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About Justin

Professional Career

Justin Blalock begins his fifth season this year as starting left guard with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a six-year extension.

A native of Plano, TX, Justin started 14 games at the left guard position as a rookie in 2007. He started his first career NFL game at Minnesota (9/9) and helped the offense record 265 total yards.

He was a member of an offensive line that assisted cleared running lanes for a ground attack that combined for 112 total rushing yards vs. Indianapolis (11/22) including RB Warrick Dunn eclipsing the 10,000 career rushing yard mark.

In 2008, Justin, started all 16 games at guard and helped the Falcons rank second in the NFL in rushing average per game (152.7). He was part of an offensive line that set a franchise record allowing only 17 sacks over the course of the season. He started on an offensive line that paved the way for a franchise single-game high 318 rushing yards vs. Detroit (9/7), including a career and franchise-high 220 rushing yards by RB Michael Turner.

Justin experienced an exciting accomplishment against Minnesota, December 21, 2008 when he recovered a Matt Ryan fumble in the end zone and became the first Falcons offensive lineman to record a touchdown since 1996 (Robie Tobeck). That touchdown helped the Falcons win the game and helped send them to the playoffs.

In 2010, he blocked for a Falcons rushing attack, which totaled 1,891 yards during the season and helped the Falcons win 13 out of 16 games.

College Years

Prior to establishing his NFL career, Justin started at Right Tackle for the Texas Longhorns. During his college career, Justin became the only Longhorn player to start 51 consecutive games. He is well known for providing the block that allowed quarterback Vince Young to make the winning touchdown in the 2005 Championship Game against USC.

Justin was a unanimous All-American and All-Big Twelve Conference first-team selection at Texas as a senior. He was a finalist for the Lombardi Award (nation’s top lineman) and Outland Trophy (nation’s top interior lineman). He also earned honors twice on the Academic Athletics Director’s Dean’s list.

Justin is a 2002 graduate of Plano East Senior High School (PESH) where he started at left guard for three years. He earned first-team All-America honors from USA Today, as a senior. In May 2008, he was inducted into PESH’s Hall of Honor for his accomplishments on and off the field.

High School

Justin attended Plano East Senior High School in Plano, TX. He was coached by Scott Phillips. A three-year starter at offensive guard, Justin earned all-state honors in both football and track & field. He earned first-team All-America honors from USA Today as a senior. He was also a first-team all state (5A), all-area, and all-district selection. Justin was rated as the nation’s 15th best high school prospect by The Sporting News, posting 134 pancakes. He did not allow a sack and opened holes for an offense that averaged nearly 300 rushing yards per game in 2001. His top game of the season was a 21-pancake performance against Plano Senior High School. Justin also played in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Game.

Justin threw the shot put and discus for the track & field team. He registered the third-best throw (63-1/2) in the state as a senior (of all classes) in his final District track meet.

Justin was one of five finalists for the 2002 Watkins Award, which is presented to the nation’s top African-American high school scholar athlete.