If Syracuse University’s equipment managers do an inventory on footballs this week, they will determine they have one missing. It is currently sitting in Reed Blankenship’s Middle Tennessee State dorm room.

Blankenship, a West Limestone graduate and true freshman for the Blue Raiders, earned his first career start at free safety in only his second college game – on the road against an ACC team, no less – and grabbed a diving interception late in the fourth quarter to help MTSU to a 30-23 win over the Orange.

And once he made the interception, he wasn’t about to give up the ball, not even to his parents Troy and Sandra, who made the 15-hour drive to Syracuse, New York, to watch their son play.

“My teammates were all telling me to keep the ball,” Blankenship said. “After the game, I ran to my parents and handed it to them, but they gave it back to me. I couldn’t give it away that quick. It’s sitting in my dorm room now. It’s something I’ll carry for a long, long time.”

Blankenship’s interception came with 4:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and Middle Tennessee hanging on to a 30-23 lead. Syracuse had a first down at the MTSU 45-yard line when quarterback Eric Dungey tried to throw a long pass down the left side. But Blankenship read the quarterback’s body language and knew where the ball was going. He dove in front of the intended receiver and made the interception at the 24.

“During practice we had talked about playing with our eyes and worked on reading the quarterback,” Blankenship said. “I had deep middle and was spying the quarterback. As soon as he turned his shoulder, I knew I’d have a chance to break on the ball. When the ball came out (of Dungey’s hand) I knew I had a great chance at making the interception.”

Blankenship and the Blue Raiders had to wait a few more tense moments as the officials looked at video replay to make sure Blankenship didn’t bobble the ball as he hit ground, but after a lengthy review, the interception stood.

“There was no doubt in my mind that I didn’t drop it, but they had to make sure,” Blankenship said. “They took a long time looking over it, and I started to get a little nervous. But I was glad when they let the interception stand.”

Blankenship’s interception was a combination of intelligence and athleticism, two things West Limestone head coach Jordan Cantrell said Blankenship has in spades, which is why he is not surprised his former player is starting early in his true freshman season.

“We expected that all along,” Cantrell said. “With his work ethic, determination, his will and willingness to learn and being a smart football player, we knew he had the attributes to do that. There is a mental and physical toughness he has that makes him stand out.”

While Cantrell may not be surprised Blankenship is having early success to his college career, Blankenship sure is. He played mostly special teams in Middle Tennessee’s season opening game against Vanderbilt, and was surprised when he found out he would start against Syracuse.

“I didn’t really anticipate playing a lot,” he said. “But going through the preseason camp and practice, I started learning the defense a lot more and started making plays. I knew the coaches saw me a lot, and knew I’d have a chance to play. When I got named the starter against Syracuse, I was really excited.”

Blankenship was required to be a quick learner, because the difference from Class 4A Alabama high school football to Division I college ball is massive.

“You’ve got to adapt pretty quick in certain situations and mature a lot going from high school to college,” Blankenship said. “I just have to go out day by day and get better and more mature as the weeks go on.”

One week after traveling to New York to play Syracuse, MTSU travels this week to Minnesota to play the Golden Gophers of the Big Ten Conference. Back-to-back long road trips is another part of the college football experience that Blankenship is getting used to.

“I’m used to going right down the road an hour or so away to play games,” he said. “Now I’m starting to go 15 hours away from home. But playing these bigger schools is a great experience.”

Middle Tennessee’s next home game is Sept. 23 against Bowling Green. The Blue Raiders will also face UAB in Birmingham’s Legion Field on Oct. 14. Blankenship can expect to have some fans in the stands at either or both of those games.

“A lot of us will load up and go support him,” Cantrell said. “We’re very proud of him and are really excited to see him doing well.”