“I wouldn’t say I look back at my class,” Black said. “They always say the class won’t be the same when your senior year comes around. I didn’t believe it at first, but now that I’m here, I see a lot of guys aren’t up there anymore.”

Gophers starting defensive end Danny Striggow and linebacker Cody Lindenberg were also both underrated in Black’s 2020 high school class. They’re staples on a Gopher defense that posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1962.

Black helps lead a Hawkeyes run defense that ranks third in the Big Ten and sixth nationally, allowing only 56.3 yards per game. Iowa is also sixth in the conference in total defense with opponents averaging just 267.7 yards per contest.

“[The Hawkeyes] play great defense,” Fleck said. “They’re so long and big that it’s hard to even get into them on some of the blocks. They do a great job getting off blocks, and their defensive line does a really good job of making plays in the backfield [with] tackles for loss.”

Black, who has nine tackles and six solo tackles in three games this year, clearly went through a physical transformation since high school by adding 60 pounds. His vocal leadership came a long way as well.

“I’ve grown not just as an athlete but as a person,” Black said. “From just an emotional and mental standpoint, I was definitely a quiet kid when I got here. The people around me, growing close to them really helps me come out of my shell.”