36. Ross Blacklock, DI, TCU
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 290
40-Yard Dash: 4.9 seconds
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: 29 inches
Broad Jump: 8 feet 11 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.77 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.67 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Given his upbringing, it is a surprise that Ross Blacklock is finding his way on the gridiron, and not the hardcourt. His father Jimmy Blacklock was a basketball player for first the University of Texas and then the Harlem Globetrotters, and he now coaches the legendary basketball team. But the younger Blacklock chose a path on the football field, and was a four-star recruit coming out of Elkins High School in Texas.
Blacklock chose TCU over schools like Alabama and Texas A&M, and despite some injury struggles (he missed the entire 2018 season) he still has two solid years of production and film to put on his resume. Last year was his best on campus, as he notched three sacks, 24 quarterback hurries and 20 run stops.
Stat to Know: Of his 40 total tackles last season, an impressive nine of those were for a loss.
Strengths: At the outset Blacklock is an important reminder that as evaluators, it is imperative to “scout the traits not the scheme.” In TCU’s defensive system, the defensive linemen are tasked with a lot of stunts, slants and twists up front. TCU head coach Gary Patterson gave a tremendous presentation on his defense back in 2015, and if you read through that clinic you will see just how big the emphasis on slanting up front was in that system. Which means that a lot of Blacklock’s production was due to this aggressive, one-gap penetration scheme. Meaning what he can do on his own, or in a different system, is a bit of a projection.
But to fit in such a defense, you need to be athletic. Blacklock checks those boxes well for an interior offensive lineman. He displays solid lateral quickness and has a tremendous first step, as you might expect given Patterson’s philosophy. He can get upfield and penetrate against any run design, including zone blocking schemes. His lateral quickness allows him to string such plays out and force the running back to cut in the backfield, and it also allows him to be a pass rushing force when stunting or twisting.
He is also not afraid to do the dirty work of an interior offensive lineman. While some of the players in this class hate getting double-teamed, Blacklock thrives in those moments. Perhaps one of my favorite plays of any player in this group is this play against Oklahoma State:
Blacklock sees the outside zone scheme headed to his right. Seeing this, he engages the right guard and then tries to reach the center with his big right arm, grabbing at the center’s right shoulder to try and prevent him from getting to the next level. While doing so, he manages to beat the guard and get to the ball-carrier to stop this play at the line of scrimmage.
Weaknesses: Returning to the scheme for a moment, Blacklock might not be for every system. While not to many defenses these days rely heavily on two-gap defenders, he is best suited as a one-gap penetrator given his experience and quickness up front. Since his game is quickness, there are times when he struggles to anchor at the point of attack or against double-teams. Additionally, he relies on quickness and burst – as well as scheme – to generate pressure. He will need to develop an array of pass rushing moves as he transitions to the NFL.
Conclusion: His athleticism and quick first step make him very enticing. Disruption on the interior is not something you can get every play, but Blacklock brings that potential to an NFL team. His effort and motor will endear him to his defensive line coach, and his willingness, or even his desire, to attract double-teams will endear him to the linebackers flowing to the football from behind him. The scheme fit piece will be a big component, but in the right environment he can be a disruptive force for a defensive front.
Comparison: Michael Kist from Bleeding Green Nation and Bleeding Green Radio told me that he saw a lot of Timmy Jernigan in Blacklock, and that is a comparison I cannot get out of my head. The quick step, the ability to swallow doubles on the inside, and the potential all make sense.