📄: Fifth Round: Yahya Black | 📸: Black in pictures | 📺: Pick Announcement | 📃: How Black fits with the Steelers | 📃: What to like about Black | 📺: Dunbar on Black | 📺: Welcome to Pittsburgh
The Steelers selected Iowa defensive end Yahya Black in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the 164th overall pick.
"Really excited about Yahya," said defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. "Watched a lot of his tape. Big, physical young man. I like the things he brings to the table in the fifth round, so you've got to love that."
Black is the second defensive lineman the Steelers selected in the draft, taking Derrick Harmon in the first round, as they are working to be more 'dominant' up front according to Dunbar.
"We need to be more dominant up front," said Dunbar. "I think the way you get dominant up front is to get youth. I think he is going to be a great addition to the group.
"It's about competition, and that's why we're sitting in this room. It's competition. So, if you want to eat, go take your food. So that's what it's all about."
Black started all 13 games in 2024, making 27 career starts, while recording 34 tackles, 18 of them solo stops this past season. He had seven tackles for a loss, one sack, two passes defensed, two quarterback pressures and one blocked field goal.
"At the end of the day I am going to play wherever they need me," said Black. "They've got a great group, so wherever I fit in and learn."
In 2023 he started all 14 games, recording 51 tackles, 22 of them solo stops. He added five tackles for a loss and three and a half sacks. He also had five passes defensed, two quarterback pressures and one forced fumble.
Black made a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh, loving the city from the moment he arrived.
"First, can we talk about how pretty it is when you drive in to Pittsburgh, going through the tunnel and it opens up and it's a beautiful city. That's what I saw first," said Black. "Everybody in that city and around there has such a great mindset. It takes me back to my days at Iowa. Hard-nosed, tough and they are doing the right thing.
"I loved it there. They are great people. The love came back to me. The black and gold stays around."
2024 HonorsHonorable Mention All-Big Ten (coaches; media)
Phil Steele fourth-team All-Big Ten
Hayden Fry Award, defense
One of eight seniors named to 2024 Player Council
2023 Honors
Honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches and media
Phil Steele third-team All-Big Ten
Coaches Appreciation Award, defense
Full College Bio:
2024 - - Started at defensive tackle in all 13 games, marking his 27th career start... had 34 tackles (18 solo, 16 assists), including seven tackles for a loss of 31 yards, one QB sack for five yards, two pass break-ups, two QB pressures, and one blocked field goal on the season... collected a season-high four tackles (three solo, one assist) and one pass break-up in 19-20 loss to Iowa State... recorded a season-high four tackles (two solo, two assists), including 1.5 tackles for a loss of one yard, in 38-21 win over Troy... collected a season-high four tackles (one solo, three assists) in 7-35 loss at #3/3 Ohio State... blocked his first career field goal, broke up one pass and collected one assisted tackle in 40-16 win over Washington... collected a season-high four tackles (two solo, two assists), including 0.5 tackles for a loss, in 17-20 loss at UCLA... collected three tackles (two solo, one assist), including a career-high two tackles for a loss of 20 yards, and forced one fumble in 24-27 Music City Bowl loss to Missouri... recorded three tackles (one solo, two assists), including one tackle for a loss of one yard, as defense allowed just 163 yards in 40-14 win over Northwestern... collected three tackles (one solo, two assists) and one QB pressure in 20-32 loss at Michigan State... had two solo tackles, including his first QB sack of the season for five yards in 42-10 win over Wisconsin... recorded one solo tackle for a loss of four yards as defense allowed just 189 yards in season-opening 40-0 shutout of Illinois State... collected two assisted tackles and first QB pressure of the season in 31-14 win at Minnesota... letterwinner.
2023 – – Started at defensive tackle in all 14 games, recording 51 tackles (22 solo, 29 assists) on the season, including five tackles for a loss of 27 yards and 3.5 QB sacks for 21 yards, five pass break-ups, two QB pressures and one forced fumble… had a career-high seven tackles (four solo, three assists) in 31-0 loss at Penn State… had six tackles (two solo, four assists) and one QB pressure in 20-14 win vs. Purdue… had six tackles (two solo, four assists) in 41-10 win over Western Michigan… recorded a career-high five assisted tackles in 12-10 loss vs. Minnesota… collected five tackles (three solo, two assists), including one QB sack for eight yards, and one pass break-up in 26-0 loss vs. Michigan… had four tackles (three solo, one assist), including one QB sack for eight yards that forced his second career fumble and resulted in a safety, and one pass break-up in 15-6 win at Wisconsin… collected three solo tackles, including one for a loss of five yards, one QB pressure and one pass break-up in 26-16 win vs. Michigan State… had three tackles (one solo, two assists), including 0.5 QB sacks for one yard, in 13-10 win at Nebraska… recorded two assisted tackles, including 0.5 tackles for a loss of one yard and a career-high two pass break-ups in 15-13 win over Illinois… had two tackles (one solo, one assist), including one QB sack for a loss of four yards, in 10-7 win at Northwestern… letterwinner.
2022 – – Played in nine games, collecting three solo tackles and eight assists… had three tackles (one solo, two assists) and one pass break-up in 13-10 win at Minnesota… recorded one shared tackle for loss in 24-17 loss to Nebraska. . . had two tackles (one solo, one assist), including a tackle for loss and QB sack in 21-0 Music City Bowl win over Kentucky… letterwinner.
2021 – – Played in all 14 games, collecting seven solo tackles and 11 assists… posted a season-high four tackles (two solo, two assists) and collected one forced fumble and one pass break-up in 24-14 win over Colorado State… had three tackles (one solo, two assists) in 23-20 win over #4 Penn State… posted three tackles in 27-7 loss at Wisconsin, including one solo tackle and two assists… letterwinner.
