MVP award... Rang the Salvation Army bell during the
holidays to solicit donations and attended the team’s annual holiday
party for families of children with cancer... Attended the Professional
Athletes Outreach conference in February 2009; PAO is a ministry created
for professional athletes and their families... Has participated
annually in the Greg Jennings Celebrity Golf Tournament... Played in the
Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Celebrity Golf Classic at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte
Vedra Beach, Fla. ... Hobbies/interests: Worked as a reporter for local
CBS affiliate, WFRV, in the week leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft, a
career path he is considering once his playing days are over... Enjoys
skateboarding, naming Chris Haslam as his favorite professional
skateboarder... Also enjoys reading non-fiction novels (including books
by Rick Warren, a pastor from California), surfing the Internet, cooking
(especially Italian food), playing Wii, and watching Fuel TV, Curb Your
Enthusiasm and Bully Beatdown... Is also involved with his clothing line
– which he and his best friend Pat Dipippo created – called Dirty
Couture... Residence: Orange County, Calif.
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FEATURED --
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