As a high school football player and wrestler, it would be hard to find an athletic resume stronger than that of Ed Blanton. While Ed was blessed with great size, it was his athletic ability that allowed him to dominate as a high school athlete.
On the football field Ed was a lineman who played both offense and defense, where it was said he was “a man in a boys’ game.” Pancake blocks and devastating tackles were the norm when Ed was on the field. For his efforts Ed was named to virtually every “all team” including the All County, All League and All State teams.
While Ed was primarily thought of as a football player during his “off season” he wrestled for the Indians and served as team captain and was a State Qualifier as a junior and senior. In his senior season he posted 27 wins, 26 of which were pins.
At the conclusion of his senior year, Ed was named as both Napa High’s and Napa County’s “Athlete of the Year.”
Heavily recruited after his football career at Napa High, Ed went on to play for UCLA where he was a PAC 10 Honorable Mention Lineman for the Bruins in 2005. After his UCLA career Ed was signed by the New York Jets where he played for two seasons.
Ed joins classmate Michael Stephens into membership in our Hall of Fame.
Ed and his wife Lindsay make their home in Three Rivers, Michigan, and have four children: Eddie, Adam, Eli, and Shelby.