Back Home, Blanton Bringing Energy To Bulldog Defense
August 09, 2024 | Football, Joel Coleman
Mississippi State linebacker is fired up to finally be in Maroon and White.
STARKVILLE – It's been an eventful few months for Stone Blanton.
The standout linebacker decided earlier this year to transfer to Mississippi State from South Carolina, essentially returning home as a Jackson native who prepped a couple hours south of Starkville at Madison-Ridgeland Academy.
If that wasn't exciting enough, he also got engaged several weeks back.
It's all enough to get anyone pumped up. Of course, for those who know Blanton, he doesn't need much of a prompt to bring the juice.
"Stone is loud every day," fellow MSU linebacker John Lewis said of Blanton. "If I need to count on somebody to come pick me up, it's gonna be Stone."
It's a pretty accurate assessment, Blanton admits.
"I'm always kind of fired up," Blanton said. "I love being here, so I love to show that with energy and passion."
The shot in the arm Blanton brings comes at a perfect time for the Bulldogs. In a linebacking unit that lost two stalwarts – Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson – Blanton helps in forming the group's new identity.
One, because of his talent. He's a proven commodity on the second level of a defense after playing in 24 contests including 12 starts with the Gamecocks over the last two seasons. Blanton totaled 59 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack while at South Carolina. He also forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and accounted for one defensive touchdown.
But Blanton doesn't just bring a resume. He brings excitement. He brings fun. He brings personality – as evidenced by the hair on his head he bleached blonde just before the start of preseason camp.
"I just got a little bored," Blanton said about his hairdo. "Just thought I'd be a little funny…Thought it'd be an interesting change."
Maybe too interesting. Because is Blanton's fiancé a fan of the look?
"Nah, she hates it," Blanton confessed.
The good news for the future Mrs. Blanton is that hairstyles can be adjusted. And the good news for the Bulldogs is that the enthusiasm that leads Blanton to do things like get loud or color his hair can't be taught. It's just who Blanton is.
Couple all of that with his appreciation to be back in the Magnolia State and you can quickly get excited for how Blanton could be in store for a big breakout as a Bulldog.
"It was unreal [putting on an MSU jersey for the first time," Blanton said. "That was one of the most surreal parts of coming here – and just walking into [Davis Wade Stadium] and having an appreciation to be there.
"This coaching staff, the players here – I just felt like it was the perfect fit coming here."
A big piece of why Blanton feels he's where he needs to be is that his defensive coordinator and position coach, Coleman Hutzler, feeds directly into Blanton's own tendency to be wired.
"Coach Hutzler gets after it," Blanton said. "His energy motivates all of us like crazy. Having a leader who comes in the room every day with crazy energy just feeds into the whole defense."
With Hutlzer coaching with such exuberance and Blanton playing with it, that seems to bode well for not only MSU's linebacking corps but the State defense as a whole. Passion can often lead to production and back playing ball in the great state of Mississippi, Blanton has passion aplenty.
"It's been a dream come true," Blanton said. "I have a lot of people that are close to me here and this just means so much to me.
"I'm so excited to be here and couldn't be more fired up for this season."
Mississippi State has a little over three more weeks before opening up the season against Eastern Kentucky at Davis Wade Stadium on August 31. To purchase your tickets for the Eastern Kentucky game, or any of MSU's seven home contests this season, CLICK HERE.
