Khari Thomas Blasingame (born July 1, 1996) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

fullback. He played

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for the Vanderbilt Commodores and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...

in 2019.

Early life

Blasingame was a two-year

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and two-way starter at

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and

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for Buckhorn High School in New Market, Alabama. In his senior year, Blasingame posted 64 tackles, two interceptions, 966 rushing yards, and 10 touchdowns. As a three-star safety, Blasingame committed to Vanderbilt. He also received offers from

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and Northwestern.

College career

Blasingame signed with Vanderbilt as a

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and so back up the defensive linemen. They play closer to the line ...

in 2015. He started seven games in his freshman year, recording 12 total tackles. When he switched positions to halfback, the position he had played in high school, he experienced more success. Blasingame started 13 games, carrying the ball 97 times for 446 yards and 10 touchdowns. Starting 10 games as a junior, he rushed 45 times for 147 yards and no touchdowns. He also accumulated six receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. Blasingame became a full-time starter during his senior season, taking 96 carries for 400 yards and five touchdowns, as well as racking up 25 catches for 320 yards and another touchdown. In 2019, Blasingame was named the Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar by ''Diverse: Issues In Higher Education''.

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

After going undrafted, the

signed Blasingame as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2019. He was waived on August 31, 2019, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.

Tennessee Titans

On November 13, 2019, the

Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...

signed Blasingame to their active roster off the Vikings practice squad. In Week 14, Blasingame caught two passes for 47 yards against the

Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team based in Oakland, California, from its founding in 1960 to 1981, and again from 1995 to 2019 before Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas, relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan ...

. Blasingame was placed on the reserve/

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list by the team on October 4, 2020, and was activated from the list on October 16. Blasingame signed a one-year contract extension with the Titans on March 5, 2021. He was placed on injured reserve on November 6, 2021. He was activated on November 27.

Chicago Bears

On March 22, 2022, Blasingame signed a one-year contract with the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

. He signed a two-year contract extension on March 8, 2023. Blasingame became the Bears' emergency running back during the team's week 5 matchup against the

Washington Commanders The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division ...

following injuries to the team's three running backs. He carried the ball eight times for 26 yards. Blasingame only had three rushing attempts in his entire career prior to the game. On October 25, 2024, Blasingame was released by the Bears after they began using center Doug Kramer Jr. as their fullback.

Philadelphia Eagles

On December 3, 2024, Blasingame signed with the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

practice squad. Blasingame was signed to replace Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren after the latter suffered a knee injury. Blasingame would play in 3 games for the Eagles during the 2024 regular season. In the 2024 regular season, Blasingame played in 5 total games and played 12 offensive snaps and 75 special teams snaps. He recorded one special teams tackle with the Bears. Blasingame was also elevated from the practice squad and played in all of the Eagles' postseason games. He won a Super Bowl championship when the Eagles defeated the

Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Established in 1959 ...

40–22 in Super Bowl LIX.

References

External links

Philadelphia Eagles bioVanderbilt Commodores bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blasingame, Khari 1996 births Living people American football fullbacks Vanderbilt Commodores football players Players of American football from Huntsville, Alabama Tennessee Titans players Chicago Bears players Minnesota Vikings players Philadelphia Eagles players