Joe McKnight facts for kids
McKnight with the Jets in 2011
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | April 16, 1988 Kenner, Louisiana |
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| Died: | December 1, 2016 (aged 28) Terrytown, Louisiana |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, Louisiana) |
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| College: | USC | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 4 / Pick: 112 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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Joseph Nathan McKnight Jr. (born April 16, 1988 – died December 1, 2016) was a talented American football player. He was known for being a running back and a return specialist. Joe played in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).
He went to the University of Southern California (USC) for college. There, he played college football for the USC Trojans. The New York Jets picked Joe in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. After playing for the Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, he joined the CFL. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Sadly, Joe McKnight passed away on December 1, 2016.
Contents
Joe McKnight's Football Journey
Early Life and High School Star
Joe McKnight went to John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, Louisiana. When he first started high school, he played defense as a cornerback. His high school football journey became tough because of Hurricane Katrina. This big storm hit Louisiana right before his junior year in 2005.
Joe was separated from his mom, who had gone to Baton Rouge. He moved to Shreveport for a short time. There, he played two games for Evangel Christian Academy. Later, his family moved back to River Ridge. But their home was gone, so they lived in a small apartment.
For the rest of the 2005 season, Joe was amazing. He scored 22 touchdowns! These included nine rushing, five receiving, four punt returns, three interceptions, and one kickoff return. He helped his team win the state championship. In 2006, Joe ran for 719 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 735 yards and 13 touchdowns. Overall, he scored 30 touchdowns as a senior. He was a key player in his team's perfect 14–0 season. Sometimes, he was used as a decoy because everyone knew he was a scoring threat.
Many experts thought Joe was one of the top high school players in 2007. He was even named co-Player of the Year by Parade magazine. Rivals.com said he was the best running back prospect in the U.S.
Joe chose to go to USC for college. He said he liked USC's football history and their Heisman Trophies. He also liked their sports broadcasting school. Joe was the highest-rated football player USC had ever recruited.
College Days at USC
When Joe started college at the University of Southern California in June 2007, people called him the "next Reggie Bush." This was because he was so talented and could do many things on the field. He received a special scholarship called the Frank Gifford Endowed Football Scholarship. This scholarship is given to a new freshman player who is like Frank Gifford.
Joe had a slow start in his first year, with some issues holding onto the ball. But he made a big difference in a game against Arizona. He returned a punt for 45 yards. Later, he ran for 59 yards, helping USC score their last 10 points.
He really shined at the end of his freshman season during the 2008 Rose Bowl. In that game, he gained 206 total yards. This included 36 yards on punt returns, 45 yards on pass catches, and 125 yards running with one touchdown.
Before his second year, Sports Illustrated listed Joe as one of the top ten players who might win the Heisman Trophy. However, his sophomore season was tough. He had some health issues and injuries, which made him miss two games.
In his junior and final college season, there were some questions about a car he was using. This was looked into by the NCAA, which has rules about what college athletes can receive. Because of this, Joe was not allowed to play in the 2009 Emerald Bowl.
On January 8, 2010, Joe decided to leave college early. He wanted to play professional football. He hired an agent and entered the 2010 NFL Draft.
Playing in the NFL
New York Jets (2010-2012)
The New York Jets picked Joe McKnight in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He was the 112th player chosen overall. To get him, the Jets traded with the Carolina Panthers. Joe officially signed with the Jets on June 22, 2010.
Joe had some challenges when he first started with the Jets. He struggled with holding onto the football during preseason games. But he kept working hard. Joe played his first NFL game on October 3, 2010, against the Buffalo Bills. He was used in a small way on offense. Later, he also played as a cornerback and on special teams. In his first game as a starting running back, against the Bills, Joe ran for 158 yards. He carried the ball 32 times and did not fumble. He also caught two passes for 15 yards.
During the Jets' home opener in 2011, Joe made a huge play. He blocked a punt against the Dallas Cowboys. This led to a touchdown for his teammate, Isaiah Trufant. The Jets won that game 27–24. On October 2, 2011, Joe returned a kickoff for 107 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. This was his first touchdown in the NFL! It was also the longest play in the history of the Jets team. In 2012, Joe was named the Kick Returner for the All-Pro team.
On September 26, 2012, the Jets coach, Rex Ryan, said Joe would play more as a cornerback. This was because another player, Darrelle Revis, had a serious injury. But soon after, Joe went back to his role as a running back. On October 8, 2012, Joe returned another kickoff for a touchdown. This time, it was 100 yards against the Houston Texans. This was his second career touchdown. This play also meant the Jets had set an NFL record. They had a kickoff return for a touchdown for 11 years in a row.
The Jets released Joe on August 26, 2013.
Kansas City Chiefs (2014)
After not playing football for all of 2013, Joe McKnight signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on January 12, 2014. On September 21, 2014, in a game against the Miami Dolphins, he scored two touchdowns. He caught passes from Alex Smith for these scores. Sadly, Joe got a serious injury to his Achilles tendon during practice on September 26, 2014. This meant he could not play for the rest of the 2014 season.
Canadian Football League (CFL)
On February 19, 2016, Joe McKnight signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was later released on August 10, 2016. The Saskatchewan Roughriders then signed Joe on September 20, 2016. On October 15, 2016, Joe had his first start in the CFL. He ran for 150 yards on 17 carries. He also caught one pass for 3 yards. Joe played in three games for the Roughriders in 2016. He ran for 228 yards and caught 11 passes. Joe was still under contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 2017 season.
Remembering Joe McKnight
On December 1, 2016, Joe McKnight passed away in Terrytown, Louisiana. He was shot by Ronald Gasser. The police investigated the event. Gasser was later arrested and charged with manslaughter. On January 26, 2018, a jury found Gasser guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
However, the way the jury made its decision was later found to be against the law. This was because of a ruling by the United States Supreme Court. The ruling said that criminal convictions must be decided by a unanimous vote from the jury. Since Gasser's verdict was not unanimous, he was granted a new trial. He remains in prison while waiting for this new trial.
Awards and Special Moments
- Joe was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week on September 14, 2009. This was for his great play in a win against Ohio State.
- The Times-Picayune newspaper called Joe McKnight its "Male High School Athlete of the Decade."
- He made the longest play in New York Jets history. This was a 107-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens on October 2, 2011.
