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Yahya Black drafted by Steelers

On3 imageby:Tom Kakert•04/26/25•

HawkeyeReport

Yahya Black
In his final game as a Hawkeye, senior Yahya Black graded out as Iowa's best defender according to PFF. (Photo Credit: Dennis Scheidt - @webcentrick on Twitter)

University of Iowa defensive tackle Yahya Black has been selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of Saturday’s NFL Draft. Black was the 164th player picked overall.

It is the third straight season the Hawkeyes have had a defensive lineman selected in the NFL Draft.  Black, who joins teammates Kaleb Johnson and Logan Lee in Pittsburgh, is the 18th defensive lineman drafted under head coach Kirk Ferentz.

Black, an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as both a junior and senior, started the final 27 games of his Hawkeye career.  As a senior, he finished with 34 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, one sack, two pass break-ups, two hurries and a blocked field goals. 

Pittsburgh won 10 games a year ago, finishing second in the AFC North. It marks the second straight year the Steelers drafted a Hawkeye defensive lineman, as Logan Lee was picked in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Iowa has had at least one player drafted in every NFL Draft since 1978. Black is the 91st player coached by Ferentz at the University of Iowa to be selected in the NFL Draft.

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