How Serious Are You? Will Blackmon's Test Before He Ever Starts Training

June 23, 2026

Podcast: Football IQ – Studying the Game Like a Pro – Will Blackmon, NFL Veteran & CFB Analyst

"I assess that personally, just mentally and emotionally and spiritually about the game." — Will Blackmon

Introduction

Will Blackmon played 10 seasons in the NFL as a defensive back. After his playing career, he built Blackmon Football Academy and launched House of D.B.'s — a training program specifically designed for defensive backs who want to compete at the highest level.

When coaches Doug Brady and Gabe Pico sat down with Blackmon on the American Football IQ podcast, one thing became clear fast: Will isn't just screening athletes. He's screening commitment.

In a world where every parent thinks their kid is a prospect and every player thinks they're one private session away from a scholarship, Blackmon's approach cuts through the noise. He has a standard before training even begins — and it's not based on film, measurables, or even talent.

It's based on seriousness.

The Question Every Coach Should Ask Before Saying Yes

Most coaches or private trainers take the session. The money is there, the player shows up, you run them through drills, collect the check, and move on.

Blackmon doesn't operate that way.

Before he commits to working with a high school athlete or a pro player, he's already evaluating them. Not physically. Mentally. He wants to know: How serious is this kid about football?

That might sound simple. But think about what it actually means to assess someone's seriousness. You can't measure it on a stopwatch. You can't see it in a 40-yard dash. It shows up in how they ask questions. Whether they show up with a notebook or just their cleats. How they talk about film. Whether they've done any preparation at all before stepping on the field with a veteran who played a decade in the league.

Football punishes hesitation — and it also punishes players who are going through the motions.

Blackmon knows the difference. He's been around both types his entire career. So when a player reaches out for private training, he's already doing his own film study on them — as a person.

Mental, Emotional, Spiritual — What That Evaluation Actually Looks Like

Blackmon uses three words to describe how he sizes up a player before training: mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

That's not soft language. That's precise.

Mentally — Does this player understand the game? Do they ask football-smart questions? Can they articulate what they need to work on, or are they just showing up hoping someone tells them what to do? Mental readiness is about processing. A player who has done mental reps before arriving is already a step ahead.

Emotionally — Can this player receive coaching? Some kids want validation more than instruction. They want to be told they're good, not told what to fix. Blackmon doesn't have time for that. He wants a player who can hear hard feedback, take the correction, and come back the next day locked in. Emotional readiness means being coachable, not comfortable.

Spiritually — This one goes deeper than religion. It's about purpose. Why does this player want to be great? Players who have a reason — a real one — work differently. They compete differently. They listen differently. Purpose-driven players make coaching rewarding. Players without it make coaching exhausting.

Understand the why, not just the what. Blackmon is looking for players who know their why.

Why This Standard Matters for Players at Every Level

Here's what most players don't realize: the evaluation starts before you ever take a snap.

When you reach out to a veteran for training, a college coach notices you on a visit, or a coordinator watches you interact with teammates during warm-ups — you're already being assessed. Not just your feet. Your demeanor. Your preparation. Your engagement.

The players who earn trust at the next level aren't always the most talented. They're the ones who show up with the right mental posture. They've already watched film. They've already thought about what they need to improve. They arrive ready to work, not ready to be impressed.

Blackmon admits it plainly — he gets paid either way. He could say yes to every player who calls. But he doesn't want to show up and be bored. He wants to watch somebody get better. That means he needs a player who wants to get better, not just one who wants to say they trained with Will Blackmon.

That distinction matters more than most players recognize.

Why Football IQ Changes Everything

The lesson here isn't just about Blackmon's screening process. It's about what kind of player you're choosing to be — every day, before anyone is watching.

Preparation is what builds the recognition, the confidence, and the reaction speed that separate good players from great ones. Mental reps — reviewing concepts, studying your assignments, understanding the scheme — that's the work that pays off when the lights are on and the game is moving too fast to think.

At American Football IQ, that's the entire mission. We don't sell cards. We sell mental reps. Because the game is won before the snap. It's won in the meeting room, on the practice field, and in the mental preparation players do when nobody's looking.

Blackmon's standard is a reminder that the best coaches and the best players are aligned. They're both after the same thing: real improvement, earned the right way.

Final Thoughts

Seriousness isn't something you announce. It's something you demonstrate — in how you prepare, how you listen, and how you show up before anyone has given you a reason to.

Will Blackmon has seen enough football to know the difference. The players who earn his time aren't always the most talented. They're the ones who treat the game the way it deserves to be treated: with respect, with study, and with purpose.

Think like a coach, play like a pro.

Follow American Football IQ for more film room breakdowns, coaching insights, and content built to sharpen the way you see and study the game:

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Podcast Source Table


Clip	Assessing Seriousness in Football Training
Full Podcast	Football IQ – Studying the Game Like a Pro – Will Blackmon, NFL Veteran & CFB Analyst
Guest	Will Blackmon
Website	americanfootballiq.com

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