Rocket from Crockett sets sights on UT

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Coach Rod Oden constantly preaches the importance of being a man of your word and conducting yourself with class and dignity to his football players at Detroit Crockett Tech.

So it should come as no surprise then that when the Rockets’ star quarterback was ready to make his college choice earlier this week, he drove almost 40 miles from his home in Sterling Heights, Mich., to deliver his verbal commitment in person to his future coach.

University of Toledo football coach Tim Beckman was just finishing up a satellite camp at Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, Mich., on Wednesday when a surprise visitor greeted him with a handshake and some good news.

Brian Blackburn, a three-star recruit according to Scout.com, told Beckman he would be staying a Rocket and joining UT for the 2012 season.

“He’s 100 percent in. That’s why he wanted to commit face to face to coach Beckman, not do it over the phone,” Oden said Friday. “That means a lot, and that’s the kind of kid he is.

“He’s a mature, honorable, and responsible young man.”

Blackburn could not be reached for comment, and per NCAA rules, Beckman is not permitted to comment on incoming recruits until they make their commitments official by signing a national letter of intent. The earliest they can do that is national signing day on the first Wednesday in February.

Oden said he doesn’t see Blackburn going back on his commitment between now and then, however, even if he receives interest from bigger programs.

“We tell all our guys [at Crockett Tech] to be honorable and men of their word, and I told Brian not to make a decision unless he was totally sure,” Oden said. “And he told me, ‘Coach, I’m sure right now.’

“He only needed one school to like him. He didn’t need to get 20 offers or anything like that. He really didn’t care about that. He’s just looking for an opportunity to be successful, to learn from upperclassmen, and to go back to football being fun.”

Oden said the recruiting process can be very stressful for prep standouts, and now Blackburn can refocus on preparing for his senior year and making the most of his remaining high school career.

“Everything fit so well for him at Toledo, so why waste time? I wholeheartedly support him in that,” Oden said. “Now he can focus on his last year playing with his friends and being successful at this level before joining his new school.”

Blackburn (6-5, 215) is entering his fourth season as Crockett Tech’s starting quarterback. Last season he was 134 of 219 passing (61 percent) for 2,234 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns.

“He was kind of thrown into the fire as a freshman, but he’s grown and matured into a pretty good athlete,” Oden said. “He’s even made strides to get better mentally and physically going into his senior year.”

Last year Blackburn led the Rockets to an 8-0 start before falling to Cass Tech 41-7 in the Detroit Public School League championship game. Crockett Tech then made a deep run in the state playoffs, advancing to the Division 4 semifinals.

“He has a passion for the game, and he’s been playing it since he was seven years old,” Oden said. “He’s a coach on the field for us, and he’s a gym rat. He’s the first one there and the last one to leave. He has a great understanding for the X’s and O’s components and the off-the-field components of the game, so with all of those intangibles, I think he should be very successful at the next level.”

Contact Zach Silka at: zsilka@theblade.com or 419-724-6084.