Joe McKnight life and biography

Joe McKnight is an American football running back for the New York Jets. He played collegiate football for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans football team.

HIGH SCHOOL

McKnight attended John Curtis Christian High School 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.[4] 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 (88 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.

COLLEGE

McKnight (no. 4) takes the handoff from Matt Barkley during an October 2009 matchup against California.

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 California 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 blacks 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"

New York Jets

McKnight was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft. The Jets traded up in the fourth round to select McKnight, trading their fourth and sixth round picks to the Carolina Panthers for their fourth round pick. McKnight would formally sign with the Jets on June 22, 2010.

McKnight struggled in the early stages of his professional career after vomiting during the Jets rookie minicamp in May. McKnight would later admit he had not been proper condition at the time. McKnight's stuggles would continue into the preseason as he fumbled three times. Though McKnight's roster spot is not in danger, he will not appear on the active roster until the team feels more confident in his abilities.

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