Curtis (CJ) Blanden '26 Recruiting Profile

All my life, I have been a student athlete. When I think about going to college and my future, my goals are to get my degree in business and play football at the highest level. My career goals are to graduate from college and one day go into real estate investment. Taking AP and weighted classes while being a three-sport (Football, Basketball, and Track & Field) student athlete has helped prepare me for the next level of competition and school.  I know how to balance my studies, my training and conditioning, practice, and other extra-curricular activities to help keep me balanced.

I am confident that my commitment, hardworking attitude, and the internal drive to persevere, makes me a great candidate for your team. As a high school athlete, I have shown my coaches and teammates that I am a strong leader that believes in teamwork. My experience as a boy scout, on track for Eagle rank, has given me the first-hand experience and skills needed to be a team player and step up to be a leader when needed. Joining African American Club, has helped me create a space and voice for our Black students in our building. 

I was raised with a strong foundation of love, discipline, structure and more importantly-faith. My parents have always taught me when things get tough, to not give up and to persevere. This attitude not only helps me on the field/court but also in the classroom. I maintain a 4.5 GPA while  taking AP classes, participating in extracurricular activities, volunteering in my community, and showing how I manage my time and priorities effectively.

Playing for Urbana High School has not been easy, but I won't quit.  As a freshman, we were the first team to try and help rebuild the program. We were freshman playing JV because the school had not had a varsity season in over five years. The past two years, we have brought back the varsity team and are dedicated to rebuilding the football program at UHS. My hope is to continue to learn and grow on the football field and be able to go to college to get my degree in Business.