Joe McKnight Bio in High School
Joe McKnight attended John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, Louisiana, located approximately 10 miles south of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish.
For Joe McKnight first years of high school, Joe 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, Joe 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. Joe McKnight 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, Joe 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, Joe 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.
Joe 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, Joe 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. Analysts notice his elusiveness, impressive speed (4.3 in 40-yard dash) as well as Joe McKnight incomparable instincts and field vision but some say he is somewhat undersized, at 193 pounds, for the college game. Joe 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 Joe McKnight's commitment to the LSU. However, on February 7 Joe McKnight committed to the University of Southern California. At USC, Joe McKnight will be joined the second-ranked running back prospect, Marc Tyler. The backlash against Joe 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.
Joe 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.
Joe McKnight Bio in College
Because of Joe McKnight talent and versatility, the media and opposing coaches have called Joe McKnight the "next Reggie Bush". Joe McKnight began college at the University of Southern California in June 2007. Joe McKnight 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 Joe McKnight freshman season at USC, Joe 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, Joe McKnight made a pivotal contribution in a victory against against Arizona, where Joe McKnight 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.
Joe McKnight was born April 16, 1988 in River Ridge, Louisiana. Joe McKnight is an American football runningback for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans football team.