J.D. Schwalm/The Clarion-Ledger Despite his unimposing size, Bradford Blackmon has put up big numbers during his career at St. Andrew's. With 76 touchdowns entering this year, he stands to pass the likes of Brian Darden, Marcus Dupree and Jerious Norwood on the state's career list. DOING THE ARITHMETIC Bradford Blackmon has found plenty of ways to add to his career touchdown total. 53 Rushing 16 Receiving 4 Kickoff returns 1 Punt returns 1 INT returns 1 Fumble returns 76 Total

RIDGELAND — St. Andrew's running back Bradford Blackmon has something most 17-year-olds don't.

Well, actually a lot of things.

There's the Mercedes CLS500. His very own Web site (http://www.bradfordblackmon.com/). And an abundance of touchdowns.

Seventy-six to be exact, putting Blackmon 42 TDs shy of tying the state record set by former Weir standout Dicenzo Miller from 1994-97.

"Bradford has that competitive fire and that's what separates him from a lot of people," said St. Andrew's coach David Bradberry. "On every play, he is trying to figure out a way to win."

And winning games - not chasing the touchdown record- is what Blackmon is focused on his senior year.

"If I need to score seven touchdowns to win or if I don't score at all, I am just trying to win," said the 5-foot-9, 165-pound Blackmon. "I just want to help take this team as deep in the playoffs as we can go."

Barring injury, Blackmon is likely to surpass the likes of Brian Darden (78 career TDs), Marcus Dupree (87) and Jerious Norwood (92). But unlike Darden, Dupree and Norwood - arguably the three best high school backs to pass through Mississippi - Blackmon has flown under recruiters' radar. He has received many letters but hasn't landed any scholarship offers yet.

"It's not disappointing because everything good takes time," said Blackmon, who also plays cornerback. "I have a while before signing day, so if I do what I need to do this season, (offers) should be coming in. I feel like given an opportunity, I can play wherever."

Bradberry, who has watched Blackmon score seemingly every way possible over the last three years, agrees.

"Hopefully someone will take a chance on him because I think they are going to get a heckuva football player," Bradberry said. "There are some things he brings to the table that I think would be perfect in the right system. You look at what David Palmer and Freddie Milons did at Alabama. Those little guys weren't really I-backs, but if you put the ball in their hands, they can do some things with it."

Blackmon has done just that, piling up 7,033 all-purpose yards, including a breakout sophomore season when he rushed for 1,846 yards and helped the Saints to an undefeated regular season. He followed that up with 1,247 rushing yards in 2005.

"During my junior year, it seems like everyone was gunning for me every time I lined up," said Blackmon. "I would hear six or seven defensive players saying 'watch Blackmon.' "

But attention is nothing new for Blackmon. His parents (Ed and Barbara Blackmon) are two of the state's preeminent attorneys and lawmakers.

"It seems like wherever I go, everybody knows something about me, whether they actually know me or they don't," said Blackmon, whose mother was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2003.

"A lot of people have misconceptions about things, but I just take it and keep moving. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. What most people don't understand is that my dad was one of three kids and my mom was one of nine, and they didn't have much money growing up, but they had to work their way up just like everybody else."

Ed Blackmon noticed that same work ethic and determination in his son years ago while giving Bradford's older brother and cousin basketball lessons.

"Bradford followed us and wanted to do the same drills, but he was so small that he couldn't even get the ball to the bottom of the backboard," Ed Blackmon recalled. "The older boys grew tired, but Bradford wouldn't leave. The only way to get him off the court was to pick him up and let him put the ball in the basket. I knew then he had a lot of determination and refused to say no."

Blackmon is hoping that college coaches won't be able to say "no" either.

"I want to take football as far as a I can," Blackmon said. "If I don't get the D-I scholarship, I'll take a different path. But I have a strong belief that all the chips will fall in place in due time."

Blackmon lists Marshall, Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss and LSU as his top five choices.

His parents, strong Jackson State supporters, wouldn't mind seeing their son suit up in his hometown for the Tigers.

"Wherever he decides to go, we are going to support him," Barbara Blackmon said. "He is the one who has to be happy. And he is happiest when he is on that football field."

She did offer her son one bit of advice.

"I asked him to stop diving out there on the field," Barbara Blackmon said. "He said, 'You must not want me to score.' "