Kendall Blanton

Kendall Blanton (born November 10, 1995) is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Missouri. Blanton signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and started in their Super Bowl LVI win.

Kendall Blanton
refer to caption
Blanton with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022
Personal information
Born: (1995-11-10) November 10, 1995
Blue Springs, Missouri, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:262 lb (119 kg)
Career information
High school:Blue Springs South (Blue Springs, Missouri)
College:Missouri (2014–2018)
Position:Tight end
Undrafted:2019
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2022
Receptions:6
Receiving yards:72
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

College career

Blanton was a member of the Missouri Tigers for five seasons, redshirting as a true freshman.[1] He finished his collegiate career with 44 receptions for 476 yards and six touchdowns in 43 games played.[2]

Professional career

Los Angeles Rams
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 6+1⁄4 in
(1.99 m)		 262 lb
(119 kg)		 33+3⁄4 in
(0.86 m)		 10+3⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		4.95 s1.70 s2.85 s4.42 s7.37 s31.0 in
(0.79 m)		9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		22 reps
All values from NFL Combine[3][4]

Blanton signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2019.[5] He was waived on August 31, 2019, during final roster cuts, and was subsequently signed to the team's practice squad one day later.[6] The Rams promoted Blanton to their active roster on December 3, 2019.[7] He made his NFL debut on December 12, 2019, playing four snaps on special teams in a 28-12 win over the Seattle Seahawks.[8]

Blanton was waived at the end of training camp on September 5, 2020.[9] He was re-signed back to the Rams' practice squad on September 6, 2020, where he spent the entirety of the 2020 season.[10] Blanton signed a reserve/futures contract with the Rams on January 19, 2021.[11] He was waived during final roster cuts and again re-signed to the Rams practice squad to start the 2021 season.[12] Blanton was elevated to the active roster on October 24, 2021, for the team's Week 7 game against the Detroit Lions.[13] He was signed to the active roster on October 30.[14]

On January 23, 2022, Blanton scored his first NFL touchdown in the Rams' divisional playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[15] Blanton got to start in Super Bowl LVI for the injured Tyler Higbee, but suffered a shoulder injury in the first half before he could record any statistics.[16] Blanton was waived on August 20, 2022.[17]

Washington Commanders

Blanton was claimed off waivers by the Washington Commanders on August 22, 2022.[18] He was released on August 30.[19]

Kansas City Chiefs

On September 1, 2022, Blanton was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.[20]

Los Angeles Rams (second stint)

On September 22, 2022, Blanton was signed to the Los Angeles Rams active roster off the Chiefs practice squad.[21] He was waived on November 8, 2022.[22] He was re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[23] His practice squad contract was terminated on November 22.[24]

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

On November 23, 2022, Blanton signed with the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs.[25] Blanton won his second straight Super Bowl ring when the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.[26] He signed a reserve/future contract on February 15, 2023.[27] He was released on August 29, 2023.[28]

Personal life

Blanton is a Christian.[29] Blanton's father, Jerry Blanton, played linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs for seven seasons.[30]

References
  1. "Why does Mizzou tight end and Blue Springs South grad Kendall Blanton love to block?". The Kansas City Star. October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  2. "Blue Springs South grad Blanton happy for NFL shot". Lake Sun Leader. May 11, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  3. "Kendall Blanton Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  4. "Kendall Blanton, Missouri, TE, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  5. "Rams sign 14 undrafted free agents to bolster roster". Los Angeles Times. April 29, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  6. "Players Rams cut land with new teams, highlighting the team's depth". Orange County Register. September 1, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  7. "Rams add Blue Springs South grad Kendall Blanton to roster". The Examiner. December 3, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  8. "Kendall Blanton Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  9. Simmons, Myles (August 31, 2021). "Rams waive Micah Kiser as part of reducing roster to 53". Profootballtalk.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  10. DaSilva, Cameron (September 6, 2020). "Meet the Rams' initial 15-man practice squad". Rams Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  11. "Rams' Kendall Blanton: Secures future contract". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. January 19, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  12. "Kendall Blanton: Sent to waivers". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. September 1, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  13. DaSilva, Cameron (October 23, 2021). "Rams elevate TE Kendall Blanton from practice squad for Week 7". Rams Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  14. Simmons, Myles (October 30, 2021). "Rams signing Kendall Blanton to 53-man roster". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  15. DaSilva, Cameron (23 January 2022). "Watch: Kendall Blanton scores first career TD vs. Bucs, puts Rams up 10-0". Rams Wire. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  16. Schwartz, Paul (February 13, 2021). "LA Rams defeat Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl 2022". nypost.com.
  17. Jackson, Stu (August 20, 2022). "Rams waive five players ahead of Aug. 23 roster reduction deadline". TheRams.com.
  18. DaSilva, Cameron. "Commanders claim Kendall Blanton off waivers from Rams". Rams Wire. USA Today. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  19. Washington Commanders Public Relations (August 30, 2022). "Commanders cut 25 players, place 3 on IR". Commanders.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  20. "Kansas City Chiefs 2022 Practice Squad Tracker". SI.com. August 31, 2022.
  21. "Rams bring back Kendall Blanton, sign him off Chiefs' practice squad". Rams Wire. USA Today. September 22, 2022.
  22. David Smith, Michael (November 8, 2022). "Rams cut Terrell Burgess, Kendall Blanton". NBCSports.com.
  23. @RamsNFL (November 10, 2022). "LA Rams Transactions: • Practice Squad Exception TE Kendall Blanton" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. Simmons, Myles (November 22, 2022). "Rams waive Darrell Henderson, Justin Hollins". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  25. Dixon, John (November 23, 2022). "Chiefs place Clyde Edwards-Helaire on IR, activate Lucas Niang — plus 2 other moves". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  26. "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  27. Goldman, Charles (February 15, 2023). "Chiefs sign 12 practice squad players on reserve/future contracts". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  28. "Chiefs 2023 Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53". Chiefs.com. August 29, 2023.
  29. Mercer, Kevin (31 January 2022). "Rams backup TE Kendall Blanton steps up big, thanks God as L.A. heads to Super Bowl LVI". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  30. Rogers, Anne (October 7, 2017). "Former Wildcat dons black and gold to cheer on son Kendall Blanton". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
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