Welcome to my world: OSU DE Jamie Blatnick

By Ray Martin

Published: September 6, 2008

Redshirt freshman defensive end Jamie Blatnick had a pair of tackles in Oklahoma State's road win over Washington State last week. At 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, he is already a threat at defensive end.

I'm from Celina, Texas. It's a small school, where they play Friday Night Lights style football. One game, a rivalry game, 11,000 people showed up and our town has 4,000 people, and the town we played had 4,000 people in it. It's such a small town that everyone knows who you are, especially if you play football.

My mom remarried and moved to Texas when I was young, about 5 or 6. I was born in California, in the Los Angeles area, and I still go back. My dad lives there, my brother lives there and my mom's side of the family lives there. I used to go back regularly when I had breaks from school. My family is the most important thing to me. My mom hasn't missed a game since pee wee. She's always come to see my games. Still does.

I decided to come to Stillwater in July of 2006. I had other options, but this was where I wanted to go. My high school team is orange and white, so maybe something sank in with the colors, I don't know. I just felt at home here. I like that it kind of has a small-town feel to it. I've been bleeding orange since fifth grade.

For me, the most important game on the schedule this year is either Texas A&M, Texas or Texas Tech. That's just for me. Being from Texas, it makes you want to beat those schools. I never went to their games. My first college game was an SMU game on a recruiting trip. Two of those games are on the road, but we can win them.

Of course, I want to go to the league (NFL) after school. If I don't though, I think I'm going to change my major to health management or something related to it so I can go that direction.

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