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NFL draft: Former Lobo Quincy Black's years of perseverance finally pay off

By Iliana Limón
Saturday, April 28, 2007

Former Lobo Quincy Black saw his opportunity at February's NFL combine and seized it. No prospect, at any position, posted a better number in the vertical leap test, and Black ran a 4.42 40-yard dash (pictured) - better than some of the highest-rated wide receivers.

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Former Lobo Quincy Black saw his opportunity at February's NFL combine and seized it. No prospect, at any position, posted a better number in the vertical leap test, and Black ran a 4.42 40-yard dash (pictured) - better than some of the highest-rated wide receivers.

Top Lobos prospects

The following athletes have the best shot at landing with an NFL team after this weekend's draft:

QUINCY BLACK

Size: 6-foot-1, 240 pounds

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Chicago

Outlook: Analysts project Black will be picked in the first three rounds and he is a strong contender to be selected by his hometown Chicago Bears, which he said would be a dream come true. Black has impressed scouts during every aspect of the draft preparation process, highlighted by impressive numbers at the NFL Combine.

ROBERT TURNER

Size: 6-foot-3, 313 pounds

Position: Offensive guard

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Outlook: Analysts project Turner will be a sixth or seventh round pick, possibly dropping to a free-agent contract. It has been a frustrating process for Turner, who earned a lot of accolades with the Lobos. A fracture in his wrist prevented him from doing heavy workouts and he hasn't gotten the attention from NFL teams one could have expected with all the hype he got in college.

KENNY BYRD

Size: 6-feet, 171 pounds

Position: Kicker

Hometown: Albuquerque

Outlook: Byrd's goal is to earn an invitation to a camp, where he can flash his strong leg, accuracy and calm nerves under pressure. It is rare that more than two kickers are drafted. Byrd has attended camps run by former Dallas kicker Chris Boniol, who has spoken glowingly of Byrd, and likely has an inside track with the Cowboys.

If they had a special test for perseverance and resilience, former Lobo Quincy Black would score off the charts.

Some people face tough obstacles in life; Black makes it seem like they had it easy, clearing mammoth hurdles like they were minor speed bumps while wearing a self-assured smile.

Somehow Black has never lost his focus or fierce passion for football.

The University of New Mexico standout is poised to sew up the fairy tale story of this weekend's NFL draft. Analysts project Black will be selected in the second or third round and his dream destination Chicago is a hot contender for his services.

"You couldn't have a better driven, hard-working and talented guy who is just the model of what everyone wants," said Kevin Omell, vice president of National Sports Agency and Black's agent.

"I don't think he's a guy who's going to change. The hardships he went through growing up made him who he is, but it hasn't made him tough to reach. He's a nice kid who always has a smile on his face."

Black grew up in the south side of Chicago, where money was tight and drugs were abundant, but he wasn't dodging bullets or lacking for loving relatives.

His father was seduced by drugs and died while Black was in high school. His mother, who was Black's biggest fan, died a few years later, near his graduation.

Despite his obvious size and talent, Black lived perpetually under the radar that is supposed to lock in on the best football players.

Black pledged to honor his mother's dream to see him become the first in her family to get a college education and opted for a junior college in Kansas. When it became obvious the school didn't care about academics or getting him to a strong Division I school, Black transferred to Harper College in Chicago.

He thrived and was named a second team junior college All-American. He snagged the attention of UNM defensive coordinator Osia Lewis, who recruits the Chicago area.

Black agreed to move far from home and the core of relatives and supportive coaches in Chicago to be part of UNM coach Rocky Long's defense.

He was humble enough not to dream of following in the footsteps of Lobos' great Brian Urlacher, who had become a superstar at middle linebacker in Chicago. He played the same position, but Black just wanted to get a chance to play Division I football and in the NFL.

During his junior season, Black's grandfather, who helped raise him, died. It was one more emotional milestone that hit Black hard but never knocked him off track.

Black had to work his way through Long's system, but he landed the coveted Lobo position that Urlacher played his senior year. Only two defenders in Long's 10-year tenure have played the Lobo spot as a hybrid of safety and middle linebacker - Urlacher and Black. Everyone else really has been playing safety.

He couldn't dodge comparisons within the Mountain West Conference to Urlacher after leading the Lobos and ranking in the top five nationally in tackles his senior season, but few on the national stage really thought of Black as more than a seventh round pick or candidate for a free-agent contract.

"I know a lot of people never thought of me as someone who could make it to the NFL, but I always had that as my goal," Black said. "I'm not surprised that we're talking about the draft right now, but I am very happy about it and know it's really special. What people don't realize is that every major decision I've made in my life over the past five years led me to this point."

Omell was among the crowd who didn't see Black as a hot commodity.

One of his clients, Black's former teammate and roommate at UNM Terrance Pennington, set him straight.

"Terrance told me, `You have to look at this guy because no one is paying attention to him, and he is so much better than anyone realizes,' " Omell said.

The agent investigated Black, realized he had potential, and began courting Black's services. Black knew Omell got Pennington on an NFL roster last season and always treated him well, so he signed with Omell.

Black then quickly set about changing perceptions of his talent level, shining in an all-star bowl game, at the NFL combine and during UNM's pro day. His combine numbers were startlingly strong, with Black posting the best vertical leap of any athlete at the combine regardless of position.

"He has astronomical athleticism, great football skills and is very smart," Omell said. "I don't think it's too drastic to say he has had meteoric rise in terms of his draft stock since the end of the college regular season. He took advantage of the NFL draft process as a chance to show your skills."

Black's warm personality and impressive game film from his senior season reassured NFL teams he was more than just a ball of raw athleticism.

Omell and Black know it's impossible to predict which team will pick him, but Chicago is definitely in the mix. The team needs a replacement for disgruntled linebacker Lance Briggs and had tremendous success with Urlacher, the last Lobo they picked.

Black grew up a Bears fan and would get a chance to return home if he ended up in Chicago, but he is careful not to get his heart set on it.

"Chicago would definitely be a special place to play, but you never know where you're going to end up," Black said. "It would be a dream come true to go there, but this is a business, and you don't get to choose your team. They choose you, and I'd be happy with any of them."

Black is watching the draft today with his family in Chicago. Pennington and former teammate Adrian Byrd also will be by his side, convinced they will be part of a big celebration.

"I'm excited about all of this, and I'm looking forward to showing what guys who come from New Mexico have to offer," Black said. "I hope I can live up to the reputation that the guys before me set up. We're slowly making a name for ourselves and showing the Lobos can compete at the next level."