SASKATOON — Eric Black isn’t in a rush to make full use of his MBA. He would rather rush the passer.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end, who in 2022 earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Stony Brook University, is putting football at the forefront for the time being.
“But since we do have an off-season, I’d like to continue to make connections, especially in Regina and in communities in Saskatchewan,” the 6-foot-4, 247-pounder said after Wednesday’s workout at Coors Light Training Camp.
“If I’m able to, I’d like to make connections not necessarily to get a job or anything, but to continue to educate myself and recognize the aspects of what I learned in my MBA — whether it’s marketing or kind of thinking thematically about certain problems.”
Once upon a time, Black made connections with quarterbacks while starring as a lanky, 195-pound receiver at Rush-Henrietta High School. Henrietta, N.Y. is just south of Rochester.
He was selected to the All-Rochester and All-County teams in 2016.
“I was a deep threat,” Black, 26, said with a smile. “I was a taller guy, so they’d just throw it up in the end zone. I loved to run slant patterns and I loved to run the ‘go’ route, so it was fun.
“Hopefully I can touch the ball again with an interception and bring back those days.”
Despite Black’s pass-catching prowess, his job description changed — ultimately for the better — when he enrolled at the University of Buffalo.
“They kind of saw the vision for me as a defensive end,” he recalled. “They said, I think you’d be better as a Division I defensive end than a Division I receiver if you fill out your body and learn how to play the position.
“I was a super-tall and skinny guy, so I had to learn to control my movements a little bit more. I had really good coaches and really good teammates, so that helped me learn to play D-end.”
Black joined the University of Buffalo Bulls as a preferred walk-on, meaning his roster spot was guaranteed but he wouldn’t receive athletic aid in the form of a scholarship.
However, he had earned a scholarship by his sophomore year, having quickly developed into a starter.
His talents were showcased in the Camellia Bowl on Dec. 25, 2020, when he registered two sacks to help Buffalo defeat the Marshall Thundering Herd 17-10.
Black spent one more season at Buffalo before transferring to Stony Brook, located on Long Island, for the 2022 season. He earned the MBA in addition to playing football — an adept balancing act.
“It was definitely a challenging but fun year,” he said. “Three years later, I’m glad I did it.
“It definitely helps now that I’m in this life with being a professional athlete and understanding my schedules.
“In college, you might be able to win off your talent. As a D-end, I might be able to win some rushes just because I’m better than the tackle.
“But here, everybody’s good. Every tackle is good so you’ve got to have a rush plan. I’ve got to rush as one with my teammates and put pressure on the quarterback.”
Black pressured the passer to the tune of five sacks in 10 games during his graduating season at Stony Brook. He added seven tackles for a loss and four pass deflections while earning numerous honours for academic excellence.
The NFL’s New York Giants took note of Black’s accomplishments on the gridiron, inviting him to their rookie mini-camp in 2023.
He began the 2024 CFL season with the Edmonton Elks, for whom he played in two games, before joining the Roughriders on Aug. 5.
In two games with the Green and White, he registered four defensive tackles and two special teams stops.
Black, who completed the 2024 season on the practice roster, signed a new contract on Nov. 18.
He is only the second Rochester-born player to suit up for the Roughriders, following defensive lineman Scott Virkus (1986).
Virkus, whose 38-game NFL career included time spent with the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts, is perhaps best known as a 6-foot-6, 295-pound slugger/outfielder with the Steele’s Sports Company slow-pitch team.
A 1986 Sports Illustrated story included the factoid that Virkus smashed 150 home runs in 81 games before leaving for the Bills’ training camp.
Another historical note: Black is the first Stony Brook Seawolves product to see regular-season duty with Saskatchewan. Receiver Dwayne Eley (in 2010) and defensive back T.J. Morrison (2022) both attended training camp with the Roughriders.
“I think it helps, almost, coming from a small school because you always have to prove yourself a little bit more,” Black noted.
“When you come out of college, you’ve got to prove yourself a little more, compared to guys who are coming from SEC schools like Alabama or a Big Ten school like Michigan.
“If you’re coming from a smaller school, you’ve got to do a little bit more. I was a walk-on when I first started, so I’ve kind of been on that journey all along.
“So I have to take that extra step — play with more urgency, almost. I think that has helped me every step of the path, including when I got here, so I’m going to try to continue doing that.”
