Michael Blanchard (left) and Kenny Mantuo (right) are playing football in Europe.
Former Wildcats Continue Football Careers in Europe
6/8/2011 3:52:34 PM | Football
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Former Davidson football players Michael Blanchard and Kenny Mantuo are spending their summers playing football in Europe.
Blanchard is playing quarterback for the Triangle Razorbacks in Vejle, Denmark, while Mantuo is suiting up as a running back for the Cottbus Crayfish in Cottbus, Germany, where he also helps coach their youth team. Blanchard is writing a blog on his team's web site, which can be found here.
"Playing for the Razorbacks has provided me with the opportunity that most college athletes only dream of - the chance to continue playing a sport that they have grown to love over the majority of their lives," said Blanchard. "All of my teammates display what it means to truly love the game of football, and I could not ask for a better group of players and coaches on this team. I knew early on last season that I did not want to be done with the sport of football and I was supremely fortunate that the Razorbacks offered me the chance to continue playing."
Blanchard, who played tight end as a senior, caught 29 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns and rushed nine times for 30 yards in 11 games. He caught 34 career passes for 300 yards and four TDs in 32 contests. Blanchard was the 'Cats' quarterback as a junior, when he passed for 830 yards and ran for 485 yards and four TDs.
A two-time second-team All-Pioneer Football League selection, Mantuo rushed for 576 yards and five touchdowns on 140 carries in an injury-plagued senior season in which he played in just eight games. He finished his career with 1,936 rushing yards, good for fourth on the all-time Davidson list, and scored 28 touchdowns.
Blanchard is playing quarterback for the Triangle Razorbacks in Vejle, Denmark, while Mantuo is suiting up as a running back for the Cottbus Crayfish in Cottbus, Germany, where he also helps coach their youth team. Blanchard is writing a blog on his team's web site, which can be found here.
"Playing for the Razorbacks has provided me with the opportunity that most college athletes only dream of - the chance to continue playing a sport that they have grown to love over the majority of their lives," said Blanchard. "All of my teammates display what it means to truly love the game of football, and I could not ask for a better group of players and coaches on this team. I knew early on last season that I did not want to be done with the sport of football and I was supremely fortunate that the Razorbacks offered me the chance to continue playing."
Blanchard, who played tight end as a senior, caught 29 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns and rushed nine times for 30 yards in 11 games. He caught 34 career passes for 300 yards and four TDs in 32 contests. Blanchard was the 'Cats' quarterback as a junior, when he passed for 830 yards and ran for 485 yards and four TDs.
A two-time second-team All-Pioneer Football League selection, Mantuo rushed for 576 yards and five touchdowns on 140 carries in an injury-plagued senior season in which he played in just eight games. He finished his career with 1,936 rushing yards, good for fourth on the all-time Davidson list, and scored 28 touchdowns.
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