Joe McKnight

Joseph Nathan McKnight Jr. (April 16, 1988 – December 1, 2016) was an American football running back and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

He attended the University of Southern California (USC), where he played college football for the USC Trojans.

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 season of 2005.

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.

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, had 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 was the latest of a line of running back prospects out of John Curtis Christian HS – among them Reggie Dupard, Chris Howard and Jonathan Wells.

In his junior and 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.

Most recruiting analysts ranked him as one of the top two of the 2007 high school class (next to quarterback Jimmy Clausen of Oaks Christian High School).

Considered a five-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 second best recruit overall.

USC assigned linebackers coach and former NFL All-Pro Ken Norton Jr.. to handle the recruitment of McKnight.

Louisiana State University (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 LSU.

However, on February 7 McKnight committed to USC.

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 Mardi Gras parade.

McKnight stated that his interest in USC came from its football tradition, notably their Heisman Trophies, and his interest in sports broadcasting, noting the USC Annenberg School for Communication.

He is the highest rated football player ever recruited by the University of Southern California.

McKnight told reporters on National Signing Day that he spoke to former USC running back Reggie Bush 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 was whether McKnight listened to a phone call between head coach Pete Carroll and Bush.

NCAA rules state that alumni cannot speak to players and attempt to persuade them to join their former school.

McKnight and his high school coach, J.T. Curtis, both later claimed that McKnight misspoke during the news conference and that McKnight had 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 chose to leave the state of Louisiana and attend USC.

Because of his talent and versatility, the media and opposing coaches 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 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".

McKnight was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.

After playing in the NFL for the Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, he played in the CFL for the Edmonton Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

On December 1, 2016, McKnight was killed in an apparent road rage incident.

McKnight attended John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, Louisiana.