The Texans stayed local by drafting Missouri City's Ross Blacklock, but the defensive lineman has a father with a worldly past.
Jimmy Blacklock played point guard for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1974 to 1987, and has coached the team for over a decade as well. In all, he's visited 62 countries. That came after a stellar career at the University of Texas. Ross chose football over hoops, and that decision has certainly paid off.
"Football was my first love," Blacklock said shortly after he was chosen by Houston. "I thought basketball was too soft for me. I played AAU and stuff like that, but my dad created a legacy in basketball for our family."
The 6-foot-4 inch Blacklock weighs 305 pounds, and will be called upon to help the interior defensive line for the Texans. At TCU last autumn, he was a First-Team All-Big 12 choice, as he finished with 3.5 sacks and nine tackles for a loss. His athleticism served him well in stuffing the run and disrupting opposing offensive lines. He played his high school ball at Elkins, and enjoyed a childhood in which his father was the coach of the world-famous team.
"It was really fun growing up," Blacklock said. "He's a walking legend."
It's the first time the Texans have ever drafted a player from TCU.
