Round 5.164 DT Yahya Black, Iowa

[bradshaw2ben]

YAHYA BLACK, DT, Iowa
6056 - 336 - 1028 hand - 3500 arm - 8378 wing
Class: 5th yr Sr.
Age: 23.0 years old
HS RECRUITING: 4*

B2B Quick Take:
Massive dude who has 5-tech length and NT mass. There is pass-rush upside, but he's a bit of a project overall, with high pad level and still somewhat raw. If he puts it all together he might even end up quite capable of staying on the field outside of short-yardage situations. He wins with his length and hand strength, even though he's not particularly quick or explosive.[/b]

NFL Comparisons: John Jenkins with a dash of Arik Armstead

5.39 40 yd
1.88 10yd
4.72 SS
7.63 3-cone
VJ 25.5
BJ 8.416667

RAS 3.61

Consensus Ranking: 337 (high 210, low 359)
Selected: 164
SFBoard Draft: 200

B2B Rank: 359th
B2B Position Rank: 39th
NFL.com: 5.86 (overall 259th, PR 30th)
Emory Hunt: 73 (PR 13th Nose Tackle)

Splash Plays ((TFL, Sacks, PD, INT, TD, FF)
Career Splash per game: 0.65094339622 (solid for a NT)

Screenshot 2025-04-26 at 4.19.25 PM.png (95.25 KiB) Viewed 2105 times

AWARDS and notesS:
2020: Redshirted. Played in 4 games as a reserve (3 tackles).
2021: Played in all 14 games as a reserve (18 tackles, 2 PBUs, FF).
2022: Played in 9 games as a reserve (11 tackles, 1.5 TFLs with 1 sack, 2 PBUs).
2023: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. Started all 14 games (51 tackles, 5 TFLs with 3.5 sacks, 5 PBUs, FF).
2024: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. Started all 13 games (34 tackles, 7 TFLs with 1 sack, 2 PBUs, FF).

Brian Maafi Preseason Scouting Report:

Four-star from Marshall, MN. Redshirted in '20. Significant back up role in '21. Below average grades. 7 games in '22. Average grades. 1 sack. Starter in '23. Solid, but inconsistent run D. Flashes as a rusher. 22 pressures, 4 sacks.

NFL.com

Overview
A massive nose tackle with high-end traits, Black’s run plugging can run hot and cold as he fails to anchor with flat feet sunk deep into the ground when attacked on an angle. He can separate and neutralize the block to messy the gap when his pad level is right and he’s one-on-one. Black lacks snap quickness and range, so he’s much more space-eater than playmaker. The size and traits will be coveted, but Black lacks rush and is a little inconsistent at controlling the point. He might have a ceiling as a rotational big man.

Strengths
Massive frame is bulky but proportional.
Possesses a 7-foot wingspan and huge hands.
Able to muddy up the middle when splitting the double team.
Uses length to extend and work around the blocker.
Plays with firm control of single blockers when his pad level is good.
Weaknesses
Below-average balance and ends up on the ground too often.
Lacks a twitchy shed to get rid of blockers when it’s time to tackle.
Zone blocks can reach and easily seal him.
Below-average snap quickness and short-area movements.
Will offer little help as an NFL pass rusher.

FBGP

Strengths:
- Solid pocket collapsing defensive tackle, who is consistent in
the way he gets upfield. He’s got good, natural core strength
to force an offensive lineman into his anchoring pretty
quickly.
- Does a good job of getting off the ball, shooting his hands
inside and keeping his feet moving.
- Because his hands are in a good football position, once he
sees the ball carrier, he’s able to disengage to go and make
the tackle.
Areas of Improvement:
- Weirdly he ends up on the ground a lot. Has to be able to
play with much better balance and pad level in that regard.
- Pretty much a meat and potatoes type of Nose Tackle. Will
definitely have to work on a counter when his initial bull
rush is stymied.
- Struggles to play from distance and wants to get into a
closer confrontation constantly; as a result, his hands need
to be a bit more violent and savvy.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Yanhals

At least Leal and Loudermilk two prior NHALS picks will be gone

[Gonzo]

I like it … depth and competition in possibly their worst unit … aside from QB
I got their strategy right in the mock … just the wrong guys
The ravens playoff game is obviously sitting in their heads

[drmalba]

I love the size....this guy looks like a monster.
Let's see if he's a plugger or the second coming of Dan McCullers

[langer]

6-6 336.

