NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players: No. 36 - Josh Black, Harlem

The 36th player on our list is the highest rated Huskie who has a chance to move a lot higher.

Josh Black started out as an offensive lineman. He was first team All-NIC-10 as a junior for the 2014 Harlem team that went 7-3.

College scouts, though, thought his athleticism - Black was a state-ranked shot putter in track - would play better on the defensive side of the ball. So Harlem moved him to defensive end his senior year. Black would record 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks and block two punts for another 7-3 Harlem team and be voted first team All-NIC-10.

That earned him a scholarship to Syracuse, which is not a normal destination for a NIC-10 athlete. In fact, the NIC-10 History Book hasn't found another local player to play for the Orangemen.

Syracuse threw him into the fire immediately. He started nine games and played in 10 as a true freshman, recording 21 tackles, including four against Clemson, and 1.5 sacks.

His momentum slowed in 2017. He injured his knee in the fifth game of the season and took a medical redshirt.

In 2018, Syracuse moved him from defensive end to defensive tackle, hoping his quickness would disrupt things inside. He played in 11 games, starting four, and had 14 tackles.

In 2019, he was moved to nose tackle where he started all 12 games, registered 39 tackles, including six for loss. He had his better games against better competition, recording four takcles against Maryland and a career-high five against N.C. State and Pittsburgh.

In 2020, he started all 11 games, recorded 38 tackles, two sacks and his first career interception.

Of course, the 2020 season was delayed by the coronavirus and the NCAA ruled that everyone who played wouldn't have it count against their eligibility. Black decided to return to Syracuse for 2021 to improve his NFL prospects and to help Syracuse return to competitiveness. The Orangemen went 10-3 in 2018 but tumbled to 1-10 in 2020.

He has the size (6-3, 290 pounds) for the NFL and the quickness to at least get a chance at the NFL. The fact that he played both guard and end at Syracuse with success is likely to earn him at least an undrafted free agent contract.

No. 36 - Josh Black, Harlem
Year	Level	School	Accomplishments	Points
2014	High School	Harlem	First Team All-Conference	2
			Playoff Team	1
2015	High School	Harlem	First Team All-Conference	2
			Playoff Team	1
2016	College	Syracuse	Letter Winner on Power 5 School	4
			Starter	1
2017	College	Syracuse	Redshirt	0
2018	College	Syracuse	Letter Winner on Power 5 School	4
			Starter	1
			Winning Team	1
			Bowl Game	1
2019	College	Syracuse	Letter Winner on Power 5 School	4
			Starter	1
2020	College	Syracuse	Letter Winner on Power 5 School	4
			Starter	1
Total				28

NIC-10's 100 Greatest Football Players