Photo via ESPN
Former Michigan receiver Tarik Black is not looking back.
The former 4-star receiver (Rivals Top 100) is fully aware of his tenure in Ann Arbor. Black sustained injuries during his first two years at Michigan. He had a season-ending broken left foot in 2017, and a broken right foot during practice shortly before the season opener in 2018. Black returned for the second half of that season, finishing with four receptions for 35 yards. He appeared in 21 games with nine starts with the Wolverines. He had 25 catches for 343 yards last season, and finished his tenure at Michigan with 40 receptions for 507 yards and two touchdowns before entering the transfer portal in December.
Arizona State, Virginia, Boston College, Miami, and Texas were among the programs reportedly interested in Black. After five months of research, Black officially committed to Texas this past week. Black told me he still has two years of eligibility remaining during a recent interview. I asked Black to describe his time at Michigan.
His answer was simple.
“I'm not thinking about my time at Michigan,” Black said. “I’m focused on what's happening right now and in the future. Everything that's in the past is in the past. That’s not even my focus anymore.”
Black is focused on Texas.
The former Michigan receiver is the latest grad transfer hoping for football success in Austin.
Texas previously acquired tight end Kendall Moore, left tackle Calvin Anderson, running back Tre Watson, and guard Parker Braun as grad transfers. Each player received significant playing time during his one season at Texas. Anderson is currently with the Denver Broncos, while Braun turned down an NFLPA Collegiate Bowl invite because he wanted to graduate from Texas.
One of the most appealing aspects of signing with Texas for Black was an opportunity to play with Longhorn quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
Michigan played three quarterbacks in 2017. The following year, Shea Patterson led the Wolverines with 2,600 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Last season, Patterson compiled 3,061 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Meanwhile, Ehlinger had 3,292 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2018, and finished with 3,663 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.
“That was a big factor in my decision, obviously,” Black said. “Without the QB, as a receiver, there’s nothing else you can do. Obviously, he’s one of the top returning quarterbacks in college football. Once I looked at that, it wasn’t hard to decide.”
Another other appealing factor for Black was the NFL Draft.
Former Longhorn receiver Devin Duvernay had 106 receptions for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and was a third-round selection by Baltimore this year. In addition, Collin Johnson was a fifth-round selection by Jacksonville after missing several weeks due to a hamstring injury. Black's goal is to play one more season and enter the NFL Draft. He believes Texas will give him the best opportunity to achieve that goal.
“It was a situation where they had guys at my position that entered the draft,” Black said. “I’d be able to come in, help contribute, come in as a leader for the young guys, and help the program go in the right direction.”
According to my sources, Black is expected to battle Brennan Eagles to start at the X-position this season.
However, Black told me he has the ability to play multiple positions and is not limiting himself to one role.
“It’s about doing whatever I can do to help the team,” Black said.
Photo via MLive.com
Black’s positive attitude explains why coach Tom Herman, offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and Andre Coleman pursued the receiver.
“Tarik is a big target, an athletic receiver and a player who has displayed the ability to catch the ball in traffic,” Herman recently said. “He has competed against a lot of tremendous players in the Big Ten and at Michigan for three years, so he brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to our team. Tarik is a really talented player who will be a valuable veteran influence and can bring added leadership to our wide receiver room.”
Black is currently back in Connecticut and getting ready for the upcoming season. He works out at Breakout Athlete, which is owned by Frank Quido. They began working together during Black’s sophomore year in high school.
A few of the notable athletes produced by Breakout Athlete are Harold Landry (second-round pick by Tennessee in 2018), guard Jack Driscoll (fourth-round pick by Philadelphia in 2020), defensive end Ryan Delaire (undrafted free agent), and tight end Jerome Cunningham (spent six years in the NFL).
“Certainly, I'm going to tell you he's a wonderful young man,” Quido said. “Respectful. All those things are absolutely true, but you know he's a smart, smart kid. I don't just mean in the classroom. He used to go to these Rivals camps, and the thing I adored most is he always made a point of going against the best defensive back in the country. I just mentioned this to him a couple of days ago. He would go out there and would make sure those one-on-ones would be not against someone that would not challenge him. I think that differentiates him from most other athletes, and it is just a very, very impressive characteristic, in my opinion.”
Quido has been working with Black the past two weeks since the receiver graduated and returned to Connecticut. Black has not been timed for speed, or tested on other measurables.
Nevertheless, Quido says Black has 4.5 speed in the 40-yard-dash, and believes the receiver’s vertical is between 38 and 39 inches.
“This is just my view, and I have a bias,” Quido said. “Everyone talks about the SEC and the Big Ten, but I honestly believe the Big 12 might be the fastest conference in the country in terms of overall speed. In my opinion, that just suits Tarik perfectly because of his movement patterns. I think he's going to get off the line extremely well. If you want to try to press him, I think he needs to put his double-move on a defensive back. He's going to be able to do that.
