Johnny Knox
Encyclopedia
Johnny Knox is an American football
wide receiver for the Chicago Bears
. He was selected by the Bears as the 140th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
, through a draft pick they acquired in the Kyle Orton
-Jay Cutler
trade.
, Knox enrolled at Tyler Junior College
. As a sophomore at Tyler, he led all junior college receivers with 884 yards and 12 touchdowns. Rivals.com rated him as the No. 9 junior college receiver in the class of 2007, and he transferred to Abilene Christian. He went into his first season at Abilene Christian listed as a backup wide receiver, but he quickly moved into a starting role. He finished the season with 62 receptions for 1,158 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns. He finished third in Division II in 2007 in touchdown receptions, while racking up the fourth-most receiving yards in a season in Abilene Christian history. He earned honorable mention Division II All-America honors.
While garnering more attention from defenses in 2008, Knox still racked up 56 receptions for 1,069 yards and 13 touchdowns. Knox helped Abilene Christian start 11–0 before losing in the third round of the Division II playoffs. His 30 touchdown receptions in two seasons were the most in Abilene Christian history, and he earned second team All-America honors in 2008. After the 2008 season, Knox was invited to participate in the 2009 Texas vs The Nation All-Star Classic, where he had three receptions for 55 yards and caught a TD pass from David Johnson in a losing effort for the Texas team.
(All results are from the 2009 NFL Combine)
Knox joined the Chicago Bears as an unheralded fifth-round draft choice, made an immediate impact on the team as a rookie. Though Knox spent only two seasons playing for a senior college, his combined numbers, which display his remarkable speed and agility, proved him to be a steal as a fifth -round choice.
He caught his first NFL pass, a 68-yard reception, on September 13, 2009 against the Green Bay Packers
. During the second game of the 2009 season (against the Pittsburgh Steelers), Knox recorded his first NFL touchdown catch on a key third down to tie the game up 14–14. He recorded another touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks, a seven-yard reception. In the fourth game of the season, against the Detroit Lions, he scored a touchdown on a 102-yard kickoff return. Two weeks later, after a bye
week, Knox caught a 60-yard touchdown from Jay Cutler
. On November 29, 2009, Knox returned a kickoff 77 yards to set up a Bears field goal versus the Vikings.
Against the Vikings, December 28, 2009, Knox sustained a season-ending ankle injury, finishing the year with 45 receptions for 527 yards and five touchdowns. On January 25, 2010, Knox was nominated to the NFC roster for the 2010 Pro Bowl
, replacing Minnesota
's Percy Harvin
, who withdrew due to injury concerns. Knox returned four kicks for 103 yards in his Pro Bowl debut. He was also targeted on two passes as a wide receiver, but failed to log a reception.
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...
wide receiver for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was selected by the Bears as the 140th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, through a draft pick they acquired in the Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue, where he started four straight bowl games. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
-Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
trade.
Early life
After graduating in 2005 from Channelview High School in Channelview, TexasChannelview, Texas
Channelview is a census-designated place in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and Harris County. The population was 29,685 at the 2000 census...
, Knox enrolled at Tyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College
Tyler Junior College is a two-year community college in Tyler, Texas, United States. TJC is one of the largest community colleges in Texas, with an enrollment of more than 12,000 credit students each year with an additional 20,000 continuing education enrollments annually. Its West Campus includes...
. As a sophomore at Tyler, he led all junior college receivers with 884 yards and 12 touchdowns. Rivals.com rated him as the No. 9 junior college receiver in the class of 2007, and he transferred to Abilene Christian. He went into his first season at Abilene Christian listed as a backup wide receiver, but he quickly moved into a starting role. He finished the season with 62 receptions for 1,158 yards and a school-record 17 touchdowns. He finished third in Division II in 2007 in touchdown receptions, while racking up the fourth-most receiving yards in a season in Abilene Christian history. He earned honorable mention Division II All-America honors.
While garnering more attention from defenses in 2008, Knox still racked up 56 receptions for 1,069 yards and 13 touchdowns. Knox helped Abilene Christian start 11–0 before losing in the third round of the Division II playoffs. His 30 touchdown receptions in two seasons were the most in Abilene Christian history, and he earned second team All-America honors in 2008. After the 2008 season, Knox was invited to participate in the 2009 Texas vs The Nation All-Star Classic, where he had three receptions for 55 yards and caught a TD pass from David Johnson in a losing effort for the Texas team.
Chicago Bears
| Pre-draft measureables | |||||
| Wt | 40yd | 20ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3 cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
BJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 185 lb | 4.25s | 4.15s | 6.81s | 35" | 10'2" |
Knox joined the Chicago Bears as an unheralded fifth-round draft choice, made an immediate impact on the team as a rookie. Though Knox spent only two seasons playing for a senior college, his combined numbers, which display his remarkable speed and agility, proved him to be a steal as a fifth -round choice.
He caught his first NFL pass, a 68-yard reception, on September 13, 2009 against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. During the second game of the 2009 season (against the Pittsburgh Steelers), Knox recorded his first NFL touchdown catch on a key third down to tie the game up 14–14. He recorded another touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks, a seven-yard reception. In the fourth game of the season, against the Detroit Lions, he scored a touchdown on a 102-yard kickoff return. Two weeks later, after a bye
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
week, Knox caught a 60-yard touchdown from Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. On November 29, 2009, Knox returned a kickoff 77 yards to set up a Bears field goal versus the Vikings.
Against the Vikings, December 28, 2009, Knox sustained a season-ending ankle injury, finishing the year with 45 receptions for 527 yards and five touchdowns. On January 25, 2010, Knox was nominated to the NFC roster for the 2010 Pro Bowl
2010 Pro Bowl
The 2010 AFC–NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2009 season. It took place at 8:00 PM EST on Sunday, January 31, 2010, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins and host site of Super Bowl XLIV...
, replacing Minnesota
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
's Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
, who withdrew due to injury concerns. Knox returned four kicks for 103 yards in his Pro Bowl debut. He was also targeted on two passes as a wide receiver, but failed to log a reception.