One of TCU’s four-star recruits becomes freshman All-American

Defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, one of the four-star players in the TCU recruiting class two years ago, is an All-American after one year on the field.

The redshirt freshman from Missouri City was named to the Football Writers Association of America’s Freshman All-America team, the group announced Monday.

He started all 14 games for the Horned Frogs, recording two sacks among 6.5 tackles for loss for the Big 12’s top run defense. At 6-foot-4, 326 pounds, he represents the type of size coach Gary Patterson has been seeking to add to the defensive line in the Big 12.

TCU won a recruiting battle that included Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M for the U.S. Army All-American, who announced his commitment to TCU two years ago this week.

Blacklock is one of six returning starters on defense from the Alamo Bowl for TCU. A potential seventh returning starter, safety Ridwan Issahaku, did not play in the bowl game because of injury.

TCU ranked fifth in the country in run defense, allowing 103.9 yards.

Blacklock was one of two Big 12 defenders on the FWAA honor squad. The other is Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray, a teammate at Fort Bend Elkins in Missouri City.

TCU’s 2016 recruiting class was ranked 21st in the country by 247Sports.com, to date the school’s highest-rated class. This year’s class is rated 20th with the February signing period to come.

This story was originally published January 8, 2018 at 11:13 AM with the headline "One of TCU’s four-star recruits becomes freshman All-American."