Joe McKnight
Encyclopedia
Joe McKnight is an American football
running back
for the New York Jets
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft
by the Jets. He played college football
at the University of Southern California
(USC).
in River Ridge, Louisiana
, located approximately 10 miles west of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish.
For his first years of high school, McKnight played defense as a cornerback
; his high school career was complicated by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
, which devastated his part of Louisiana just before his junior 2005 season. Separated from his mother who had evacuated to Baton Rouge
, McKnight temporarily relocated to Shreveport
where he eventually enrolled and played two games for Evangel Christian Academy
, the same school which previously produced USC quarterback and future teammate John David Booty
. His family was able to relocate back to River Ridge, but their home had been destroyed so they moved into a one-bedroom apartment.
For the rest of the shortened 2005 season, McKnight scored 22 touchdowns (nine rushing, five receiving, four punt returns, three interceptions, one kickoff return) and averaged 18 yards a play in leading his team to the state championship. In 2006, McKnight rushed for 719 yards on 45 carries, scoring 14 touchdowns, received 24 catches for 735 yards and 13 touchdowns, and with special teams play scored a total of 30 touchdowns as a senior; he was instrumental in John Curtis Christian's 14-0 season, often used as a decoy player due to his scoring threat.
McKnight is the latest and arguably the most talented of a line of running back prospects out of John Curtis Christian HS–among them Reggie Dupard
, Chris Howard
and Jonathan Wells
. Most recruiting analysts rank him among the top 2 of the 2007 high school class (next to quarterback Jimmy Clausen
of Oaks Christian High School
). Considered a 5-star recruit, on January 28, 2007, McKnight was named co-Player of the Year by Parade
, sharing the honor with Clausen. Rivals.com
ranked McKnight the best running back prospect in the U.S., and the 2nd best recruit overall. Analysts notice his elusiveness, impressive speed (4.3 in 40-yard dash) as well as his incomparable instincts and field vision but some say he is somewhat undersized, at 193 pounds (87.5 kg), for the college game. McKnight has been called “the most exciting prospect the state of Louisiana has produced since Marshall Faulk
” by recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg.
USC assigned linebackers coach and former NFL All-Pro
Ken Norton Jr. to handle recruitment of McKnight. LSU coach Les Miles
visited McKnight on February 1, 2007, the last possible date before National Signing Day
, in order to ensure McKnight's commitment to the LSU. However, on February 7 McKnight committed to the University of Southern California
. At USC, McKnight was joined by second-ranked running back prospect, Marc Tyler
. The backlash against McKnight's decision to attend college out of state manifested itself when the Curtis School's marching band was booed performing at a Mardis Gras parade.
McKnight stated that his interest in USC came from its football tradition, notably Heisman trophies
and his interest in sports broadcasting, noting the USC Annenberg School for Communication
.
before he chose Southern California over favored LSU
. On February 9, the Los Angeles Times
reported that USC officials were investigating whether an NCAA recruiting violation occurred during the Trojans' pursuit of the Louisiana prep star. At issue is whether McKnight listened to a phone call between head coach Pete Carroll
and Reggie Bush. NCAA rules state that alumni cannot speak to players and attempt to persuade them to join their former school.
Joe McKnight and his high school coach, J.T. Curtis, would both later claim that McKnight misspoke during the news conference and that McKnight has never actually met or spoken to Bush. Bush and Carroll denied that a conference call ever took place. Carroll blamed the controversy surrounding McKnight on LSU fans who were unhappy that McKnight would choose to leave the state of Louisiana and attend USC.
in June 2007. He was awarded with the inaugural “Frank Gifford
Endowed Football Scholarship”, which is given out annually by the USC athletic department to an incoming freshman running back, quarterback or wide receiver who best emulates Gifford's life, success and spirit. By the pre-season practice before his freshman season at USC, McKnight had already demonstrated some of the speed and moves that made him an impact player in high school.
After a slow start during his freshman season, dealing with fumble-issues for the first time in his career, he made a pivotal contribution in a victory against Arizona
, where he ran a punt return for 45 yards, and later ran for 59 yards to set USC up for their last 10 points in their game.
McKnight achieved a break-through at the end of his freshman season during the 2008 Rose Bowl
, where he had 206 all-purpose yards: 36 on three punt returns, 45 on six pass receptions and 125 in 10 carries with one touchdown.
