On Monday, Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell said that he believes wide receiver Justin Blackmon’s football career is over. Blackmon was expected to be the Jaguars future franchise receiver.

Blackmon was a gifted four sport star in high school, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track. Football was his best, and he eventually received a scholarship to play football at Oklahoma State University. He was a three year starter on the Cowboys and twice won the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the best wide receiver in college football. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the fifth overall pick in 2012 NFL Draft.

However, two months after he was drafted he was arrested in Oklahoma and was charged with DUI. He was released later that day. During his rookie year in 2012 he played in all 16 Jaguars games and started 14 of them. He was able to record 865 receiving yards and scored 5 touchdowns. In April 2013, he was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the league’s Substance Abuse Policy. After serving the suspension, Blackmon played in four games and was able to record 415 receiving yards and a touchdown before being suspended indefinitely by the league for again violating the Substance Abuse Policy. Blackmon again ran into trouble in the offseason when he was arrested in July 2014 for possession of marijuana. Blackmon didn’t play at all during the 2014 season and in May of 2015 he was denied reinstatement by the NFL, meaning he would miss the entire 2015 season as well.

Blackmon hasn’t practiced or played football since week 8 of the 2013 NFL season, meaning it is unlikely he will attempt a comeback.  If he does, it is extremely unlikely he will be the same type of player he once was. Even the Jaguars GM thinks Blackmon’s career is most likely over. Sadly, it looks like Blackmon’s talent will be wasted thanks to his substance abuse problem.

Blackmon’s story should be taken as a cautionary tale for young athletes. This story proves that even the athletes with the most talent can see their careers disappear before their eyes if they’re not smart and get too deeply involved with alcohol or drugs, even if it’s something like marijuana. Marijuana is still against the substance policies for most sports programs, so why would athletes want to do it if they know it can jeopardize their playing careers? Coaches and teachers should be teaching their players more about staying away from things that can end their careers way before it should, using Blackmon’s story as a prime example. Blackmon himself has an opportunity to make something good come out of his situation. He could go around and speak to young athletes about his experiences, and how they shouldn’t make the same mistakes he did. It could have a huge impact on a future superstar athlete if he or she heard Blackmon say, “Don’t be like me. Stay away from things that can harm your career. It may be too late for me but it’s not too late for you.”