Darryl Blackstock enters his seventh season as an assistant on William & Mary’s staff and was promoted to special teams coordinator in 2023. He will continue to work with the outside linebackers, a role he has held since 2020.
Blackstock’s group was pivotal in the Tribe’s success defensively last season, as W&M ranked among the CAA’s best in multiple statistical categories. In addition to ranking second in the conference in passing efficiency defense (121.04), W&M also ranked third in interceptions (12). Under Blackstock’s tutelage, Jonathan Hammond established himself among the CAA’s top linebackers and ranked tied for 11th in the conference in sacks (5.5) and tied for fourth in fumbles recovered (2). Additionally, as special teams coordinator, Blackstock helped John Kearney earn All-CAA honors as a specialist.
The outside linebackers also played a pivotal role in W&M’s success in 2023, as the Tribe ranked fourth nationally in passing defense (153.5), 10th in total defense (303.8), 12th in scoring defense (18.5) and 16th in third down conversion defense (.328). Leading the unit was All-America standout John Pius, who finished his W&M career ranked second in program history in TFL (40.5) and fifth in sacks (24.5). Additionally, he was the only FCS player selected to the 2023 Butkus Award Watch List.
The 2022 season was another tremendously productive campaign for Blackstock’s unit, as the group established itself among the nation’s best and helped W&M rank among the country’s most productive defenses. The Tribe ranked first nationally in fumbles recovered (15), seventh in turnovers gained (25), sixth in third down conversion defense (.315) and 16th in red zone defense (.736). Additionally, the Tribe ranked second in the CAA in sacks (33) – a figure that ranks seventh on the program’s all-time single-season list.
That success helped propel W&M to new heights as a program, as the Tribe equaled a school record with 11 victories, won a share of the CAA title and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Blackstock’s positive impact was also evident in the development of one of the nation’s top players in Pius. The then-sophomore was a unanimous All-America selection in 2022 and finished runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the nation’s top FCS defensive player. Pius was also honored as the CAA Defensive Player of the Year after ranking fourth nationally in sacks (11.5) and fifth in TFL (19.0).
W&M’s outside linebackers also played a pivotal role in the Tribe’s success defensively in 2021, as the team ranked among the nation’s top 20 in defensive touchdowns (11th), rushing defense (12th) and interceptions (18th). Additionally, W&M’s 29 sacks were just two shy of ranking among the program’s top-10 list, while it ranked third in the CAA in forced turnovers and pass efficiency defense.
Although the COVID-19 global pandemic limited the 2020 campaign to a three-game slate during the spring, Blackstock’s unit excelled during the shortened ledger and was instrumental in helping the Tribe’s defense limit opponents to just 322.0 yards per contest.
In 2019, Blackstock served as a defensive assistant and aided Keenan Carter’s highly successful unit working primarily with the defensive ends. The Tribe’s defense totaled 30 sacks and limited the opposition to just 152.9 rushing yards per game, as both figures ranked just outside the program’s all-time top-10 lists. Additionally, the Tribe ranked third in the CAA in TFL (82).
A seven-year NFL veteran as a linebacker/defensive end, Blackstock played professionally with the Arizona Cardinals (2005-07), Cincinnati Bengals (2008-09), Oakland Raiders (2011) and Baltimore Ravens (2012). He also played one season with the Orlando Tuskers (2010) in the UFL. Highly regarded for his leadership and work ethic, he was chosen as a game day captain on numerous occasions.
Selected by the Cardinals in the third round (95th pick overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft, Blackstock began his professional tenure after an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Virginia. A three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree, he led the league in sacks and ranked first in the nation among linebackers as a junior. His long list of collegiate accolades also includes being selected as the ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year by the Sporting News and garnering first-team freshman All-America distinction from numerous organizations.
Following his playing career, Blackstock served as a football operations apprentice with the NFL and worked in commercial real estate.
During the summer of 2022, he was selected to participate in the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship and worked with the Los Angeles Rams during training camp.
Active in the community, he founded and directed a nonprofit charity while also volunteering with multiple organizations as a youth mentor and coach.
Blackstock earned his undergraduate degree in business and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.
