Phillip Blanks starred at Kalamazoo Central High as a wide receiver, but he probably never figured his skills would save a life.

Blanks, a former Marine now living in Phoenix AZ, was on his way to workout with some friends last week when they came across an apartment complex on fire.

As quickly as he got out of his car to see if he could help, someone tossed a three year old from a third floor balcony.

Blanks dove and caught the three year old before he hit the pavement.

Here's the harrowing video of Blanks heroic moment.

"People were screaming 'there are kids up there' and to throw the kids down," Blanks told WWMT News. "I saw another guy was standing there ready to catch the boy, but he didn't look like he was going to do it, so I stepped in front of him. The way I caught him damaged his foot, but the most important thing is his head was safe."

The three year old suffered burns from the fire, but his expected to survive. His eight year old sister was also injured in the blaze, which took the life of the children's mother.

Blanks played for the Central High Maroon Giants while growing up in Kzoo. He caught a game winning touchdown back in 2009 against arch rival Loy Norrix High.

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