Sounds familiar.

A massive nose tackle with high-end traits, Black’s run plugging can run hot and cold as he fails to anchor with flat feet sunk deep into the ground when attacked on an angle. He can separate and neutralize the block to messy the gap when his pad level is right and he’s one-on-one. Black lacks snap quickness and range, so he’s much more space-eater than playmaker. The size and traits will be coveted, but Black lacks rush and is a little inconsistent at controlling the point. He might have a ceiling as a rotational big man.

[Mick]

6-6 336.

Sounds familiar.

A massive nose tackle with high-end traits, Black’s run plugging can run hot and cold as he fails to anchor with flat feet sunk deep into the ground when attacked on an angle. He can separate and neutralize the block to messy the gap when his pad level is right and he’s one-on-one. Black lacks snap quickness and range, so he’s much more space-eater than playmaker. The size and traits will be coveted, but Black lacks rush and is a little inconsistent at controlling the point. He might have a ceiling as a rotational big man.

comp to who?

[Steelafan77]

6-6 336.

Sounds familiar.

A massive nose tackle with high-end traits, Black’s run plugging can run hot and cold as he fails to anchor with flat feet sunk deep into the ground when attacked on an angle. He can separate and neutralize the block to messy the gap when his pad level is right and he’s one-on-one. Black lacks snap quickness and range, so he’s much more space-eater than playmaker. The size and traits will be coveted, but Black lacks rush and is a little inconsistent at controlling the point. He might have a ceiling as a rotational big man.

comp to who?

McCullers is my guess. Wait and see….

[franco32]

Black is nothing like McCullers. McCullers sucked and couldn't move. Black actually has pass rush juice and he can chase down plays (including screens). Black could potentially play 3 downs in my book, but he's fantastic at clogging the middle on run downs.

This is a GREAT pick.

[Mick]

Black’s timed agility actually kind of excellent, as good or better than any DL down to 285ish pounds at the combine.

Being good at football is more important than being good at agility drills, but if he’s not good at football numbers say he’ll be bad in a very different way than mccullers.

[jebrick]

6-6 336.

Sounds familiar.

A massive nose tackle with high-end traits, Black’s run plugging can run hot and cold as he fails to anchor with flat feet sunk deep into the ground when attacked on an angle. He can separate and neutralize the block to messy the gap when his pad level is right and he’s one-on-one. Black lacks snap quickness and range, so he’s much more space-eater than playmaker. The size and traits will be coveted, but Black lacks rush and is a little inconsistent at controlling the point. He might have a ceiling as a rotational big man.

If he gets trained in 2 gap, I think we will see an improvement

[steelclan]

Dunbar says they're going to move him around the line and keep Benton at NT.

FFS

[Steelafan77]

Black is nothing like McCullers. McCullers sucked and couldn't move. Black actually has pass rush juice and he can chase down plays (including screens). Black could potentially play 3 downs in my book, but he's fantastic at clogging the middle on run downs.

This is a GREAT pick.

I am hoping you are right Franco. It’s SBI we’re rooting for.

The fact Black hasn’t played a down in the NFL yet makes the McCullers comparisons a stretch at this point.

[955876]

Dunbar says they're going to move him around the line and keep Benton at NT.

FFS

Jibbs has a solid plan that will allow these rooks to "figure it out".

[Mick]

Dunbar says they're going to move him around the line and keep Benton at NT.

