Former EMCC All-American LeGarrette Blount of the Philadelphia Eagles seeks third Super Bowl ring

SCOOBA – Former East Mississippi Community College All-America running back LeGarrette Blount is set to become the first EMCC player to participate in three Super Bowls when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the reigning NFL champion New England Patriots during Sunday's Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.

With two Super Bowl rings already in his possession as a former member of the Patriots, Blount is also looking to join a short list of players who have won back-to-back Super Bowls with two different teams.  Blount, who rushed for 2,292 career yards and 18 touchdowns during his two seasons (2006-07) with the EMCC Lions, previously helped New England to NFL championships during Super Bowl LI a year ago over the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas and two years prior to that over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX played in Glendale, Ariz. 

An eight-year National Football League veteran out of the University of Oregon, Blount ranks seventh in NFL history with 10 rushing touchdowns in 10 career postseason games played, including scores during each of the Eagles' playoff victories over the Falcons and Minnesota Vikings.  The 31-year-old native Floridian has rushed for 5,888 career yards on 1,341 carries during his regular-season professional career, while his 51 career rushing touchdowns are tied for fourth among NFL running backs since 2010.  This season as an unrestricted free agent signee, Blount led the Eagles with 766 rushing yards after topping the NFL with 18 rushing TDs and gaining a career-high 1,161 yards on the ground for the Super Bowl champion Patriots a year ago.      

Prior to Blount's upcoming third Super Bowl appearance in four years, East Mississippi Community College was previously represented in four consecutive Super Bowls from 2001 through 2004.  All total, Blount is the sixth former EMCC football player and/or coach to have the distinction of being a part of the Super Bowl experience.

The 6-foot, 250-pound Blount currently shares the distinction of owning two Super Bowl rings with fellow former East Mississippi running back Antowain Smith, who starred for the EMCC Lions during the 1993 and 1994 seasons before completing his collegiate career at the University of Houston.  Smith was also a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots during the twilight of his nine-year NFL career, teaming with quarterback Tom Brady to win Super Bowls XXXVI (2002) and XXXVIII (2004).

Fellow EMCC Sports Hall of Fame member Virgil Seay had the privilege of suiting up for back-to-back Super Bowls (XVII and XVIII in 1983-84) as a member of the Washington Redskins' famed "Fun Bunch" that was known for their choreographed touchdown celebrations in the end zone.  Seay was a wide receiver and kick returner for the EMCC Lions in 1976 and 1977 before finishing his college career at Troy State University.

Kicking off the previous four-year stretch of successful EMCC football products competing in the NFL's championship game, the late Orlando Bobo, an offensive lineman from West Point, was a member of the Baltimore Ravens club that beat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV played in Tampa, Fla., in 2001.

In between Smith's successful Super Bowl stints with the Patriots, former EMCC linebacker Tim Johnson participated in Super Bowl XXXVII (2003) as a member of the Oakland Raiders.

From East Mississippi Community College's distinguished football coaching fraternity, the late Tom Goode, of West Point, will forever be remembered for being the snapper on Jim O'Brien's game-winning field goal in the Baltimore Colts' 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys during Super Bowl V played in Miami's Orange Bowl in 1971.  Goode's illustrious athletic career spanned nearly 50 years and included nine seasons playing in the NFL (1962-70), 20 years serving as an assistant football coach at four different Southeastern Conference schools and a 12-year stint (1992-2003) as head football coach and director of athletics at EMCC.