William & Mary outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Darryl Blackstock recently was selected to participate in the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship for the second time.

Blackstock, a Newport News native, will work with the Tennessee Titans during organized team activities from Monday through May 29 at the team’s training facility in Nashville.

Blackstock, a former standout for a Heritage High state championship team who earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors three times with the Virginia Cavaliers, worked with the then-reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams during training camp in July 2022.

For the past seven years, he has been on the staff of Mike London, who also participated in a previous NFL fellowship.

“I am truly humbled and thank God for this opportunity,” Blackstock said in a W&M release. “I am also grateful to Coach London for his support, leadership and belief in my development and ability to represent the Tribe.”

The program’s purpose is to use NFL teams’ training camps, offseason workout programs and minicamps to give talented coaches opportunities to observe, participate, gain experience and ultimately gain a full-time NFL coaching position.

Blackstock was a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 and played for them through 2007. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals (2008-09), Oakland Raiders (2011) and Baltimore Ravens (2012).

Crouse to Nations Cup: Former Cox High, Maryland and Duke field hockey star Leah Crouse, 26, has been named to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the Nations Cup on June 14-21 in Auckland, New Zealand.

It’s the fourth edition of the Nations Cup, which includes the best-ranked teams not participating in the FIH Hockey Pro League and gives the winning team promotion to that league next season.

No. 12 USA is in Pool A with No. 9 India, No. 15 Japan and No. 17 Uruguay. Before the tournament, the Americans will play four unofficial games against No. 8 Australia in Perth.

First gold ball: Brenda Winstead of Virginia Beach, whose name is synonymous with Hampton Roads tennis through the years, this week was part of a champion doubles team in La Jolla, California, at the U.S. Tennis Association Women’s Hard Court Championships for 80-and-over players.

Winstead and Mary Alice Pisani of Reno, Nevada, were the No. 2 seeds. They edged top-seeded Susan Kimball of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, and Betty Wachob of Panama City, Florida, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-1) in the final of a bracket that included 13 teams.

Roy Beskin of World Insurance Associates LLC, another constant on the local tennis scene for a half-century or more, said it’s Winstead’s first honorary gold ball. USTA national event champions get those.

Winstead had lost 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Wachob in a singles quarterfinal.

What’s coming up

Wednesday: Lionsbridge FC holds its home opener at Christopher Newport’s TowneBank Stadium, meeting Grove United of Richmond at 7 p.m. … Also at 7 p.m., Virginia Beach United will face Wave Futbol at Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

Thursday: The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference outdoor track and field championships begin at Norfolk State’s Dick Price Stadium. … It can’t be official until Monday’s selection show, but it’s highly likely that top-ranked Virginia Wesleyan will open play in an NCAA Division III softball regional in Virginia Beach.

Saturday: The Luau races, including a 5K, 10K and half-marathon, are set for Williamsburg at 8:30 a.m. The event will start at Lois Hornsby Middle School. … Virginia Beach United faces the Annapolis Blues in a USL League Two clash at the Sportsplex at 7 p.m.