# Stone Blanton > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stone_Blanton > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stone_Blanton.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Blanton > Source revision: 1356913689 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Stone Blanton** (born September 12, 2002) is an American professional [football](/source/American_football) [linebacker](/source/Linebacker) for the [Birmingham Stallions](/source/Birmingham_Stallions_(2022)) of the [United Football League](/source/United_Football_League_(2024)) (UFL). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [South Carolina Gamecocks](/source/South_Carolina_Gamecocks_football) and [Mississippi State Bulldogs](/source/Mississippi_State_Bulldogs_football). ## Early life Blanton attended [Madison-Ridgeland Academy](/source/Madison-Ridgeland_Academy) in [Madison, Mississippi](/source/Madison,_Mississippi). As a sophomore he totaled 99 tackles, five [sacks](/source/Quarterback_sack) and one pass break.[1] As a senior Blanton notched 125 tackles with 26 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.[2] Coming out of high school, he was rated as a four-star [recruit](/source/College_recruiting) and held offers from schools such as Auburn, Louisville, Mississippi State, Ole Miss Oregon, Stanford, and Texas A&M.[3] Initially, Blanton committed to play [college baseball](/source/College_baseball) for the [Mississippi State Bulldogs](/source/Mississippi_State_Bulldogs_baseball).[4] However he eventually committed to play [college football](/source/College_football) for the [South Carolina Gamecocks](/source/South_Carolina_Gamecocks_football).[3] ## College career ### South Carolina As a freshman in 2022, Blanton appeared in 12 games where he totaled seven tackles with a tackle and a half being for a loss.[5] In week 4 of the 2023 season, he notched four tackles and a forced [fumble](/source/Fumble) versus [Mississippi State](/source/2023_Mississippi_State_Bulldogs_football_team).[4] In week 11, Blanton returned an [interception](/source/Interception) 88 yards for the game-sealing [touchdown](/source/Touchdown) versus [Jacksonville State](/source/2023_Jacksonville_State_Gamecocks_football_team).[6] During the 2023 season, he was a team captain for the Gamecocks, where he notched 52 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception, and a touchdown.[7] After the season, Blanton entered his name into the [NCAA transfer portal](/source/NCAA_transfer_portal).[2] ### Mississippi State Blanton transferred to play for the [Mississippi State Bulldogs](/source/Mississippi_State_Bulldogs_football).[4] In week 13 of the 2024 season, he notched a season-high 18 tackles versus [Missouri](/source/2024_Missouri_Tigers_football_team).[8] Blanton finished the 2024 season with 125 tackles with three and a half being for a loss, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.[8] After the season, he decided to forgo his final season of eligibility and declare for the [2025 NFL draft](/source/2025_NFL_draft).[8] ## Professional career On May 12, 2025, Blanton signed an [undrafted free agent](/source/Undrafted_free_agent) contract with the [San Francisco 49ers](/source/San_Francisco_49ers).[9] He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts.[10] Blanton was re-signed to the practice squad on October 22.[11] He was released on November 4 and re-signed to the practice squad on November 19.[12][13] On November 26, Blanton was released after the team signed [Eric Kendricks](/source/Eric_Kendricks).[14] ## References 1. Newsome, Langston (July 21, 2021). ["2022 4-star LB Stone Blanton lists top 3: Mississippi State, South Carolina and Texas A&M"](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2021/07/21/2022-4-star-lb-mra-stone-blanton-lists-trio-sec-schools-his-top-3-mississippi-state/8048500002/). *The Clarion-Ledger*. Retrieved January 19, 2025. 1. Bezjak, Lou (December 24, 2023). ["Linebacker Stone Blanton, a South Carolina starter, enters transfer portal"](https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article283476523.html). *The State*. Retrieved January 19, 2025. 1. Newsome, Langston (December 13, 2021). ["Mississippi's top linebacker prospect, Madison-Ridgeland Academy's Stone Blanton, commits to South Carolina"](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/12/13/stone-blanton-mississippi-high-school-linebacker-commits-south-carolina/6465020001/). *The Clarion-Ledger*. Retrieved January 19, 2025. 1. Krajisnik, Stefan (January 5, 2024). ["South Carolina transfer LB Stone Blanton commits to Mississippi State football"](https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2024/01/05/stone-blanton-mississippi-state-football-south-carolina-transfer-portal-jeff-lebby-jackson-baseball/72120949007/). *The Clarion-Ledger*. Retrieved January 19, 2025. 1. Connolly, Matt (January 5, 2024). ["South Carolina LB transfer Stone Blanton commits to Mississippi State"](https://www.on3.com/college/mississippi-state-bulldogs/news/former-south-carolina-linebacker-stone-blanton-commits-to-mississippi-state/). *On3.com*. Retrieved January 19, 2025. 1. Kaye, Jordan (November 9, 2023). ["Why South Carolina LB Stone Blanton's game-saving pick-6 had nothing to do with luck"](https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article281617723.html). *The State*. Retrieved May 30, 2026. 1. Faulk, Robbie (January 15, 2025). ["Mississippi State LB Stone Blanton declares for NFL Draft"](https://www.on3.com/teams/mississippi-state-bulldogs/news/mississippi-state-linebacker-stone-blanton-declares-nfl-draft/). *On3.com*. Retrieved January 19, 2025. 1. Rosenberg, Benjamin (January 16, 2025). ["Mississippi State linebacker Stone Blanton declares for 2025 NFL Draft"](https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/community/mississippi-state-linebacker-stone-blanton-declares-for-2025-nfl-draft/). *The Commercial Dispatch*. Retrieved January 19, 2025. 1. ["49ers Sign Linebacker Stone Blanton to a Three-Year Deal"](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-linebacker-stone-blanton-to-a-three-year-deal). *49ers.com*. May 12, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2025. 1. ["49ers Release, Waive, and Make Roster Moves on a List of Players"](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-release-waive-and-make-roster-moves-on-a-list-of-players). *49ers.com*. August 26, 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025. 1. ["San Francisco 49ers Announce a Series of Roster Moves"](https://www.49ers.com/news/san-francisco-49ers-announce-a-series-of-roster-moves). *49ers.com*. October 22, 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025. 1. ["49ers Sign Defensive Lineman, Release Linebacker"](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-defensive-lineman-release-linebacker). *49ers.com*. November 5, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2026. 1. ["49ers Sign LB Blanton to Practice Squad"](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-lb-blanton-to-practice-squad). *49ers.com*. November 19, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025. 1. ["49ers Sign LB Eric Kendricks to the Practice Squad, Release LB Stone Blanton"](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-lb-eric-kendricks-to-the-practice-squad-release-lb-stone-blanton). *49ers.com*. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025. ## External links - [San Francisco 49ers bio](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/stone-blanton/) - [Mississippi State Bulldogs bio](https://hailstate.com/sports/football/roster/stone-blanton/10988) - [South Carolina Gamecocks bio](https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/roster/player/stone-blanton-2/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stone Blanton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Blanton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Blanton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.