During his freshman season, McKnight painted "I need $" under his eye black
s to signify his desire to play professional football in the NFL.
Before his sophomore season, McKnight was included in Sports Illustrated
s spring list of top ten Heisman Trophy contenders going into the fall. However, his sophomore season was hampered early on by medical conditions, fumbles and injuries, including a nagging metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain
that prevented him from playing in two games. In February 2009, Bobby Burton of Rivals.com
summed up his career by writing, "McKnight really hasn't lived up to the hype. He's good, but he just hasn't broken out to show he's the best back in his class".
In his final college football season it was reported that McKnight was granted free use of a 2006 Land Rover
SUV registered to Santa Monica businessman Scott Schenter, in violation of NCAA rules. Schenter responded, claiming that the SUV actually belonged to McKnight's girlfriend, Johana Michelle Beltran, although McKnight has reportedly been seen driving it around town. As a result of the pending investigation, the USC compliance department would not clear McKnight to play in the 2009 Emerald Bowl
.
On January 8, 2010, McKnight declared his intention to forego his final year of eligibility, hired an agent and entered the 2010 NFL Draft
.
in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft
. To select McKnight, the Jets traded up twelve spots in the fourth round with the Carolina Panthers
. In return, the Jets sent their fourth (124th overall) and sixth (198th overall) round selections to Carolina. McKnight formally signed with the Jets on June 22, 2010.
McKnight struggled in the early stages of his professional career, vomiting during the Jets' rookie minicamp in May 2010. McKnight later admitted he had not been in proper condition at the time. He continued to struggle into the preseason, fumbling the football three times. Though he was not in danger of being released from the team, it was maintained that McKnight would not appear on the active roster until the coaches felt more confident in his abilities. McKnight made his NFL debut on October 3, 2010 against the Buffalo Bills
and was used in a limited capacity on offense before being utilized as an emergency cornerback and on special teams over the course of the season. In McKnight's first game as the starting running back, against the Bills during the Jets' final regular season contest, McKnight ran for 158 yards on 32 carries with no fumbles and caught two passes for 15 yards.
During the Jets' 2011
home opener against the Dallas Cowboys
on September 11, 2011, McKnight blocked Matt McBriar's punt on a critical play resulting in a touchdown by fellow defender Isaiah Trufant
. The Jets went on to defeat the Cowboys 27–24. During the Jets' Sunday night game against the Baltimore Ravens
, on October 2, 2011, McKnight returned a kickoff for 107 yards, his first career touchdown. It was the longest play in Jets history.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
by the Jets. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California Trojans football
The USC Trojans football program, established in 1888, represents the University of Southern California in college football. USC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I FBS and the Pacific-12 Conference . The Trojans have been a football powerhouse throughout NCAA...
(USC).
High school career
McKnight attended John Curtis Christian High SchoolJohn Curtis Christian High School
John Curtis Christian High School is a co-ed private high school in River Ridge, Louisiana. The school colors are red, white, and blue. The mascot is a Patriot. John Curtis Christian High School was founded by John Curtis Senior in 1962.-Football:...
in River Ridge, Louisiana
River Ridge, Louisiana
River Ridge is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 14,588 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, located approximately 10 miles west of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish.
For his first years of high school, McKnight played defense as a cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
; his high school career was complicated by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, which devastated his part of Louisiana just before his junior 2005 season. Separated from his mother who had evacuated to Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, McKnight temporarily relocated to Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
where he eventually enrolled and played two games for Evangel Christian Academy
Evangel Christian Academy
Evangel Christian Academy is a preparatory school in Shreveport, Louisiana with two campus spanning K-12, owned & operated privately in association with Shreveport Community Church which is located on the property of the grade school sister campus.-History:Rodney and Frances Duron, parents of the...
, the same school which previously produced USC quarterback and future teammate John David Booty
John David Booty
John David Booty is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He last played for the Houston Texans until being cut on September 4, 2010. He played college football at USC.Booty has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans...
. His family was able to relocate back to River Ridge, but their home had been destroyed so they moved into a one-bedroom apartment.
