Caleb Blakesley had prepared for this moment for two long years, since he “blew out” his right knee on Sept. 10, 2004.
His return to football.
“I was not rusty. I was very ready,” Blakesley, Kansas University’s red-shirt freshman football defensive tackle out of Ottawa High said. “I was excited to get out there again.”
The 6-foot-5, 277-pounder – who suffered torn cartilage and muscle damage in his knee against Kansas City Turner during Week Two of his senior season – not only was “ready and excited,” but edgy the hours preceding the Jayhawks’ season-opener against Northwestern State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
“I was nervous. It had been a while since I got on the field. Once you get on the field, you just play,” said Blakesley, who, in anticipation of playing, leaned on some friends and family members for support.
“He called right after we finished our game. He was sharing his anxiety and nervousness.” Ottawa football coach Pat Boeh said.
He spoke with Blakesley moments after the Cyclones’ 60-19 loss Friday night at De Soto.
“It’d been quite some time since he played under the lights. The talk we had was beneficial. We both were anxiously awaiting the game,” Boeh added.
Boeh was one of many Ottawa natives in the stands for Blakesley’s college debut – focusing binoculars on the massive lineman who was used extensively in KU’s third-and-long package as well as on the extra point/field goal team.
“I was proud for him and what he had to go through to get to that point … to not only step on the field, but contribute in a positive way,” Boeh said of Blakesley, who was credited with one tackle in his debut.
“A lot of folks don’t understand what road he’s had to take to get back playing – a tough, hard one. He had to sacrifice because of the knee injury as well as red-shirting and coming through the program. He’s got a great career ahead of him.”
KU coach Mark Mangino said he was equally impressed with the rookie’s effort.
“His minutes were pretty good Saturday, and he did a good job,” Mangino said. “He’s a big, strong guy, and he can jump the ball. He’s got good quickness so he’s got a great future for us on the D-line.”
Mangino also has to love the intangibles Blakesley brings – a passion for the game shown in his desire to battle back from surgery to repair cartilage damage behind the kneecap, strained muscles and a slightly torn meniscus.
“Yes, it was hard. It was hard not being able to contribute,” Blakesley said of missing most of his senior campaign.
He did return at the tail end of basketball season and competed in track, winning the Class 5A state shot put title in a record 63-6 3/4.
“It was hard to see the amount of work I put in and not be able to play. I feel bad now for guys who put in the work and are not able to contribute.”
Though he agrees with the decision to red-shirt last season – “I think it’s good for a lot of guys to take a year to develop” – he admits the season in which he ultimately earned KU’s “scout team player of the year” dragged on.
“Nobody wants to sit and watch games because all guys who play here are competitive and put a lot of work into being here,” said Blakesley, the only Ottawa High player to sign a scholarship agreement with a Div. I school the past 20 years.
“I was pretty good with it. I knew my time was coming. I’d get there eventually. It seemed a long time to get there. I definitely had a lot of fun Saturday. It was a little overdue for me.”
He’s looking forward to a stellar four-year career, but now that his debut is out of the way, is only focused on one game – Game Two versus Louisiana-Monroe.
Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Blakesley is especially up for playing so close to his hometown – at a place KU has won seven straight games by a combined score of 226-98.
“It’s always big playing at home. It’s huge,” he said, admitting he felt the support of Ottawa natives. “A lot of people congratulated me after the last game. It’s nice living close to home having friends and family come to watch. It makes me feel good when my family is proud of me and my town is proud of me.”
