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The University of Utah Athletics
Why U Play: Julian Blackmon
11/14/2019 9:24 AM | Football
Finding Football
It started with my older brothers. At first, I didn't really like football. I was scared of contact.
As I got older, the more I saw my brothers were having fun, the more I wanted to just play with them. They are about two or three years older than me, so I started playing up a couple of levels so that I could play with them.
That is when I really started to love the game.
I played many sports growing up. My favorite sport was basketball, but I also played baseball and I did track and football.
It came down to basketball or football, and I was actually recruited more for basketball. I feel like what made me pick football though was I just liked being more aggressive.
I didn't really know if I would have a future in football, I just knew I was kind of decent at it. My dad threw me into a camp here and I was just told to listen to Coach Shah. They liked me and I was like, "yeah OK football it is then."
Coach Shah actually knew my dad growing up, so he was already familiar with my family and knew I was a good athlete. I actually got my chance on the basketball court. They saw me playing basketball in a playoff game and that is when they said "yeah, this kid can do it."
It started with my older brothers. At first, I didn't really like football. I was scared of contact.
As I got older, the more I saw my brothers were having fun, the more I wanted to just play with them. They are about two or three years older than me, so I started playing up a couple of levels so that I could play with them.
That is when I really started to love the game.
I played many sports growing up. My favorite sport was basketball, but I also played baseball and I did track and football.
It came down to basketball or football, and I was actually recruited more for basketball. I feel like what made me pick football though was I just liked being more aggressive.
I didn't really know if I would have a future in football, I just knew I was kind of decent at it. My dad threw me into a camp here and I was just told to listen to Coach Shah. They liked me and I was like, "yeah OK football it is then."
Coach Shah actually knew my dad growing up, so he was already familiar with my family and knew I was a good athlete. I actually got my chance on the basketball court. They saw me playing basketball in a playoff game and that is when they said "yeah, this kid can do it."
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