Knowshon Moreno facts for kids
Moreno in 2023
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| No. 27, 28 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | July 16, 1987 Belford, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Middletown South (Middletown, New Jersey) |
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| College: | Georgia (2006–2008) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Knowshon Rockwell Moreno (born July 16, 1987) is a former professional football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Knowshon played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. He was named an All-American in 2008. The Denver Broncos picked him 12th overall in the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins.
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Early Life and High School Football
Knowshon Moreno grew up in Belford, a town in Middletown Township, New Jersey. His parents are Freddie Moreno and Varashon Mcqueen-Moreno.
At Middletown High School South, Knowshon led his team to three Central Jersey Group III championships. In his senior year, he rushed for 1,629 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. He finished his high school career with an amazing 6,268 rushing yards and 128 touchdowns. This made him New Jersey's all-time leading scorer in high school football.
High School Track and Field
Knowshon was also a top sprinter and jumper in track and field. He still holds school records for the fastest 100-meter dash at 11.01 seconds. In 2005, he won three state titles at the Monmouth County Championships. He won the 100 meters, the long jump, and the triple jump.
Knowshon was a highly sought-after player by many colleges. He chose to play for the Georgia Bulldogs.
College Football Career
Knowshon Moreno started playing for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2007. He was a "redshirt freshman," meaning he practiced with the team in 2006 but did not play in games.
2007 Season Highlights
In his first season, Knowshon quickly became a key player. He shared the starting running back spot at first. In a game against Vanderbilt, he became the main starter. He rushed for 157 yards in that game.
Later, he rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns against Florida. He also rushed for 196 yards against Troy. This made him only the second player in Georgia history to rush for over 1,000 yards as a freshman. The other was the famous Herschel Walker.
Knowshon rushed for over 100 yards in five straight games. This was a record for a Georgia running back since 1982. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. He also made the All-SEC first-team. He finished the season with 1,334 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.
2008 Season Highlights
Knowshon started his sophomore year as a favorite for the Heisman Trophy. He had a great start, scoring three touchdowns in the first game. He rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns against Central Michigan.
He continued to play well, rushing for 149 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona State. Later, he had a season-high 172 rushing yards against Vanderbilt. He also gained 163 yards against LSU.
Knowshon finished the 2008 season with 1,400 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He also had 392 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. He was named the team's offensive MVP. For the second year in a row, he was named first-team All-SEC. After this great season, Knowshon decided to enter the 2009 NFL draft.
College Statistics
| Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | NO. | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
| 2006 | Redshirt | |||||||||
| 2007 | 248 | 1,334 | 5.4 | 80 | 14 | 20 | 253 | 12.7 | 35 | 0 |
| 2008 | 250 | 1,400 | 5.6 | 68 | 16 | 33 | 392 | 11.9 | 37 | 2 |
| Total | 498 | 2,734 | 5.5 | 80 | 30 | 53 | 645 | 12.2 | 37 | 2 |
Professional Football Career
Knowshon Moreno was considered one of the best running backs in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Playing for the Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos picked Knowshon 12th overall in the 2009 NFL draft. He was the first running back chosen that year. Knowshon chose to wear jersey number 27. This number was worn by the late Darrent Williams, a former Broncos player. Knowshon got permission from Williams's mother to wear it. He promised to honor the number and help at the Darrent Williams Teen Center.
In 2009, Knowshon signed a five-year contract with the Broncos. On September 27, 2009, he scored his first NFL touchdown against the Oakland Raiders. For the 2009 season, he had 947 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
In the 2010 season, Knowshon rushed for 779 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 372 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
During the 2011 season, Knowshon shared playing time with Willis McGahee. His season ended early in November 2011. He tore a ligament in his knee (ACL) against the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished that season with 179 rushing yards.
Knowshon returned for the 2012 season. He scored a touchdown in the first game. After a fumble in the second game, he was benched for eight weeks. But when Willis McGahee got injured, Knowshon became the starting running back again. In his first game back, he rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown. He continued to play well, rushing for 135 yards against the Oakland Raiders. He also rushed for 115 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. For his great play against the Ravens, he was named "AFC Offensive Player of the Week." He finished the 2012 season with 525 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Knowshon had a strong comeback in the 2013 season. He won the starting running back job. In Week 12, he had a career-high 224 rushing yards against the New England Patriots. Later, he became the first Broncos player to rush for over 1,000 yards and receive for over 500 yards in the same season. He finished the 2013 season with 1,038 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns. He also had 548 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Knowshon and the Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII. However, they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
Playing for the Miami Dolphins
On March 27, 2014, Knowshon signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. In his first game with the Dolphins, he rushed for 134 yards. This helped the Dolphins win against the New England Patriots.
However, his time with the Dolphins was short. On September 14, he dislocated his left elbow. In his return game in Week 6, he tore his ACL again. This injury ended his 2014 season and, sadly, his NFL career. He played his final NFL game against the Green Bay Packers. He finished the season with 148 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
NFL Career Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2009 | DEN | 16 | 9 | 247 | 947 | 3.8 | 36 | 7 | 28 | 213 | 7.6 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 2010 | DEN | 13 | 13 | 182 | 779 | 4.3 | 35 | 5 | 37 | 372 | 10.1 | 45 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 2011 | DEN | 7 | 2 | 37 | 179 | 4.8 | 24 | 0 | 11 | 101 | 9.2 | 28T | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | DEN | 8 | 6 | 138 | 525 | 3.8 | 20 | 4 | 21 | 167 | 8.0 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | DEN | 16 | 15 | 241 | 1,038 | 4.3 | 31 | 10 | 60 | 548 | 9.1 | 35T | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | MIA | 3 | 0 | 31 | 148 | 4.8 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 63 | 45 | 876 | 3,616 | 4.1 | 36 | 27 | 158 | 1,409 | 8.9 | 45 | 9 | 10 | 8 | |
Life After Football
After his football career, Knowshon Moreno became a sports-talk radio host. He works at 104.3 The Fan in Denver.
Personal Details
Knowshon's first name is a mix of his father's nickname, Knowledge, and his mother's name, Varashon.
Knowshon is a Christian. He has spoken about his faith. Before a 2013 game, he was seen crying during the national anthem. He later explained that he uses that quiet moment to pray and thank God for everything in his life.
