Blake Ligon Class: Graduated Hometown: San Angelo, Texas High School: Central HS Height / Weight: 6-1 / 187 Position: Safety Birthdate: 12/21/1985 Experience: 3L Pronunciation: lih-GAWN

All-MWC Candidate

NEW MEXICO:

A three-year letterman and two-year starter at safety who has been a real impact player on gameday throughout his career...should be one of the most active defensive backs in the Mountain West this fall after a breakthrough 2007 season...did not participate in contact drills during the spring after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, but expected to return to the starting lineup at right wolf safety during training camp...coaches were impressed with his aggressive rehab and how quickly he resumed training...not a lot of bulk on his frame, but he has shown no shortage of effort and energy, and has been an active playmaker in both pass coverage and run support...smart, experienced player who knows the defense well...active UNM leader with 135 career tackles...also has 6.5 tackles for loss, 12 pass break-ups, and 3 interceptions in 35 career games (22 starts)...started 9 games at left wolf safety as a redshirt freshman in 2005, receiving Honorable Mention Freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News...last name is pronounced lih-GAWN.

2007 (JUNIOR):
Turned in a career year in his return to the starting lineup (all 13 games) and was particularly impressive in pass coverage...recorded a career-high 8 break-ups (T-2nd on the team), an interception and allowed very few completions to help lead the nation's 20th-ranked pass defense...also had a career-high 54 tackles, including 2.5 TFLs, and 34 stops in run support...had a QB hurry as well...3 stops and a PBU in the New Mexico Bowl before leaving early in the 2nd half with bruised ribs.

`07 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. UNLV...Recorded 4 stops and a career-high 3 pass break ups to help limit the Rebels to just 142 passing yards and a 38% completion rate (15-40)...at Utah...Tied his season-high with 7 tackles (5 solo), including 1 for loss and another for no gain to help frustrate one of the league's top rushing offenses...Utah had just 32 yards on 20 2nd half rushing attempts (138 total)...also outstanding in pass coverage, breaking up a deep pass and not allowing any completions in three chances...vs. Colorado State...Didn't allow any pass completions in man coverage and helped limit the Rams to a FG on a sudden change drive that began on the UNM 25...didn't bite on a fake screen on 3rd-and-14 from the UNM 15, forcing the Rams to throw the ball away with his coverage...head coach Rocky Long called the stand the most important of the game...also added 4 tackles...at San Diego State...Provided excellent coverage again, helping to hold the MWC's No. 2 passing team to just 133 yards - 139 under its season average...2 stops on the night...vs. BYU...Outstanding job in pass coverage, helping the Lobo secondary limit QB Max Hall to 251 yards on 18-40 passing (45%)...Hall entered the game ranked 4th in the nation averaging 377.3 yards/game...notched 3 tackles and gave Hall few places to go with the ball downfield...vs. Sacramento State...Notched 4 tackles and went high to knock down a pass while blitzing off the edge...helped the defense record its first shutout in 5 years, while allowing just 104 yards of total offense - the fewest since 1983 - including a mere 27 yards passing...at Arizona...Solid performance in the Lobos' landmark road win...4 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and had an acrobatic pass break-up in 1-on-1 coverage deep downfield...vs. New Mexico State...Notched 7 stops (5 solo) in 78 active snaps...used a well-timed leap to break-up a middle pass to the end zone...at UTEP...Nice effort with 3 tackles, a tackle for loss and QB hurry in 28 snaps...helped the Lobo secondary limit the Miners to 81 yards passing and a 32% completion rate...made his first start in two years.

2006 (SOPHOMORE):
Played in 11 games as one of the first safeties coming off the bench...broke his right forearm in week 2 at New Mexico State and missed the next two weeks...returned in week 5 at Air Force, where he notched his first career interception...wore a protective cast the rest of the season...finished with 34 tackles, 2 interceptions, along with a forced fumble, fumble recovery and pass break-up...had 23 tackles in the final 6 games (3.8 avg.), including a season-high 6 in back-to-back games against Utah and Colorado State.

`06 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. San Diego State...had 5 stops and returned an interception 24 yards for a TD in the regular season finale...INT capped a 24-point first quarter for the Lobos en route to their bowl-clinching victory.

2005 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN):
One of 4 first-year starters in the UNM secondary...showed the ability to be a real defensive playmaker in his first 11 collegiate games, playing the left wolf safety position...9 starts were the most by a freshman on the Lobo defense since 2000...posted 44 tackles (28 solo)...4 tackles for loss (all solo) were tied with fellow freshman S DeAndre Wright for the most by a Lobo DB...also led the secondary with 7 QB hurries, blitzing off the edge...had 3 pass break-ups (T3rd on the team), tipping passes at the line of scrimmage and while in deep coverage.

`05 HIGHLIGHTS: at San Diego State...Made 5 sure tackles and helped the Lobo D put together one of its most complete performances of the season...did a fine job in run support and was solid in coverage against an efficient Aztec passing attack...at TCU...Turned in his second straight standout game...made 7 tackles (5 solo) and also had 3 solo tackles in the backfield for a loss of 8 yards...tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage and hit the TCU QB to force an incompletion...at UTEP...Enjoyed a breakthrough performance against a high-powered offense on the road...recorded a season-high 9 tackles (6 solo) in his 59 plays...also made a solo tackle for loss...was relentless blitzing off the edge, notching a QB hurry and battling UTEP blockers tirelessly throughout the night...vs. UNLV...Made 4 tackles (2 solo) in his collegiate debut.

HIGH SCHOOL:

A 2004 graduate of San Angelo Central HS...an all-district strong safety as a senior when he finished second on the team with 127 tackles...voted captain by his teammates after the season...all-district wide receiver as a junior...also 3 interceptions at cornerback...played for head coach Bob Bellard...second team all-district in basketball...a 3.6 cumulative GPA.

PERSONAL:

Born Dec. 21, 1985, in San Angelo...age is 22...son of Keith and Karen...uncle Darren Ligon played football at Baylor...University Studies major.