At 6’6″ and 336 pounds of pure defensive power, Yahya Black spent five seasons becoming the immovable object at the heart of Iowa’s defense. The small-town Minnesota kid who once dominated at Marshall High School grew into a nightmare for Big Ten offensive linemen, racking up 117 tackles and earning All-Conference honors through sheer consistency. His 2025 NFL Combine performance showed the league what Hawkeyes fans already knew – this was no ordinary defensive tackle.
But there’s always been more to Black than his ability to collapse pockets. While his on-field persona screams intensity, those close to him know a different side. The kind of man who values privacy as much as he does a well-timed swim move. As he prepares to bring his talents to Pittsburgh, something interesting happened this week. And that reminded everyone: even the most fearsome linemen have lives beyond the gridiron.
The Steelers might have gotten themselves a steal in the draft. But it turns out Yahya Black has been guarding his treasure this whole time. And this week, he decided it was finally time to let the world in on that secret, at least a little bit.
Yahya Black is engaged…
The same hands that routinely toss aside 300-pound offensive linemen were surprisingly gentle when it mattered most. This week, Yahya Black traded his football gloves for something far more meaningful. A diamond ring for his longtime love, Hailiy Okins. The couple’s social media posts captured the quiet magic of the moment. The Steelers’ official accounts quickly reposted the news with a simple but heartfelt caption: “Congratulations to Yahya Black and Hailiy on their engagement! ”
Behind the scenes, their story reads like a small-town romance. Hailiy, a Franklin, Minnesota native and Redwood Valley Senior High alum, built her own life of service—studying Paramedicine at Ridgewater College. And working as an EMT at North Memorial Health. Her Instagram (@okins_18) and Facebook profiles paint a picture of a woman who prefers keeping things real, with a follower count under 1,000 and no flashy influencer pretenses.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned….
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