Blanks making the most out of a tough situation

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Thu Mar 27 10:40:33 GMT-04:00 2014

CLEMSON – Travis Blanks Travis Blanks
Jr. Defensive Back
#11 6-0, 190
Tallahassee, FL
View Full Profile is a constant presence during Clemson’s spring practices, walking and jogging on his surgically repaired knee while keeping a practiced eye on the defensive backs during each of the sessions.

It’s not easy for someone who loves the game as much as he does.

"Being on the sidelines has been the hardest part of my career so far,’ Blanks told the media after Monday’s practice. “You go from a feeling of significance to a feeling of insignificance. That's tough for any player or person. It hurts, but yet there's opportunity there, too, through my situation and with the things I am still able to focus on."

Blanks tore his ACL during Clemson’s home victory against The Citadel in late November, and had to miss games against South Carolina and Ohio St. and will miss all of spring practice as he continues his rehabilitation. However, he says the injury has one small blessing – he gets to see the game from a different perspective.

"That's probably been the awesome part,” he said. “You get to see football from a different perspective. You get to see what the coaches see. I get to break down film more. I'm the eye in the sky like the coaches. I get to learn more about the game, me as a player and sharpen my mental game. That is something that I needed.”

Entering his freshman season in 2012, Clemson had veterans Rashard HallRashard Hall
Safety (2008 - 2012)
#31 6-2, 210
St. Augustine, FL
View Full Profile and Jonathan MeeksJonathan Meeks
Safety (2009 - 2012)
#5 6-1, 210
Rock Hill, SC
View Full Profile at the safety position, with Robert SmithRobert Smith
Sr. Safety
#27 5-10, 210
St. George, SC
View Full Profile a capable backup. In an effort to get the young playmaker on the field, defensive coordinator Brent VenablesBrent Venables
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
View Full Profile moved Blanks to the nickel spot, a place where Blanks flourished.

Last season, he moved to safety but never felt comfortable and made his share of mistakes, totaling just 35 tackles in 475 snaps.

"I just didn't feel like I cut it loose," he said. "I think I was so concerned with making a mistake. My freshman year, I cut it loose. I didn't care about making mistakes. Last year there was something in me that just wasn't cutting it loose."

Freshman Jayron KearseJayron Kearse
So. Safety
#20 6-4, 205
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile performed admirably in Blanks’ absence, and with Smith back to man one safety spot, the coaches decided prior to the start of spring to move Blanks back to nickel, where he logged 51 tackles as a freshman.

Blanks said he spoke with Clemson head coach Dabo SwinneyDabo Swinney
Head Coach
View Full Profile , Venables and defensive backs coach Mike ReedMike Reed
Defensive Backs Coach
View Full Profile about the move.

“I talked to all three of them. We had long conversations about it,” Blanks said. “They just felt like I could thrive better at the nickel position. I just took it and ran with it.”

Blanks said he embraced the move.

"I love it. If my ability is better suited there, I'm willing to do it," he said. "I feel like I can thrive better here with the personnel we have. I've just taken it and run with it. I feel like I can do great things there. But I feel like I can play safety if they need me to, and I can play nickel.”

The rising junior has added a few pounds to his 6-1 frame – he’s up to 210 – but said he will wait until August to see if that is where he stays.

"It's not set in stone, it's not concrete. It's something we'll have to find out," he said. "We're feeling our way through the process now. I feel pretty good now. If I got to where I wasn't fluid, I'd have to get down to where I needed to be."

Blanks said he will be fully cleared to practice by August, giving him a goal to work toward while he endures the long, lonely days of rehab.

“Super long, man. Super long,” Blanks said of the process. “You start early in the morning, it's rehab, rehab, rehab, then lift, then practice. It's a tough process, more challenging mentally. Definitely by August I'll be good to go. Definitely.”