TCU football players already going pro can earn some bucks at this All-Star challenge
TCU football players Jalen Reagor and Ross Blacklock will be part of the Big 12’s team in this year’s 2020 State Farm All-Star Challenge, a skill-based competition taking place on Monday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The event, which is in its 22nd edition, will air next Friday (Jan. 31) at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
Reagor and Blacklock will be joined by Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray and Kansas’ Carter Stanley. That team will compete against five others with 24 total players participating in the showcase.
The teams are broken into the Power Five conferences, plus a “wild card” team comprised of players outside of the Power Five conferences.
Reagor and Blacklock are the first TCU players to appear since quarterback Andy Dalton in 2011. Among notable players who have taken part in this are Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Patrick Mahomes, Von Miller and Reggie Wayne.
Players have an opportunity to earn money based on how they perform individually and as a team. Individual events include things such as a quarterback accuracy competition, an obstacle course, a strength challenge and a hands competition.
Reagor and Blacklock are early entrants into the NFL Draft. Reagor is considered one of the top receivers in a loaded WR class, and Blacklock is among the top defensive tackles.
Reagor is doing his pre-draft training at EXOS in Frisco, while Blacklock has been working out in southern California.
Reagor closed his college career with 2,248 yards receiving, 22 TDs and 148 receptions, highlighted by a 1,000-yard season as a sophomore in 2018. Reagor also rushed for 324 yards and two TDs in his career.
His 22 career receiving TD receptions are tied for second-most in TCU history, trailing only Josh Doctson (29).
Reagor led the team with 611 yards receiving and five touchdowns on 43 receptions this season. But he was a standout returner, being named to three All-America teams after ranking second nationally with a 20.8 punt return average.
Blacklock, meanwhile, had 67 tackles in his career, including 15.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in two full seasons. He had a standout redshirt freshman season in 2017, earning Big 12 co-defensive freshman of the year honors, but was sidelined with an Achilles injury in 2018.
Blacklock started all 12 games for the Horned Frogs this season, finishing with 40 tackles, including nine for loss and a team-leading 3 1/2 sacks. He also had three QB hurries.
Blacklock was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2019.
This story was originally published January 24, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
