New York Giants Draft Prospect: IDL Yahya Black, Iowa

Yahya Black went from being a quiet, passive type to an outgoing leader who can drive offensive linemen back into quarterbacks' laps.

Nick Falato | Jan 16, 2025

Nov 24, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Yahya Black (94) carries the Heroes Trophy after beating the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. / Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

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Yahya Black, IDL

Height: 6-5
Weight: 317 lbs
Class: 5th-Year Senior
School: Iowa
Stats

A former four-star recruit out of Marshall High School in Marshall, Minnesota, where he was the second recruit in his state and the 14th athlete in the 2020 recruiting class. Black redshirt after four games as a freshman; he added weight and became a full-time starter in his final two seasons on campus, earning an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team.

Black mostly played inside of the 4i-shade for the Hawkeyes, specifically 1-T, 2i, and 3-T. He had 11 pressures on 290 pass-rushing reps in 2024. He recorded 40 total pressures in his five seasons at Iowa. His missed tackle rate was just 8.7%. Black will be in attendance at the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Strengths

Massive, long frame – thick long arms
Wide hips and thick legs
Plays with solid pad level for his size
Enough speed/strength to beat reach blocks to the play-side.
Excellent vs. 1-on-1 base blocks – quickly establishes control at the POA
Very good overall run defender
Very good torque and play strength
Excellent strength overall
Does well to leverage his run responsibility – good eyes/adapts well
Crafty hands to separate – excellent grip strength
Powerful hands at the point of attack – carries a pop!
Dangerous push-pull move to separate
Quickly locks out and gets his eyes on the ball-carrier
Can take on double-teams and anchor down
Solid body control to twist off double-teams into gaps
Adequate bull-rush and powerful hands as a pass rusher
Has good hand usage as a pass rusher to separate
Excellent processing – played well within Iowa’s system
Wide tackle radius

Iowa’s Yahya Black (94) motions for the crowd to get loud against Iowa State during the CyHawk game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. / Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Weaknesses

Not overly explosive
Has some stiffness
First step lacks quickness – marginal gap penetrator
Slow feet
Limited pass rushing upside due to lack of twitch – a bit lumbering
Lacks the juice to be a threat as a pass-rusher
Can anchor down but did find his way to the deck from clean DTs

Summary

Yahya Black is an excellent – fundamentally sound – run defender who executed his assignments well within Iowa’s defensive structure. His good physicality and length allowed him to lock blockers out and anchor well at the point of attack; he possesses crafty hands to quickly separate while doing an adequate job locating the ball carrier near his gap responsibility. His size and run-defending prowess allow him to operate as a 1T in an EVEN front or an ODD front 4i-T.

He’s a valuable asset but lacks the juice and athletic ability to be an impact player in passing situations. He separates well with precise hands but lacks the short-area quickness and twitch to threaten consistently, nor does he stress the pocket consistently with his bull rush.

Overall, Black will quickly earn snaps on early downs and make impact plays as a smart run defender who eats space and dictates at the line of scrimmage. The Giants could use a player like him on day three.

GRADE: 6.28