By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa defensive tackle Yahya Black had the glare of the media spotlight to himself on Tuesday, and the fact that he handled it with poise, confidence and a little humor is a testimony to his growth.

Black’s schedule kept him from meeting with the media at 11 a.m., which is the time select Iowa players are made available for interviews each Tuesday during the season.

So, at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Black held his own press conference in the front lobby of the Iowa Football Complex, and just a few minutes after Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz had finished his weekly press conference.

It made sense with Iowa facing Minnesota on Saturday in the Big Ten opener that the media had requested Black since he is from Marshall, Minnesota and has made 17 starts at defensive tackle for Iowa.

Kirk Ferentz helped to set the stage for Black’s interview by mentioning in his press conference how much Black has opened up as a person since becoming a Hawkeye.

“He’s kind of quiet,” Kirk Ferentz said of his 6-foot-5, 317-pound senior defensive tackle. “I don’t know how he is with you guys, but he was kind of quiet and reserved and almost held back a little bit, and quite frankly for three years I wasn’t sure if he liked it here.

Yahya black after being told Kirk Ferentz joked about not knowing if he was happy during his first three years at Iowa because of how quiet and reserved he was early on. pic.twitter.com/6fHGapytbs

— Pat Harty (@PatHarty) September 17, 2024

“But he’s really come around on that front. He’s emerged as not only a good player but as one of our team leaders, and it’s been fun to watch that, where he’s involved with the other guys and really encouraging with them. If he’s got to say something, he’ll say it. It’s really been fun to watch that part of the evolution, as well.”

Black wasn’t surprised when told what his head coach had said about him.

“That is very fair,” Black said. “He’s not wrong.”

Black then talked about the growing pains that he endured while competing against former Iowa All-America center Tyler Linderbaum in practice every day.

Linderbaum was picked in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft by Baltimore Ravens and he now starts at center for the Ravens.

“I did get whupped every day for like two years by Lindy,” Black said. “So, I wouldn’t vocalize it. But football was very difficult. I wasn’t a very social person.”

Black then shared a story about when former Iowa defensive end Chauncey Golston returned to Iowa City to watch his alma mater play.

“He was at a game, and he’s like, ‘you talk? You actually like talk to people,” Black said. “So, it’s just part of being here. You’re going to grow as a person.”

Black was already huge from a size standpoint when he came to college.

He also had enormous potential on both offense and defense as some to this day still believe that Black could be a star as an offensive left tackle.

There was talk and some consideration about switching Black to left tackle, but he is happy on defense.

“I don’t really think about it,” Black said of what he could have been as a left tackle. “I like where I’m at.”

His happiness extends to off the field.

“I love it here,” Black said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

To say that Black was a challenge to interview early in his Hawkeye career would be an understatement.

He chose his words carefully, and rarely had much to say.

He wasn’t necessarily rude or dismissive, but more guarded and shy.

It’s easy to assume because of his enormous size that Black always has felt comfortable and sure of himself no matter the situation.

But he was just a kid wrapped in a 300-pound body when he came to college.

Black was living away from home for the first time and adjusting to a whole new level of football, academics and social life.

For some, that can be overwhelming.

The challenge is to just keep grinding and growing and trusting the people around you.

Black has met that challenge on and off the field.

The kid that used to say very little in interviews is now a young man who seems way more relaxed and more willing to express himself.

Black even joked some with media on Tuesday, like when explaining why freshman defensive lineman Devan Kennedy has been given the nickname, “Unc.”

“If anyone wants to put that out there, his name is Unc because he dresses like an uncle,” Black said of Kennedy. “He doesn’t like it. But he thinks it’s funny.

“I’m telling you, he’s got a little uncle in him.”

Asked what dressing like an uncle means, Black said:

“I’m talking he comes in in a polo and some khakis to meetings and we love it. We always acknowledge it. He’s cool.”

Speaking for the media, it was a pleasure to interview Black on Tuesday, and he actually seemed to enjoy it, maybe just a little.”

Black is an example of how a person can grow in an environment that caters to individual growth in a team structure.

The only time he declined to comment is when asked about his experience with being recruited by the home-state Gophers.

“I will retain that information,” Black said with a slight grin.

Even though he is from Minnesota, Black grew up as an Alabama fan, mostly because his father is from Alabama.

Black then became a Hawkeye fan during the recruiting process.

He credits the people in the Iowa program, and specifically Iowa defensive line coach Kelvin Bell, whom he refers to as a mentor, for convincing him to be  a Hawkeye.

“It felt like being at home,” Black said of Iowa.

“Getting out of my comfort zone. I’ve had plenty of guys, Joe Evans and Noah Shannon, they’ve really gotten me out of my comfort zone and now I’m that guy that has to step up with Deontae Braid and Ethan Hurkett. It’s pretty cool to see yourself grow.”

“Wouldn’t be really advice, it’s more just their actions. Their actions really speak louder than words.”

“I love the process, love to learn the playbook and asking question and being curious. I’ve gotten to expand on that.”

“I don’t really think about. I like where I’m at.”