The Jacksonville Jaguars signed rookie running back Beau Blankenshipand rookie safetyJerome Junior, the club announced today. Blankenship and Junior were with the Jaguars the past two days during rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. Rookie kicker Jeff Budzien and rookie punter Chad Zinchini were waived from the roster.
Blankenship, 5-9, 206, was a four-year letterman at Ohio University where he rushed for 2,976 yards and 24 touchdowns. He rushed for a school-record 1,604 yards and 15 touchdowns along with nine 100-yard rushing games as a junior and was a second-team All-MAC selection. Blankenship set the Independence Bowl record with 104 rushing yards. He began his career at Iowa State where he played in seven games as a freshman in 2009. Blankenship attended Norman North High School in Oklahoma where he rushed for 5,050 yards and 59 touchdowns.
Junior, 6-1, 207, finished his collegiate career at Winston-Salem State where he totaled 41 tackles in 2013. He sat out the 2012 season after transferring from Connecticut where he played three seasons. Junior totaled 167 tackles for the Huskies as a three-year starter including 60 as a junior in 2011. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Junior attended Archbishop Curley High School where he concluded his career with 153 tackles and 13 sacks while also rushing for 608 yards and eight touchdowns.
