When Larry Black Jr., played his first snaps of college football as a freshman defensive tackle at Indiana, he found an infusion of confidence and guidance by simply looking toward either end of the defensive line.
Greg Middleton had broken the school single-season record and led the nation with 16 sacks in 2007. Jammie Kirlew, who would finish tied for third in career sacks and second in career tackles for loss at IU, was destined for the NFL.
“My freshman year, my first start ever was with them, with Kirlew and Middleton,” Black recalled. “I was so nervous, but just being out there with those two guys helped.
“I got a sack and two tackles for loss in that game (a win over Eastern Kentucky), and I’ll never forget how they helped me, how good it felt to play alongside them. I looked up to those guys so much.”
Now it’s role-reversal for Black, the fifth-year senior hoping to help guide and inspire a very young Indiana defense. The projected starters flanking him at defensive ends, Bobby Richardson and Ryan Phillis, were among seven freshmen to earn starts for IU’s defense last fall.
“Young guys like Richardson, Adarius Rayner and Javon Cornley are looking to me now,” Black said. “I have to show the right way to approach things, on and off the field.”
On the field, Black and fellow starting defensive tackle Adam Replogle enter their senior campaigns as sage veteran mentors, with stats that lend them credence.
Off the field, Black was named one of the squad’s 12 “platoon leaders” this winter, as the Hoosiers were split into teams-within-the-team. Black’s unit was dubbed “Team Confidence.”
“I was responsible for seven guys, making sure they got to class, were on time for the meetings, all of that,” Black said. “I was holding myself accountable, too. It’s a great method. We love it. It’s been great for our team.”
Black not only helps tutor IU’s young players, he compares notes with his younger brother, Jibreel, a defensive tackle at Michigan. Both were stars at Cincinnati’s Wyoming High School, where they were used to winning. Black naturally would like to get used to that again as he closes his college career.
“We’re sick of losing,” he said. “We seniors had to take leadership. There aren’t many of us, but we’re hungry.”