In most situations, a single play shouldn’t define an athlete’s entire career.
But for Colorado State safety, one moment from his college days still lingers — and it’s something he’s hoping to leave behind as he tries to make an NFL roster. The Denver Broncos are giving the Boulder native and two-time All-Mountain West selection a shot at rookie minicamp, with the possibility of earning a spot in training camp. It’s also a chance for him to shed the lingering label of being a “dirty” player that has followed him for the past two seasons.
“He is among the most well-known names at Broncos rookie minicamp — a seasoned leader in Colorado State’s secondary and a high-volume tackler,” The Denver Post’s Luca Evans wrote on May 7. “… Following a turbulent college career, highlighted by a controversial hit on Colorado’s Travis Hunter during the 2023 Rocky Mountain Showdown — and later a reconciliation — Blackburn has a chance to continue his football journey close to home, where it all began at Boulder’s Fairview High School.”
That hit on Hunter — widely condemned as a cheap shot — continues to overshadow his achievements. Beyond affecting his reputation, it had a significant impact on his personal life as well. According to KDVR.com, just a day and a half after the game between Colorado and Colorado State, Blackburn and his family became targets of online harassment. They received death threats, and their personal contact information was leaked on social media — all before the game had even ended.
Unique Way Hunter, Blackburn Patched Things Up
The hit Blackburn delivered on Hunter caused a laceration to the liver of the future Heisman Trophy winner, who was also selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Upon learning of the threats directed at Blackburn and his family, Hunter took the initiative to meet with him in person. In a video, Hunter explained that there was no lingering animosity and that he wanted to make it clear he did not support the online harassment directed at Blackburn or his family. The two even went bowling together to demonstrate their reconciliation.
While the meeting helped alleviate some of the tension, the lasting image of Blackburn’s hit on Hunter — a full-speed tackle that came out of bounds and several seconds after the ball had hit the ground — continues to define his public perception. This moment has largely overshadowed what was otherwise an impressive career for Blackburn, who recorded over 70 tackles in each of his final two seasons, along with 4 interceptions and 10 tackles for loss.
Safeties No Longer Strike Fear in NFL
In a different time, Blackburn might have had a much smoother path to securing an NFL spot, but the modern era of football has made it harder for safeties to instill fear in opponents like they once did. This shift is largely due to the increased player safety rules that are now a major part of the NFL.
A comparison that comes to mind for Blackburn is former NFL safety Chuck Cecil, who made headlines in 1993 with the Sports Illustrated cover that asked, “Is Chuck Cecil Too Vicious For The NFL?”
In the past, players like Cecil, as well as San Francisco 49ers safety Ronnie Lott and Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, could dominate games simply by making sure opposing players were constantly aware of their presence, fearing for their own safety. However, that type of impact is no longer possible in today’s game.