Justin Blalock is the cousin of Justin Goodwin who played on the Michigan offensive line from 1999-2001. Justin attended Plano East High in Plano, Texas where he was an all-state performer on the offensive line for the football team and as a shot put and discus thrower on the track and field team. Justin played some defensive line in high school but was primarily an offensive guard, where he was second team all-district in his first year as a starter, helping Plano East to an 11-3 record. He continued to improve as a junior, earning all-district and all-area honors for his play that season. As a senior, Justin didn’t allow a sack all season. He earned all-district, all-area, and all-state honors and was considered to be one of the top offensive line prospects in the nation. He was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American team and he accepted a scholarship to the University of Texas where he sat out the 2002 season as a redshirt. He earned a starting spot at right tackle the following season where he started all 13 games, making his way on to several freshman all-American teams. He started all 12 games as a sophomore, on his way to all-big twelve honors. He was also named to the Texas athletic director’s honor roll in the fall for his accomplishments in the classroom. As a junior, Justin once again started all 13 games at right tackle, helping UT to a national championship. He was named first team all-big twelve and third team all-America for his play as a junior. Justin had a chance to enter the 2006 NFL draft and be a first day pick, but as most football players not named Vince Young under Mack Brown have done, he opted to return to Texas for his senior season.

Justin Blalock has a great deal of experience against top competition, having started the past four seasons primarily at right tackle for the Texas Longhorns in the big twelve conference. During that time he has proven to be one of the most durable players in the nation, having not missed a single start due to injury since taking over as a redshirt freshman in 2003. Justin is a big, strong lineman who has developed into one of the most dominating run blockers in college football. He had tremendous lower body strength and he does a good job of using leverage to his advantage. He also does a good job of finishing his blocks. Justin is an intelligent player who knows his assignments and rarely makes mental errors. He is a surprisingly good athlete for a player his size. He can get to the second level in the running game and can get out and make a block in space on a screen pass. He is a good pass blocker who uses his hands well and rarely gives up a sack; however, he lacks the quick feet to play left tackle at the next level and he could have problems with speed rushers coming off the edge. Weight issues could be a cause for concern with Blalock. He was able to shed 13 pound prior to his senior season and he will need to keep that up to prevent running into weight problems at the next level. He played the majority of his career at right tackle although I feel he would be a better guard at the next level. Justin is a versatile player who could play right tackle, guard or possibly even center in the NFL. He should be among the top offensive linemen selected in the 2007 NFL draft.