Versatility is Blakely's calling card
Mike Blakely Highlights
It took a few years, but Mike Blakely has found his niche.
It's at running back.
Or quarterback.
Or maybe return specialist.
It's hard to say what Blakely can do best, but the junior athlete does everything well for the Manatee Hurricanes (Bradenton, Fla.).
"He's always been a running back," Manatee coach Joe Kinnan said. "That's going to be his meal ticket at the next level. But we'll use him in a lot of different ways."
Blakely's biggest impact, however, may have come at quarterback two years ago.
With the Hurricanes struggling on the road against Fort Myers in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs, Kinnan removed starting quarterback Brion Carnes and went to Blakely in hopes of providing a spark.
Trailing 21-3, the freshman came off the bench and led Manatee back behind his quick feet and couple of deep passes. Eventually the Hurricanes rallied to win 27-24.
After another year of playing the all-purpose role with increasing focus on running back while backing up former South Carolina signee Ben Axon, Blakely has stepped into the full-time starting role.
"I like running back; actually, I like any position [where] I can touch the ball," Blakely said. "It's all about making plays for the team and winning ballgames. I'm just happy to be part of that."
And Blakely's not alone in liking his potential at running back. He already has received scholarship offers from Clemson, Rutgers, Syracuse and South Florida and has every major program in the Southeast keeping a close eye on his progress.
At 5-foot-9, 190 pounds with 4.5 speed, Blakely is a solid combination of speed and power. He can run between the tackles and break to the outside. He rarely goes out of bounds before delivering a shoulder to a chasing defender.
"He's got terrific lower-body strength," Kinnan said. "He can get us 5 extra yards after that first hit because he's just not going to go down. He's got all the qualities you want in a big-time running back."
Blakely's quarterback days still aren't over at Manatee. Kinnan will insert him into Wildcat formations, and his throwing ability adds a wrinkle to an already potent offense.
"I like when Mike comes in to do the Wildcat, because it gives me a little rest," joked Carnes, who is committed to USF. "I'm happy to be in the backfield with him because he's family. He and Ace [Sanders] are my cousins, and we've been playing together so long.
"I know what he's capable of, and any time I can get the ball in his hands, there's a chance to light up the scoreboard."
That big-play capability is why Kinnan wants to figure out ways to get Blakely more touches as Manatee heads into the postseason. And Blakely appears to be fully healthy after a couple of promising weeks ended in disappointment.
In a little more than one quarter of play against Riverview (Sarasota, Fla.), Blakely rushed for a 70-yard touchdown, a 45-yard kickoff return to set up another touchdown and three catches for 54 yards. Unfortunately he was taken out of the game soon after with a possible concussion.
With no concussion found, Blakely suited up against Venice in a game that would decide the district championship. Once again he was dynamic -- converting a second-and-22 with a 40-yard scramble out of the Wildcat and gaining more than 100 yards of total offense. And again he found himself banged up and on the sideline late as Venice won 43-29.
On Friday, Blakely returned and rushed for 108 yards on only 12 carries in a 71-0 victory over North Port. He has 717 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the season, averaging more than 7.5 yards per carry.
"I feel good right now," Blakely said while flashing a smile. "I'm a physical player, so I'm going to get a little punishment because I'm trying to deliver a hit, too. But I know the team needs me, and I want to get us to the championship so I'm going to play as many downs as I can."
If he can recapture the magic that he first displayed as a freshman, the Hurricanes will be tough to stop on offense. Their first-round 5A playoff game against Gibbs (St. Petersburg, Fla.) on Friday will showcase two of the most exciting all-purpose players in the state, Blakely and Gibbs athlete Jarvis West, an Iowa State commit.
"One of the things that separate Blakely from other running backs is his vision," said Larry Blustein, the state recruiting coordinator for the Miami Herald. "He is a former quarterback, so he understands defense alignments and can read the plays. And he can do so many things, very similar to what Antwaan Randle El did at Indiana. You can easily play him at four positions on offense and special teams."
The versatility remains his calling card. Blakely has more than 20 catches out of the backfield and is the team's return specialist -- one of his favorite roles.
"Oh man, I love returning kicks, I can't even explain it," Blakely said. "It's just exciting, and so many things can happen. I can make a big play for the team and get the fans jumping. I love returning kicks."
He plans to spend the offseason taking unofficial visits and participating in several camps and combines. He has no plans to commit early and wants to take the recruiting process slowly, as he is focused on improving his game in all areas.
"I can always get better, and I really want to improve as a blocker," Blakely added. "I'm a decent blocker, but I want to be the type of blocker that can light someone up.
"If I can do that, I'll be the total package."
Corey Long is a freelance writer in Florida.