For the rest of the shortened 2005 season, McKnight scored 22 touchdowns (nine rushing, five receiving, four punt returns, three interceptions, one kickoff return) and averaged 18 yards a play in leading his team to the state championship. In 2006, McKnight rushed for 719 yards on 45 carries, scoring 14 touchdowns, received 24 catches for 735 yards and 13 touchdowns, and with special teams play scored a total of 30 touchdowns as a senior; he was instrumental in John Curtis Christian's 14-0 season, often used as a decoy player due to his scoring threat.
McKnight is the latest and arguably the most talented of a line of running back prospects out of John Curtis Christian HS–among them Reggie Dupard
Reggie Dupard
Jon Reginald Dupard is a former American football running back. He played five seasons in the National Football League. Dupard was selected 26th overall in the 1986 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He played for the Patriots until he was traded to the Washington Redskins midway through the...
, Chris Howard
Chris Howard (American football)
Christopher L. "Chris" Howard is a retired professional American football running back who played in the National Football League for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Howard had been drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
and Jonathan Wells
Jonathan Wells (American football)
Jonathan Wells is a former running back who played for the Ohio State Buckeyes.-High school career:Wells played high school football at John Curtis Christian High School in his native River Ridge, Louisiana...
. Most recruiting analysts rank him among the top 2 of the 2007 high school class (next to quarterback Jimmy Clausen
Jimmy Clausen
James Richard "Jimmy" Clausen is an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.-High school career:Clausen had an outstanding prep career...
of Oaks Christian High School
Oaks Christian High School
Oaks Christian High School is a private non-denominational Christian college-preparatory school located on in Westlake Village, California. Oaks Christian is one of several high schools located within the city limits of Westlake Village. The school colors are Cardinal Red and Vegas Gold and the...
). Considered a 5-star recruit, on January 28, 2007, McKnight was named co-Player of the Year by Parade
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
, sharing the honor with Clausen. Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
ranked McKnight the best running back prospect in the U.S., and the 2nd best recruit overall. Analysts notice his elusiveness, impressive speed (4.3 in 40-yard dash) as well as his incomparable instincts and field vision but some say he is somewhat undersized, at 193 pounds (87.5 kg), for the college game. McKnight has been called “the most exciting prospect the state of Louisiana has produced since Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk
Marshall William Faulk is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League. He is currently an analyst for NFL Total Access, Thursday Night Football, and NFL GameDay Morning on the NFL Network...
” by recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg.
USC assigned linebackers coach and former NFL All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
Ken Norton Jr. to handle recruitment of McKnight. LSU coach Les Miles
Les Miles
Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State...
visited McKnight on February 1, 2007, the last possible date before National Signing Day
National Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
, in order to ensure McKnight's commitment to the LSU. However, on February 7 McKnight committed to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. At USC, McKnight was joined by second-ranked running back prospect, Marc Tyler
Marc Tyler
Marc Tyler is an American football running back for the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-High school career:...
. The backlash against McKnight's decision to attend college out of state manifested itself when the Curtis School's marching band was booed performing at a Mardis Gras parade.
McKnight stated that his interest in USC came from its football tradition, notably Heisman trophies
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
and his interest in sports broadcasting, noting the USC Annenberg School for Communication
USC Annenberg School for Communication
The USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism comprises a School ofCommunication and a School of Journalism at the University of Southern California . It is led by Dean Ernest J. Wilson III, Ph.D....
.
Recruiting controversy
McKnight told reporters on National Signing Day that he spoke to former USC running back Reggie BushReggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
before he chose Southern California over favored LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. On February 9, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reported that USC officials were investigating whether an NCAA recruiting violation occurred during the Trojans' pursuit of the Louisiana prep star. At issue is whether McKnight listened to a phone call between head coach Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
and Reggie Bush. NCAA rules state that alumni cannot speak to players and attempt to persuade them to join their former school.
Joe McKnight and his high school coach, J.T. Curtis, would both later claim that McKnight misspoke during the news conference and that McKnight has never actually met or spoken to Bush. Bush and Carroll denied that a conference call ever took place. Carroll blamed the controversy surrounding McKnight on LSU fans who were unhappy that McKnight would choose to leave the state of Louisiana and attend USC.
