Signing day: McLain's Jaelen Bledsoe signs with Emporia State
BY MIKE MOGUIN World Correspondent
Saturday, February 09, 2013
As soon as he got an offer, Jaelen Bledsoe knew a college football career was just around the corner.
Bledsoe had been a force as running back for the McLain Titans. Dozens of his top plays were shown on a video screen at the school’s football field house to his teammates, family, friends, coaches and cheerleaders when he signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play for Emporia State out of Emporia, Kansas.
“It’s very special,” Bledsoe said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life.
Bledsoe, the son of Marine parents, was offered a scholarship from Emporia State right after the season.
And it worked out just fine because he had hoping to go out of state.
“I liked how the school is set up and I felt very comfortable there,” he said. “The town is basically the college. No extra stuff over there. Everybody is going to go to the games, everybody is going to know what I’m doing and coaches are going to help me out with work and stuff.”
Bledsoe had hoped to go to a Division I school, but it didn’t work out, he said. He said that it was pretty cool playing with his teammates, but he’ll miss playing with them.
Catching a game-winning TD against Oologah in the playoffs last year as a junior is Bledsoe’s most memorable moment of his high school career.
As he moves on to Emporia State, he has big plans.
“Becoming an All-American, basically, and getting my degree in business management,” Bledsoe said.
If possible, he hopes to make the NFL when done with college ball.
Associated Images:
McLain wide receiver Jaelen Bledsoe (right) hugs his father Freddie Bledsoe Jr., who is wearing U.S. Marine hat, moments after the younger Bledsoe signed his letter of intent. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
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