FFS

probably the right plan. You aren’t going to be a very useful backup if you only know one position, and Black isn’t going to start. If he gets a hat this year, it will be as DL5, and he’ll need to be ready to go in anywhere.

[steelclan]

Dunbar says they're going to move him around the line and keep Benton at NT.

FFS

probably the right plan. You aren’t going to be a very useful backup if you only know one position, and Black isn’t going to start. If he gets a hat this year, it will be as DL5, and he’ll need to be ready to go in anywhere.

It is the Benton at NT part that is frustrating.

[SteelerDayTrader]

This fucking team

[bradshaw2ben]

6-6 336.

Sounds familiar.

A massive nose tackle with high-end traits, Black’s run plugging can run hot and cold as he fails to anchor with flat feet sunk deep into the ground when attacked on an angle. He can separate and neutralize the block to messy the gap when his pad level is right and he’s one-on-one. Black lacks snap quickness and range, so he’s much more space-eater than playmaker. The size and traits will be coveted, but Black lacks rush and is a little inconsistent at controlling the point. He might have a ceiling as a rotational big man.

If he gets trained in 2 gap, I think we will see an improvement

If there's one position I trust the Steelers to coach up, it's DL.

IMO they should run
Heyward-Black-Harmon in the little base they run
Rotate Heyward, Benton, & Benton as nickel pass rushers
play some 4-3 base against certain teams, with
Sawyer-Yaha-Benton-Heyward as the 4 and Watt as LB3

[LakecrestSteeler]

6-6 336.

Sounds familiar.

If he gets trained in 2 gap, I think we will see an improvement

If there's one position I trust the Steelers to coach up, it's DL.

IMO they should run
Heyward-Black-Harmon in the little base they run
Rotate Heyward, Benton, & Benton as nickel pass rushers
play some 4-3 base against certain teams, with
Sawyer-Yaha-Benton-Heyward as the 4 and Watt as LB3

First thing the DL needs to do is be able to stop Henry or have the Johnson and Warren committee run better than Henry. Hmmmmm. If not that will be two losses.

[Deebo]

I like it … depth and competition in possibly their worst unit … aside from QB
I got their strategy right in the mock … just the wrong guys
The ravens playoff game is obviously sitting in their heads

What I said in another thread:

This team suffers from recency bias and "tradition" deficiencies.

So yes the fact they got gashed for a billion yards sends the message they are weak there. It also doesn't help that there's some silly Steelers mantra etched into this franchise's brain that you "run the ball and play good defense". Taking a DL addresses the playing good defense. Plus as you alluded to, Cam is very long in the tooth. Can you reasonably expect a 35 yo to replicate last season? He's due for a significant injury and that would crush this team's DLine depth.

Note I'm not cosigning this. They should take BPA regardless of position, but they won't and don't do this historically.

[gojira5150]

I like it … depth and competition in possibly their worst unit … aside from QB
I got their strategy right in the mock … just the wrong guys
The ravens playoff game is obviously sitting in their heads

What I said in another thread:

This team suffers from recency bias and "tradition" deficiencies.

So yes the fact they got gashed for a billion yards sends the message they are weak there. It also doesn't help that there's some silly Steelers mantra etched into this franchise's brain that you "run the ball and play good defense". Taking a DL addresses the playing good defense. Plus as you alluded to, Cam is very long in the tooth. Can you reasonably expect a 35 yo to replicate last season? He's due for a significant injury and that would crush this team's DLine depth.

Note I'm not cosigning this. They should take BPA regardless of position, but they won't and don't do this historically.

I wish they would have taken Starks. Of course he goes to the Ratbirds and Steelers will regret not taking him and allowing the Ratbirds to get him.

[Deebo]

Dunbar says they're going to move him around the line and keep Benton at NT.

FFS

Benton's worst position is NT so of course they'll put him there.
The coaching on this team continues to astound me.

[Steel Bingo]

6-6 336.

Sounds familiar.

comp to who?

McCullers is my guess. Wait and see….

A taller version of Domata Peko would be acceptable.