College career
Because of his talent and versatility, the media and opposing coaches have called McKnight the "next Reggie Bush". McKnight began college at the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in June 2007. He was awarded with the inaugural “Frank Gifford
Frank Gifford
Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
Endowed Football Scholarship”, which is given out annually by the USC athletic department to an incoming freshman running back, quarterback or wide receiver who best emulates Gifford's life, success and spirit. By the pre-season practice before his freshman season at USC, McKnight had already demonstrated some of the speed and moves that made him an impact player in high school.
After a slow start during his freshman season, dealing with fumble-issues for the first time in his career, he made a pivotal contribution in a victory against Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, where he ran a punt return for 45 yards, and later ran for 59 yards to set USC up for their last 10 points in their game.
McKnight achieved a break-through at the end of his freshman season during the 2008 Rose Bowl
2008 Rose Bowl
The 2008 Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi, the 94th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, was a college football bowl game. The contest was televised on ABC, the 20th straight year the network aired the Rose Bowl, starting at 4:30pm EST...
, where he had 206 all-purpose yards: 36 on three punt returns, 45 on six pass receptions and 125 in 10 carries with one touchdown.
During his freshman season, McKnight painted "I need $" under his eye black
Eye black
Eye black is a grease applied under the eyes to reduce glare. It is often used by baseball and American football players, where sunlight or stadium lights can impair vision of an airborne ball. Eye black has been used for centuries to help reduce the glare of the sun.Traditional grease consists of...
s to signify his desire to play professional football in the NFL.
Before his sophomore season, McKnight was included in Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
s spring list of top ten Heisman Trophy contenders going into the fall. However, his sophomore season was hampered early on by medical conditions, fumbles and injuries, including a nagging metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain
Metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain
A metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain is an injury to the joint and connective tissue between the foot and one of the toes. When the big toe is involved, it is known as "turf toe".-Causes:...
that prevented him from playing in two games. In February 2009, Bobby Burton of Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
summed up his career by writing, "McKnight really hasn't lived up to the hype. He's good, but he just hasn't broken out to show he's the best back in his class".
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
SUV registered to Santa Monica businessman Scott Schenter, in violation of NCAA rules. Schenter responded, claiming that the SUV actually belonged to McKnight's girlfriend, Johana Michelle Beltran, although McKnight has reportedly been seen driving it around town. As a result of the pending investigation, the USC compliance department would not clear McKnight to play in the 2009 Emerald Bowl
2009 Emerald Bowl
The 2009 Emerald Bowl was the eighth edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. The game started at 5:00 PM PST on Saturday, December 26, 2009. The game was telecast on ESPN. USC defeated Boston College 24–13.The presenting sponsor of the...
.
On January 8, 2010, McKnight declared his intention to forego his final year of eligibility, hired an agent and entered the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
.
New York Jets
McKnight was drafted by the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. To select McKnight, the Jets traded up twelve spots in the fourth round with the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. In return, the Jets sent their fourth (124th overall) and sixth (198th overall) round selections to Carolina. McKnight formally signed with the Jets on June 22, 2010.
McKnight struggled in the early stages of his professional career, vomiting during the Jets' rookie minicamp in May 2010. McKnight later admitted he had not been in proper condition at the time. He continued to struggle into the preseason, fumbling the football three times. Though he was not in danger of being released from the team, it was maintained that McKnight would not appear on the active roster until the coaches felt more confident in his abilities. McKnight made his NFL debut on October 3, 2010 against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and was used in a limited capacity on offense before being utilized as an emergency cornerback and on special teams over the course of the season. In McKnight's first game as the starting running back, against the Bills during the Jets' final regular season contest, McKnight ran for 158 yards on 32 carries with no fumbles and caught two passes for 15 yards.
During the Jets' 2011
2011 NFL season
The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on...
home opener against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
on September 11, 2011, McKnight blocked Matt McBriar's punt on a critical play resulting in a touchdown by fellow defender Isaiah Trufant
Isaiah Trufant
Isaiah Trufant is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was signed by the Spokane Shock as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Eastern Washington....
. The Jets went on to defeat the Cowboys 27–24. During the Jets' Sunday night game against the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, on October 2, 2011, McKnight returned a kickoff for 107 yards, his first career touchdown. It was the longest play in Jets history.
Awards and honors
- McKnight was named Pac-10 offensive player of the week on September 14, 2009 for his role in a win against Ohio State.,
- The Times-Picayune named McKnight its "Male High School Athlete of the Decade".