The trio spent the day doing interviews and talking to the media about the upcoming season. One theme the three repeated throughout the day was the concept of "24/1": the idea that the main focus at any given time is on that 24 hours and taking it one day at time. When asked what team did they most want to beat this season, both players answered "the next one", further extrapolating the "24/1" philosophy.
Also a big point made by the three Racers Monday was their desire to "win the day," stating the only game you can do anything about is the one in front of you. That concepts also extends to practice, being valuable members of the community and even media day, just being the best at whatever task is the next one to complete.
The day began with senior Jesse
Blackburn being named as a Preseason All-OVC selection at tight end.
Blackburn racked up 612 yards to go along with five touchdowns last
season as a junior. The Gardendale, Alabama native was good for 61.2
yards per game in 2015 and averaged 12.8 yards per catch.
The
senior can expect his workload to increase this season after the
graduation of Janawski Davis, Jeremy Harness and Paul Rice who ranked
in the top 50 nationally and in the top 10 league-wide last season in
multiple receiving categories. In fact, Blackburn will be looked upon
at his position as he is the only returning receiver for 2016 that
had at least 100 yards last season.
The Racers, picked by the media to finish seventh, will
officially kickoff their 2016 season September 3 in Champaign against
Illinois, live on the Big Ten Network.
