Texans Select TCU DT Ross Blacklock with 40th pick of 2020 NFL Draft

Good pick

 

Lol BO'B

 

Blacklost TCU

 

Who?

 

It is what it is. Don't have to love the pick now, gotta love it 2-3 years from now.

 

Dude looks seriously athletic.

 

40. Texans - Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU (6-3, 290)

Dane Brugler: As the son of a Harlem Globetrotters legend, Blacklock checks the boxes for size, core strength and athleticism, firing off the ball to win early or make himself small through gaps. He displays contact balance and length at the point of attack, although his shed and pass rush technique are still a work in progress. Overall, Blacklock doesn’t get home enough on tape, but all the traits are there with his blend of size, quickness and power to develop into a disruptive presence, projecting as a versatile lineman who can play anywhere from the nose to the five-technique.

Bob McGinn/Anonymous Scouts: Played RB and TE for some of his high school career. “Dad was a (Harlem) Globetrotter,” said one scout. “Great home life. Best football is ahead of him. He’s got feet, eyes, strength to push the pocket. He can two-gap. Understands how to use his hands. Has a feel for the game. Has quickness and burst. All his is upside. I do see him as a first-rounder.” Redshirted in 2016, started in ’17, blew out his Achilles and sat out ’18, started in ’19 and declared a year early. “Depending on what he weighs, he can do a lot,” another scout said. “He was 310 at one time. He ran 4.9 at 310, same as at 290. It’s hard to find college players on the inside that have legit pass-rush ability. He does. … He’s immature. That shows up in his film, too. When he gets hard coaching from guys that make him grow up and be a man, it’ll show up on the field as well.” Finished with 67 tackles (15 1/2 for loss) and 5 1/2 sacks. “You see some athletic ability,” said a third scout. “Nimble, quick. But a non-explosive guy. He just gets beat up inside. I don’t think he’s very tough or competitive. Just a flash gap-penetrating guy.” From Missouri City, Texas.

BACKGROUND: Ross Blacklock was a do-everything athlete growing up in the Houston area, competing in swimming, baseball, basketball and the Junior Olympics as a sprinter. He played running back most of his life, including his freshman year at Elkins High School. As he continued to grow, Blacklock moved to linebacker and then became an all-district tight end before landing on the defensive line. Despite his father’s wishes to stay on the hardcourt, he gave up basketball in high school to focus on football. As a senior, he posted 56 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks, seeing snaps at defensive end and tackle. He was named a 2015 U.S. Army AllAmerican.

A four-star defensive tackle recruit out of high school, Blacklock was the No. 25 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 38 recruit in Texas. He cut down his college list to Alabama, Houston, TCU and Texas A&M, choosing to sign with the Horned Frogs. His father, Jimmy, played basketball at Texas, where he was a senior captain and team MVP in 1972 and one of the first African Americans to play in Austin. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1974 to 1987 and is the Globetrotters' head coach. His cousin Dallas is the assistant head coach at Texas Southern. Blacklock elected to skip his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Passes the eye test with an athletic, NFL-ready frame…naturally powerful with strong hands to pepper and toss blockers…quick-twitch movements, creating movement with his initial quickness (credits his athleticism to playing five different sports growing up)…flashes an arm-over and swim move…nimble body control to slip blocks or retrace his steps…lateral agility to party in different gaps vs. the run…dog fighter and consistent finisher, pursuing through the whistle…played over multiple gaps and the defensive front looked noticeably different when he was on the field…mature mindset and named a team captain as a junior (Blacklock: “I’m not your average 21-year-old. I’m all business.”).

WEAKNESSES: Tall pads, losing leverage and making himself a big target for blockers…active hands, but needs to be mindful of his technique to more efficiently shed blocks…doesn’t consistently split double-teams…more flash than substance as a pass rusher, lacking a consistent plan or move-to-move transition…needs to lower his strike zone as a tackler…minimal sack production…had a season-ending Achilles injury (August 2018) and missed the entire season.

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at TCU, Blacklock was the nose tackle in head coach Gary Patterson’s slanting, multiple front. Highly recruited out of high school, his college career didn’t go quite as planned, missing two seasons and starting two seasons, but people didn’t need to know his jersey number to spot him on the Horned Frogs’ defensive line. As the son of a Harlem Globetrotters legend, Blacklock checks the boxes for size, core strength and athleticism, firing off the ball to win early or make himself small through gaps. He displays contact balance and length at the point of attack, although his shed and pass rush technique are still a work in progress. Overall, Blacklock doesn’t get home enough on tape, but all the traits are there with his blend of size, quickness and power to develop into a disruptive presence, projecting as a versatile lineman who can play anywhere from the nose to the five-technique.

 

I mean I like the pick, but it could have been a kicker and you would have said good pick

 

LMAO Texans always gets screwed hahahaha Taylor to the Colts.

 

not gonna lie...I'm NOT MAD at this pick.

 

Could’ve started a poll but I like this pick

Jonathan Taylor was one of my hopes

 

Not a bad pick

Liked Jonathan Taylor here

 

Good pick