Jon Young
Last season Darrell Blackman began the year as the starting halfback in the opener against Virginia Tech, rushed for 58 yards and scored N.C. State’s only touchdown on a 25-yard run in the first quarter.
But by the end of the year things had changed. Freshmen running backs Toney Baker and Andre Brown had taken over most of the running duties and coaches were asking Blackman to consider a position change.
“It was last year around the time of the bowl game,” Blackman said. “They talked to me about the switch over to [wide] receiver and that’s how it went from there.”
But instead of resisting the move, Blackman accepted the coaches’ proposal and switched to wide receiver.
He practiced through the spring at receiver and earned a starting role by the beginning of the season. And in his first two games at wideout, the junior had an immediate impact.
Blackman led the team in receiving yards against Appalachian State, highlighted with a 14-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter.
Then, in the Akron game, he followed up his debut with another touchdown reception — this one a fourth-quarter catch which gave the Wolfpack its first lead of the game.
“[The position switch] was working real good,” Blackman said. “I was able to make plays for my team — making big blocks for the running backs — and just doing everything at the position that the coaches wanted me to do for the team. Everything was clicking and going good and I was having fun out there.” But then during the opening kickoff of the Southern Mississippi game Blackman went down with an injury.
He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee and left the game not to return. The injury was serious enough to cause him to miss practices and the Boston College game the following Saturday.
For Blackman, who said he had never missed a game in his football career at any level due to injury, being a spectator was an unfamiliar and unsettling role.
“It’s kind of frustrating,” he said. “At first it was a down feeling about being out and not being able to practice and coming out here and seeing my teammates working hard and I really can’t do anything about it but sit and watch. So that was frustrating for me, because I never really had to sit out for any kind of major injuries. So this is the first time.”
And to add to his frustration, the game went down to the final play — a hail-Mary pass for which he would’ve likely been in the game.
“That was real tough, because in situations like that I like to be on the field,” Blackman said. “And if it’s a block I need to make for my teammates or a catch — I like to be in there to help and contribute to that. So sitting out was hard in that situation. I felt it down in my gut.”
This week, however, he’s been back on the practice field testing his knee and working with the offense to get back.
He is listed on the injury report as questionable, and coach Chuck Amato said a decision as to whether he would play or not wouldn’t likely be made before today.
“We’re hoping, but it’s probably going to be a game-day decision,” Amato said.
He added, though, he hoped whatever decision the trainers and coaches made would be as successful a decision as was made for the Boston College game when redshirt senior cornerback A.J. Davis played after being a game-time decision. Davis played 42 snaps against the Eagles and broke up two passes.
But as for Blackman’s self-evaluation of his health and playing status, he said he’s ready.
“I feel real good about where I’m at right now with my knee situation,” he said. “I’m out there in full practice, running routes and cutting and planting on it. But it’s up to the coaching staff and the athletic training staff. But I plan on being out there with the team and I think I’m ready to start.”
If he does start, one thing’s for certain — his coaches and teammates think he can impact the game.
“He fits in good with the reverses and stretching the field,” Dunlap said. “I don’t have to tell anybody he’s a great player. When we get him back the offense will be that much better. He’s so versatile. He can do anything. He can run and he can catch — so you have to have him out there.”
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Daniel Evans, who started his first game against Boston College, said he looked forward to having Blackman back in the lineup.
“He’s one of those guys where I don’t even have to do anything,” Evans said. “I can throw a bubble screen out there and he can give you 80 yards just like that. It definitely takes the pressure off a young quarterback like myself.”
Amato said Blackman’s impact on special teams could be crucial as well.
“He can do so many things and not just for the offense,” the coach said. “How about [for] the kicking game. The hidden yardage that he has been responsible for in the kicking game over the years has just been unbelievable.”