Ross Blacklock

Ross Blacklock
No. 66 – New York Giants
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1998-07-09) July 9, 1998 (age 26)
Missouri City, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:307 lb (139 kg)
Career information
High school:Elkins
(Missouri City, Texas)
College:TCU (2016–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 2 / pick: 40
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Big 12 (2019)
  • Freshman All-American (2017)
  • Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (2017)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:40
Sacks:3.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:0
Pass deflections:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ross Blacklock (born July 9, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs.

Early life

Blacklock's father, Jimmy, played for and later served as a coach for the Harlem Globetrotters.[1] Growing up in Missouri City, Texas, Blacklock became a football star at Elkins High School.[2] Following his senior season for the Knights, he was selected to play in the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Game and verbally committed to play college football at TCU during the broadcast of the game.[3]

College career

After redshirting during his first season on campus in Fort Worth, Blacklock became a full-time starter as a redshirt freshman in 2017, helping lead the Frogs to the program's first-ever berth in the Big 12 Championship Game and a win in the 2017 Alamo Bowl over Stanford.[4] His individual performance earned him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors[5] as well as Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America.[6]

In August 2018, Blacklock suffered an injury caused him to miss his entire sophomore season.[7] Nine months later, he was cleared by doctors to return for his junior season in 2019.[8] Following a junior season where he was named to the first-team All-Big 12, Blacklock announced that he would forgo his senior season and declare for the 2020 NFL draft.[9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+1⁄8 in
(1.91 m) 		290 lb
(132 kg) 		32+3⁄8 in
(0.82 m) 		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 4.90 s 1.70 s 2.86 s 4.67 s 7.77 s 29.0 in
(0.74 m)		 8 ft 11 in
(2.72 m)
All values from NFL Combine[10][11]

Houston Texans

Blacklock was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 40th pick by the Houston Texans, their first choice in the draft.[12] The Texans originally obtained this pick in the trade that sent DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for David Johnson.[13]

In Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, Blacklock was ejected from the game late in the fourth quarter after throwing a punch.[14] In his first year as a professional, Blacklock did not live up to expectations.[15] He finished his first season with 14 tackles, including one tackle for a loss, and no sacks.[16]

Minnesota Vikings

On August 30, 2022, Blacklock and a seventh-round pick were traded to the Minnesota Vikings for a sixth-round pick.[17] He was waived on August 29, 2023.[18]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On September 4, 2023, Blacklock was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.[19] He was released on October 23.

Indianapolis Colts

On October 24, 2023, the Indianapolis Colts signed Blacklock to their practice squad.[20] He was released on October 30.[21]

Tennessee Titans

On November 15, 2023, the Tennessee Titans signed Blacklock to their practice squad.[22] He was signed to the active roster on December 30.[23]

New York Giants

On December 10, 2024, the New York Giants signed Blacklock to their practice squad.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Son of a Globetrotter, Ross Blacklock finds his dominance on football field instead". USA Today. January 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "Texans select TCU DT, Elkins alumnus Ross Blacklock in second round of the 2020 NFL Draft". khou.com. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Unlike trailblazing dad, TCU pledge Blacklock takes different sports path". Houston Chronicle. January 27, 2016.
  4. ^ "TCU Comes Back to Win Valero Alamo Bowl". GoFrogs.com. December 29, 2017.
  5. ^ "2017 All-Big 12 Football Honors Announced". Big12sports.com. November 30, 2017.
  6. ^ "FWAA Names 2017 Freshman All-America Team". SportsWriters.net. January 8, 2018.
  7. ^ "TCU's Ross Blacklock out for season after injuring Achilles in practice". ESPN.com. August 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "TCU gets good news on DT Ross Blacklock". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 9, 2019.
  9. ^ Triebwasser, Melissa (December 27, 2019). "Ross Blacklock declares for the NFL Draft". msn.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Ross Blacklock Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Ross Blacklock College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  12. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  13. ^ Alper, Josh (April 24, 2020). "Texans make Ross Blacklock their first 2020 draft pick". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "Ravens extend regular-season run, dominate Texans 33-16". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  15. ^ "Where is Texans DT Ross Blacklock with his development?". December 27, 2020.
  16. ^ "LOOK: Arizona Cardinals gloat over DeAndre Hopkins trade".
  17. ^ Williams, Charean (August 30, 2022). "Vikings acquire Ross Blacklock from Texans". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  18. ^ Peters, Craig (August 29, 2023). "Vikings Set Initial 53-Man Roster for 2023". Vikings.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "Roster Moves: Jaguars Sign One and Release One on the Practice Squad". Jaguars.com. September 4, 2023.
  20. ^ "Colts sign DT Ross Blacklock to practice squad, release S Henry Black from practice squad". Colts.com. October 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "Colts sign S Tyreque Jones to practice squad, release DT Ross Blacklock from practice squad". Colts.com. October 30, 2023.
  22. ^ "Titans sign DL Ross Blacklock to practice squad". Titans Wire. USA Today. November 15, 2023.
  23. ^ Wyatt, Jim. "Titans Make Several Roster Moves Ahead of Sunday's Game vs the Texans". tennesseetitans.com. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  24. ^ Eisen, Michael (December 10, 2024). "CB Tre Hawkins placed on injured reserve among roster moves". Giants.com.