'Gentle' Blount Works to Reverse Reputation Hit

MOBILE, Ala. -- He was physically impressive on the field. He was polite and friendly off of it. Insiders say there's no question he increased his NFL draft stock this week, some even believing he was the best running back during Senior Bowl week.

LeGarrette Blount knows he can't escape what happened last September. The punch Blount threw at a Boise State player after Oregon's season-opening loss was vicious.

That's why Blount feels blessed to be given another chance to rebuild his image and show the public, including the NFL, that he has his temper under control.

Blount certainly displayed his football skills in Saturday's Senior Bowl, rushing for 37 yards and a touchdown in the North's 31-13 victory here at Ladd-Peeples Stadium.

Blount was in great spirits following the game, too, posing for photographs, mingling with fans and meeting with family and friends on the field.

Many had made the five-hour drive from Blount's hometown of Perry, Fla., located south of Tallahassee in the Florida panhandle.

The game not only offered Blount another valuable opportunity to make a first impression, it also was an important life lesson that, in a way, reflected progress. Not even cold, shivering conditions could wipe the smile from Blount's face.

"This was awesome, awesome," Barbara Blount, tears in her eyes, told FanHouse as she watched her son.

"I am proud of him. He's achieved a lot of his goals. He also realized that you must learn from the past. You can't change it, but you must learn. He's learned and moved on. You can't let that be a stopping point and you just stay still and don't do anything with your life.

"Life goes on."

When Blount gets moving, he's a load to stop.

At 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, Blount is a big, physical runner who excels between the tackles. He had seven Senior Bowl carries, averaging 5.1 yards per rush. Blount demonstrated excellent vision and explosive burst on his 14-yard touchdown, bouncing outside, beating the pursuit and leaping into the end zone.

Blount also moved the pile on a 7-yard gain up the gut in the third quarter, setting up Dan LeFevour's 1-yard score on the next play for a 24-13 advantage.

Scouts say Blount has tremendous football instincts and he impressed all in attendance with his attitude and work ethic. Include Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz among the believers. Schwartz and his staff coached the North team.

"He started off the week a little slow -- it took him awhile to get going -- but when he did he had a good week," Schwartz told FanHouse following the game.

"Running backs are hard to judge during the week. Until he's out here breaking tackles and doing other things, that's when you see. Obviously he broke some tackles today and was overpowering. He was impressive. He's got some personality and wanted to learn. He definitely had a good week."

Blount wants people to know he's a Gentle Giant, not a violent person. For many people, the lasting image of Blount is seeing his punch replayed over and over on television and the Internet.

NFL brass, coaches and scouts used the Senior Bowl week to get an inside look at prospects for the NFL Draft. The time spent during interviews and practices should help them assess them as people, not just players.

It was important that Blount was sincere about his actions that led to a 10-game suspension and generated incredible ridicule towards him.

"I confronted it head on and told them exactly how it went down," Blount told FanHouse.

"It was a mistake on my behalf. I am happy I even got a chance to come out here and play in this game. It was fun the entire time. I wasn't looking to prove anything because everybody knows what I can do on the field. I was just looking to have fun."

Blount rushed for 1,002 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns as a junior, before his senior season was cut short. Scouts already know Blount can run with power. But they want to see him catch passes and prove he has the speed to run outside in the NFL.

Of course, they also want to make sure he's a good person. That's not an issue, say the people closest to him.

"LeGarrette just wanted to get an opportunity to showcase his abilities and let the NFL get to know him," said Zeke Sandhu, Blount's agent and Vice President of Football Operations for Gaylord Sports Management.

"The key thing was to be able to come here and get a chance to speak with everyone. He had an opportunity to let people know who he really was. He's a great young man with a great family."

A four-year starter and three-time 1,000-yard rusher at Taylor County High School, Blount was popular with teachers and classmates. He was on the homecoming court.

If Blount's not the best football player to hail from Taylor County, then his father, Gary Blount, just might be. Gary was a 6-foot-3, 250-pound do-it-all middle linebacker in the mid-70s for the Bulldogs. He kicked off and also played offense in a pinch.

Gary Blount, who still appears to be in great shape, stood off to the side and watched his son pose for photographs and talk to fans. Polite and soft-spoken, the elder Blount admitted the football season was difficult for the family.

LeGarrette Blount was reinstated before the Ducks' regular-season finale against Oregon State, and he responded by rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown, helping the Ducks make the Rose Bowl.

Each day is a chance for Blount to take a step forward.

"That was a rough situation," Gary Blount said.

"So far I think he has overcome it and everything is alright there now. This is good. Let's hope he reaches his goals."