Stellar spring work earned a preseason nod as the projected starter at strong safety but will face plenty of competition from senior transfer Levin Neal and redshirt freshman Justin Venable during the course of the campaign ... In addition, should play another integral role on special teams unit for the second-straight year ... Credited with six tackles during program's first intra-squad scrimmage (4/4) before adding four stops during second contest (4/8) ... Picked up three assisted hits during Purple-Gold Game (4/18) ... Cited as the "most improved" safety at the close of spring drills by position coach Rick Smith. 2008: Played in 13 of 14 games as a redshirt freshman special teams performer ... Also experienced action in four games (Memphis, UTEP, Tulsa and Kentucky) as a member of the Pirates' secondary unit ... Recorded eight total tackles (three solo), five coming on special teams play (seventh on unit) ... First collegiate action came in season opener against No. 17 Virginia Tech ... Credited with first career stop at Tulane (solo) before booking a personal-best three tackles vs. Memphis ... Other multiple-stop effort came against Tulsa (two) in the Conference USA Championship Game ... Also tallied single hits vs. UTEP and Kentucky in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. 2007: Redshirted during initial season in ECU program ... Officially signed with Skip Holtz' program in February, 2007. High School: A four-year letterman and three-year starter who starred as a safety and cornerback for Dudley High School ... Earned 2006 Triad 3-A Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year honors after netting 61 tackles, nine pass deflections, a pair of sacks and seven interceptions as a senior ... Booked 62 stops and three interceptions for the Panthers as a junior ... Filled special teams role as one of program's top returners, bringing back two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2005 ... Wrapped up prep career with three interception returns for scores ... Responded positively to perhaps toughest assignment of career, holding North Carolina's top-rated receiver Dwight Jones (Cummings HS) to only 53 reception yards ... Coach was Steven Davis ... Ranks No. 56 on the ESPN Recruit Tracker among all national cornerbacks ... Has recorded a time of 4.4 in the 40-yard dash ... Possesses a 29.0" vertical leap ... Also earned three letters as a track standout, competing primarily in the 100-meter, 200-meter and relay events. Personal: Full name is Derek Deontay Blacknall ... Born February 8, 1989 at Greensboro, N.C. ... Major is child development & family relations ... Son of Diana Bass and step-father John Bass. |
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