Blanton enters his fourth year with the football program and currently serves as the Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Safeties coach.
Blanton's All-MAC Honorees
| Eli Blakey (2024) |
Third Team |
| Yahsyn McKee (2023) |
Second Team |
| John Saunders Jr. (2022) |
Third Team |
This past season, Blanton was part of a defensive staff that finished third in the MAC in scoring defense (18.8), total defense (331.4), rushing defense (137.1) and pass defense (194.3). Miami was the top red zone defense in the league and forced 23 turnovers. Blanton also helped coach Eli Blakey, who earned third-team All-MAC honors in 2024.
Under Blanton's guidance in 2023, Yahsyn McKee earned second-team All-MAC honors and Raion Strader was named a Freshman All-American by the College Football News (CFN) and the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Strader was the first freshman All-American at Miami since Ben Roethlisberger garnered the same attention in 2001. Blanton was also part of a defensive coaching staff that helped the RedHawks rank eighth nationally in scoring defense (15.9) and allowed just 86 points in eight conference games (10.8/game), the fewest allowed in MAC play since 2000.Â
In his first year, several defensive backs had breakout years. John Saunders Jr. earned third-team All-MAC, recording a team-high 10 pass breakups, while Yahsyn McKee was second with six PBU's.
Blanton, who had a six-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills came to Oxford after spending the past two years as the defensive backs coach at Benilde St. Margaret High School. In his spare time, Blanton also worked with the NFL Flag Youth Football organization.
Â
His NFL career began as a fifth round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2012 NFL Draft. Blanton was with the Vikings from 2012-15 and also spent time with the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. Blanton, who was a team captain for both the Vikings and Bills, played in 72 career games. His best year came in 2014, leading Minnesota in tackles with 106.
Â
Blanton, a four-year member of the Fighting Irish football team, graduated from Notre Dame with a business degree in 2012 and completed his MBA in finance from the University of Miami in 2016.
