When Darryl Blackstock originally committed to the University of Virginia, it would have been hard to believe that he would ultimately turn into one of the ACC's most feared linebackers during his time in orange and blue.

That's because legendary coach George Welsh pegged Blackstock on the offensive side of the ball. And in that, UVa wasn't alone.

But by the time the 6-foot-4, 225-pound playmaker landed at Fork Union Military Academy, it was all defense both in his mind and in those of his coaches. And that's just the way it would have been drawn up by Blackstock, who decided to honor his commitment to Virginia even after Welsh retired and Al Groh was brought in as the new head coach.

"Me? I'm a defensive guy," Blackstock told CavsCorner this week. "But I grew up playing running back and then when I grew a little, I was playing wide receiver and a bunch of schools, Miami, Tenneesee, Michigan State, they actually recruited me to play offense. I really liked Randy Moss and Eddie George when I was coming up but after I got on defense, it was over."

Oddly enough, Blackstock says he ended up on defense by accident.

"One day when I was at Heritage, I told this defensive end that he wasn't playing worth anything and I could do it better and next thing I know, I'm playing on defense," he said with a laugh. "Last six games of my junior year, I had 12 sacks and as a senior, I had 29. No more getting laid out because the ball was thrown too high. I wanted to be the one who controlled the hitting and finally, I was the one doing the hitting."

That's exactly what the former Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker did. In his time in Charlottesville, Blackstock became a fan favorite for the way he caused havoc in opposing backfields and made plays wearing the dreaded No. 56.

"Those times, when I look back on them, they were obviously the greatest of my life and give me some real perspective," he said. "Those days, battling with AP (Alvin Pearman) and Wali (Lundy), battling with Brick (D'Brickashaw Ferguson), man those were some intense times but I loved every minute of it...We were a physical bunch. We almost always practiced in full gear and even when we made it past college, guys from around the conference would tell us how physical they remembered us being."

Blackstock is and always has been a hard worker and if you give him a chance to explain why, you'll be there all day. He's adamant that hard work isn't something that a coach can instill or that a player can fake. It's something that's either within you or it's just not.

"Even when I was in high school, my work ethic is what controlled the day," he added. "My philosophy was work as hard as you can, it'll all work itself out the way it's supposed to be. And I carried that from Heritage to UVa and into the pros. I wasn't one to read my own articles or to believe the hype. We looked at it as nobody cares who gets the credit, just win the game."

Now, Blackstock waits for the end to the NFL's lockout, hoping that soon he'll have a chance to show why hard work matters.

"When this thing eventually gets done and the collective bargaining agreement's in place, some players are going to be exposed because they won't have kept themselves in shape," he said. "I'm ready for the opportunity to show them somebody who is...Over the years, I haven't had the fortune to play in the same system consistently. But now, I look at it as a positive. I've played a lot of different spots in a lot of different systems. I can play inside, I can play outside, I can put my hand in the dirt, I can play standing up. Whatever the team needs, that's what I'll do."

Being in shape and using his physical gifts were one of the reasons Blackstock is such a fan favorite. In his three years at UVa, he had 237 tackles and 27 sacks, including 10 as a first year.

"Virginia for me was great games and great memories," he recalled. "Sure, we could have won some more games but truth be told, I was able to meet and play alongside the greatest group of guys ever."

His memories are full of games and plays but the one that stands out the most? The time Blackstock tackled Lundy during a practice in a drill when the ball carriers weren't allowed to be tackled.

"We were doing an inside run drill called the 907," Blackstock said, "and coach didn't want us hitting the running backs. Well, Wali is running around back there, dancing around and spinning like Barry Sanders or something. And I was getting tired of it. So, I took the initiative to hit him anyway."

Needless to say, Coach Groh wasn't amused. Neither were members of his coaching staff, including current UVa coach and then defensive line coach Mike London once Groh's anger shifted.


"Man, Coach Groh called us everything in the book!," Blackstock said with a laugh. "At the time, he is going off and then out of nowhere, he turns to the coaching staff and tells them, 'And I think you made him do it so now you're going to run!' and man, the looks on their faces. It was great."

Aside from his skills running for Blackstock's mistakes, London is the kind of coach that he thinks will lead the program to prominence.

"I've known Coach London since I was in 10th grade and he was recruiting me to play at Boston College," Blackstock said. "And when he came to Virginia, I was really glad because he's the kind of guy that you can play for because he'll never lie to you, he'll always tell you straight up what he thinks and he puts everything he has into making you into more than you already are. At the end of the day, he's the type of coach that if you abide by and stick with, he'll lead your team wherever you want it to go."

London also shares the idea that football is a game, Blackstock said.

"You have to be dedicated but it's more than just football," he added. "They say football is a children's game made complicated by coaches. To me, I approach practice or training the same way I do games; We started playing this game to have fun but that doesn't mean you shouldn't work as hard as you can to better your craft. And that extends to other parts of your life."

As he prepares for free agent tryouts once the lockout is over, one thing Blackstock's not shy talking about? His distaste for a certain school to the southwest.

"I'll put it out there, I can't stand them," he said of Virginia Tech as he laughed. "Even when I was in high school, I didn't like Virginia Tech and I sure don't now."

Blackstock then tells another story, about how, when he was being recruited by the Hokies, he visited Blacksburg after hearing time and time again from Tech's coaches that he was the only defensive end they were after.

"So, I go up there for a visit and I'm in a friend's dorm room and I see online that they've got like eight defensive linemen already on the roster, four of them redshirt freshmen and they had recruited another five to play D-end in their 4-3," he recalled.

Needless to say, he wasn't happy and ultimately chose Virginia.

"I mean, I wasn't feeling them anyway so it was for the best," he added.

And even when Blackstock was at Fork Union, with a UVa sticker on his helmet and shoulder pads, he said the disdain for Virginia Tech began early.

"Then I'm at practice one day and one of their coaches shows up and tells me how bad it's going to be at UVa and how we'll never win," Blackstock said. "Just more fuel to the fire, man. Like I needed any."

That fire is one that still burns within the Newport News native.

"I appreciate the fans that have always supported me and I know no matter where I end up, they're going to have my back," Blackstock added. "I've got a lot of love for the orange and blue and that's not going to change. Not now. Not ever."