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Harding University Athletics

Sam Blankenship

AT HARDING
Blankenship became a Harding assistant coach in 2021 and serves as an admissions recruiter for Harding.

Coaching Highlights:
  • Served as Harding's safeties coach on the 2023 NCAA Division II national championship team.
  • Harding has a 47-5 record in Blankenship's first four seasons and has made three playoff appearances with a 7-2 playoff record.
  • Has coached four First Team All-GAC safeties, including 2022 All-American Cade Pugh and 2024 All-American Ty Dugger.
  • Harding has led the GAC in total defense in each of Blankenship's seasons at Harding.
PLAYING CAREER
Blankenship played linebacker at Harding from 2015-18, playing in 52 games and recording 260 tackles, 28.0 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and four interceptions. He earned numerous athletic and academic awards and is the only Harding football player to earn both AP All-America (2017) and CoSIDA Academic All-America (2018). He ranks 10th in career tackles for loss (28.0) and 19th in tackles (260) and played in four NCAA Division II playoff games.

EDUCATION
Blankenship graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance in 2018. He earned a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2020.

FAMILY
Blankenship is married to the former Landry Rhoten of Canton, Texas. The couple have one son, Brady.

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2021-present    Harding, safeties coach
2019    Harding, graduate assistant

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
2015-18    Harding, linebacker
2011-14    Union (Tulsa, OK) High School, linebacker