“I think he's going to do very well. He has the size. He's going to get a lot of 50-50 balls. He's got the breakaway speed. He's got the quick cuts. He runs routes extraordinarily well. Again, somewhat biased, but I'm genuinely excited to watch him play this year.”
Black received a Bachelor’s in General Studies at Michigan. He is trying to decide which graduate program at Texas suits him.
Previously, the NCAA required grad transfers to be accepted into a master’s program at their new university before a move was official. However, the NCAA changed that rule in April, allowing grad transfers to enroll in a graduate program or pursue a second bachelor’s degree. Basically, Black transferred to Texas, and he can either apply to grad school or simply take classes at UT.
Black is currently looking for a place to live in Austin, and plans to move as soon as possible. He wants to work out with Ehlinger before the football practice begins. Ehlinger has been working out with running back Keaontay Ingram, linebacker Joseph Ossai, safety Caden Sterns [when he is not in San Antonio], defensive back Josh Thompson, defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham, and Jake Ehlinger, his brother who plays linebacker at Texas.
I asked Black what Longhorn fans can expect to see from him this season.
His answer was simple.
“A passion for the game. A love for the game,” Black said. “It’s a been a long journey. I can’t wait to go out there and finally show all that I can do.”
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Sports On A Dime
1. I am going to reserve judgement on the current Longhorn recruiting class. Clearly, Texas cannot make a living off recruiting 3-star players who might get a bump to 4-stars. I will wait to see what happens with Tommy Brockermeyer, Camar Wheaton, Bryce Foster, and other elite recruits before hitting the panic button. That being said, I totally understand how getting two 3-stars on the same day Oklahoma receives a commitment from 5-star receiver Mario Williams (Plant City, Florida) has Longhorn fans hitting the panic button.
2. According to Omar Kelly of the Fort-Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, former Texas safety Brandon Jones signed a four-deal with Miami worth $4,873,102. Kelly also said Jones received a signing bonus of $1,104,072. According to Spotrac.com, $1,104,069 guaranteed, and Jones will earn an average annual salary of $1,218,273. Props to him.
3. During my recent podcast with The Athletic’s Jason Kersey, he casually threw something out there worth putting in the back of your mind. Kersey said Oklahoma State is a team to keep an eye on this season, and he made sense. The Cowboys will have running back Chubba Hubbard this season. Hubbard was named Big 12 Offensive Player of The Year, finished eighth in the Heisman voting, and compiled 2,094 rushing yards, third-best in conference history. In addition, Oklahoma State will have Tylan Wallace, one of the nation’s top receivers, this year. That may not be enough to compete for a Big 12 title. However, Hubbard and Wallace should have Oklahoma State competing down to the wire in every game this season.
If you missed it, here is the free podcast:
https://theyakk.com/podcast/episode-112-the-ultimate-texas-ou-discussion/
4. By the way, it looks like the odds makers are on the same page as relates to Oklahoma State.
5. It looks like the return of college football is inevitable, and programs that decide not to play this year will be left behind. According to ESPN, the NCAA will not overseer or mandate a return to sports. Instead, that decision will be made by state officials and university presidents.
"These are localized decisions," NCAA President Emmert said Tuesday. "Local campuses have to decide: Are we opening up, and are we bringing students back to play sports? The NCAA doesn't mandate that, nor should it. The schools themselves have to make those choices."
Emmert said the NCAA's decision-making model during the pandemic is similar to that of the federal, state and local governments and that the NCAA's role is to "provide guidance and support." The NCAA in March established a COVID-19 advisory panel of leading medical, public health and epidemiology experts and NCAA member schools to guide its response to the outbreak of the coronavirus. NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline leads the group.
"Brian and his committee will advise institutions as best they can, but it's advice," Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. "They can't mandate when we go back or determine exactly when that happens. They can just give us the best advice they can provide, based upon scientists and medical information."
The NCAA better brace itself for a flood of athletes entering the transfer portal to leave programs that intend to skip spots this season.
6. It looks like the SEC is planning to have a return to sports at some point. It is just a matter of when for the conference.
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8. Let us be honest. If you met a beautiful woman, started falling for her, and she wanted you to meet her father, thinking about that first encounter would be nerve-wracking. Now imagine if her father was Michael Jordan. I would take multiple shots, too.
9. Speaking of Jordan, somebody needs to tell Channing Frye that MJ was once named defensive player of the year. Considering Frye was born in 1983, and Jordan entered the NBA in 1984, it is easy to understand why his take does not make sense.
10. I have two thoughts after watching clips of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in the gym. First, Holyfield’s hand speed does not come close to Tyson’s. It ain’t even close. Secondly, those boxing mitts are not hitting back. Even if this is a charity fight, anything past four rounds for either fighter will be hard to watch. Of course, I will watch it.
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