Pair of TCU lineman trending in opposite directions

One lineman made Matt Miller’s most recent stock up report. Another lineman’s stock is down.

It might not be who you think it is.

Offensive tackle Lucas Niang (6-foot-7, 328 pounds) was once thought of as a potential first rounder in a stacked OT class. But the senior suffered an injury prior to the team’s 37-27 win over Texas on Oct. 26, which would be his final game. Niang had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, according to media reports.

Niang hadn’t given up a sack in two seasons and had started the past 18 games. But there were whispers prior to the injury that Niang wasn’t the slam-dunk first-rounder that many projected.

Now, more media outlets are taking a harder look at the Frogs’ right tackle.

“Niang … doesn’t show the quickness or recovery athleticism to be a left tackle at the NFL level. A move to guard might be in play thanks to his strength, but Niang isn’t showing the talent to be an early draft pick,” writes Miller in his latest scouting notebook.

However, one TCU lineman is starting to rise up draft boards. Redshirt junior defensive tackle Ross Blacklock (6-4, 305) had seven tackles in the team’s loss to Oklahoma State, giving him 29 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks for the season. He missed last season while recovering from an Achilles tear.

“Blacklock flashes talent that makes you think he could be a first-rounder. He’s not a lock to come out at this time, but if he does, his stock has a chance to really rise outside of the top 50, where he is now,” Miller writes.