The Players Corner- AJ Blanton, RB, Gulf High
The Players corner is a series where I get to sit down and interview prospects in the Bay Area. It's a fun way to get to know some of these players outside of just evaluating them. We at Prep Redzone Florida want to bring you all-access into these players, it's important to get to know them as individuals and what makes them great on the field! This series will give you the ability to get under the helmet and see what makes these prospects click and gives you behind the scenes coverage.
AJ Blanton- Running back 5'9 185lbs Blanton is a outstanding prospect that excelled on both sides of the ball this season, he was First Team All-Pasco County and was also the 4A Region 3 player of the year! He rushed for 728 yards and five touchdowns. On defense he had 61 tackles, three sacks, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, and 1 int.Q. Talk about your junior season. How did it go and what did you learn from it?
My junior season was one truly for the storybooks, we had to battle through so much adversity with COVID, our coaches getting quarantined, and many people believing that we were gonna fail. We all came together that summer and decided that it was time to right the ship and move forward and never look back. We ended the season 5-3, with a playoff win on the road for the first time in school history, and didn’t lose one time all throughout the whole month of October.
Q. What have you been doing this offseason and specifically what have you been doing to prepare for your upcoming senior year?
Well over the off-season I have been focusing on my grades and making sure that my GPA is good enough not only for football but for college. I have been working out with gulf high football team since the beginning of January, both in the weight room and on the field. I have to say since I have gotten to gulf, this is the strongest and fastest I have ever felt.
The biggest guide or voice of reasoning in my life is my dad, he has been a football coach for about 13 years now. This man has taught me everything that I know about the game and pushes me everyday to be the best football and man I can be. Family first is a big thing in my household and something my father is very passionate about. So he would have to be the biggest role model I have in my life
Q. Biggest strengths in your game currently? Areas of your game you're trying to improve on this spring?
The biggest strength of my game is my ability to read a football field on both sides of the ball, I have studied the game to the point of where I slow it down in my head and know where I have to be at to make the play. I also am a great down hill runner and can catch the ball out the backfield. The biggest things I need to work on are my ability to pull away from defenders and create separation to make a move. All my life it has been run downhill so turning the corner hasn’t ever been a priority. I feel with the coaches I have this season, I will be very prepared and have all the tools I need to have my game as sharp as I can.
Q. What colleges have looked at you in terms of interest?
I haven’t had really any colleges reach out, I have had a couple texts here and there but nothing official or solid. I have to get after it this year and allow my game to speak volumes.
Q. You had a fantastic year at Hudson last season, I see that you transferred to Gulf High in the off-season. What were some of the deciding factors for you to make that move? Talk about what its like to play for Coach Eperjesi, and what are your most excited about with this years team?
Going to gulf for my senior year was by far one of the hardest decisions I have had to make not only as a football player but as a man. I felt that moving to gulf would be the best decision for both me and my family. I gave Hudson high school everything I had every time I put that uniform on. I thank everyone there who truly helped me along the way and my time at Hudson. I am from New Port Richey and have grown up coming to gulf high and watching the games. I remember being a kid and wearing my little league jersey there to get in free and watch the game. The town was uplifted when the school was winning. I felt like I owed it to everyone who watched my as a kid or helped me at one point in time to go out there and change the culture for the school. I can’t say that I’m doing it alone because it truly takes the whole town but with coaches like my father, and coach Eperjesi who truly care for the community and program, we will be able to turn it around. Playing for coach E is like no other, he truly knows your full potential and will push you till you display that every single time you come on the field. This coach cares about each and every one of the kids in the program and wants to see them all get better. Coach E has already made me a better football player in just the little time I have been with him at the high school. He coached me his first year head coaching at gulf middle where we had the first winning record in about 4 years. We have a history of winning so it should be a great and fun year this year.
Q. What do you love most about playing football? What player do you model your game after?
The best thing about the game of football is you can trap yourself inside it, it allows you to escape from whatever problems your facing off the field or whatever is Going on. This is truly the greatest game ever created. I model my game after both Ray Lewis and Walter Payton. My defensive game is a lot like ray Lewis because I fill the gap every play and come down hill in a hurry. Ray also is the smartest person on the field at all times due to his extensive preparation. I love Walter Payton because he was a fast, physical back who would not only run you over but make you look completely silly in open space, he also wasn’t scared to get those extra two hard yards
Q. Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of sports?
Sports is really all I do, my favorite thing to do when I’m not playing football is coaching. I coached the last 2 years at Hudson pal which was the greatest experience of my life. The smile on a kids face after he made a big play or you told him to do a specific thing and it worked brightens up my day. I love coaching and teaching young man the game of football and about life
Q. Personally, what is your ultimate goal with the game of football whether it be on the field or off of it?
My main personal goal is to rush at least 2500, 25 touchdowns, break Pasco rushing record. My team goal is to have a winning season and to win district which I believe we have a great opportunity at this coming fall. I would like to continue playing football until I can’t anymore, I want to go to college and than hopefully make it pro. If that doesn’t work I would want to be a sports broadcaster, I figure If I can’t play in the NFL I might as well talk about it lol.
