26  Derek Blacknall
	Class: Senior Hometown: Greensboro High School: Dudley Height / Weight: 5-11 / 176 Position: Defensive Back Experience: 3L

Career Statistics

Expected to open senior season playing his third different position in the Pirate secondary after making the move to the field cornerback slot prior to spring drills ... Opened career as a strong safety before turning in an admirable performance as a free safety in 2010 ... Coaches lauded work ethic, attitude and assignment detail during the transition to new home during the spring, earning starter's designation heading into fall camp ... Brings a battle-tested mindset to the backfield after getting thrown into the fire as a sophomore with early season starts at West Virginia and North Carolina because of injuries to other personnel ... In addition, could be asked to play another integral role on special teams unit for a fourth-straight year ... Was among the unit leaders with seven tackles in the first spring scrimmage (April 2) ... Also picked off a pass and recorded a breakup in the opener ... Tallied a pair of stops in the second contest (April 9) before adding four tackles in the Purple-Gold Game (April 16).

2011 Game-by-Game Statistics

2010 Game-by-Game Statistics
2010: Enjoyed strong season during first in a primary role in the secondary ... Started all 12 games played ... Missed the N.C. State contest due to a Conference USA suspension ... Booked a team fourth-best 73 tackles with 49 solo stops, 24 assists and two for lost yardage (five yards) ... Finished second on the squad with 49 solo tackles and fifth in rushing hits with 55 ... Team's second-leading tackler during the second half of the season with 41 stops, training only Dustin Lineback's 52 hits ... Tallied two or more tackles in every game played and was credited with a career-best seven solo hits against Navy and Rice ... Intercepted a pair of passes during the year and returned the first 46 yards for a touchdown against Memphis, the Pirates only pick taken back for a score in 2010 ... Recorded first pass breakup of career versus Tulsa in the season opener and ended the campaign with six ... Credited with a personal-best two pass breakups against Marshall and tallied additional knockdowns at UCF and UAB and versus Maryland in the Military Bowl ... In C-USA games, tied for fourth on the team with 42 tackles while chipping in five pass breakups ... Led the Pirates with a career-high 11 stops during the Military Bowl, making eight in the opening half ... Credited with four stops during the Terrapins' 10 offensive plays of their second possession ... Registered all three tackles against SMU in the opening half ... Booked nine stops at Rice, making six in the opening quarter ... Four of nine tackles against Navy came in the second period ... Tallied second career tackle for a loss (two yards) in the first quarter at UCF with a stop of Jeff Godfrey ... Recorded five-of-seven hits against the Knights in the first half ... Recorded second career interception versus the Thundering Herd and returned it four yards ... Booked seven stops at Southern Miss with five in the first quarter alone ... Registered four-of-five tackles at North Carolina in second half ... Made six stops at Virginia Tech with half of those hits in third quarter ... Registered seven tackles and led team with six solo stops against Tulsa ... Recorded first career TFL (three yards) in the third quarter versus the Golden Hurricane.

2009 Game-by-Game Statistics
2009: Played in all 14 games and made starts in road tilts against Mountaineers and Tar Heels ... Tallied a total of 16 tackles, which included eight solo hits ... Made four stops in special teams roles ... Registered at least one tackle in nine of 14 contests ... Opened campaign with four tackles in a reserve role against Appalachian State ... Booked three stops (two solo) in first collegiate start at West Virginia Sept. 12 ... Other multiple-tackle efforts came against Marshall and Houston in the C-USA Championship Game ... Logged single hits vs. North Carolina, UCF, Rice, Virginia Tech and Arkansas in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl ... Stop against Razorbacks came on opening kickoff return.

2008 Game-by-Game Statistics
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 three tackles vs. Memphis ... Other multiple-stop eff ort 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 the Pirates in February.

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 ... Ranked 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 family community services ... Son of Diana Bass and step-father John Bass.

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