| 21 Kevin Knight |
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Moved into a starting role in 2002 and started every game at cornerback Was used as the nickel back (fifth defensive back) in 2001 and was essentially a starter Is a physical player, but also has good coverage ability Also a good return man Member of UNCs strength and conditioning honor roll.
2002 Senior Season
Started all 12 games at cornerback Finished fifth on the team with 62 tackles (47 solo) and was second on the team with seven pass breakups Had a team-high three sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception Had seven tackles and two sacks in Carolinas 23-21 win at Duke Blocked one kick, deflected a pass and made four tackles against Florida State Had five tackles versus Clemson Sacked CUs Whitehurst in the endzone for a Tar Heels safety in the first quarter It was the Tar Heels first safety since 1999 Made five solo tackles against the Terps Had four tackles (two solo) in the Wake Forest loss Made five tackles in the 10-point defeat to Virginia Broke up three passes and had six tackles against NC State Clinched the victory for the Tar Heels against Arizona State when he ducked in and picked off a pass with 28 seconds left in the game at midfield Finished with five tackles and one pass breakup Made seven tackles (five solo) in the 21-13 loss to Georgia Tech Broke up one of Chris Simms passes in Carolinas loss to Texas Made five tackles (three solo) against the Longhorns Had three tackles (two solo) and two pass break-ups against Syracuse Recovered a fumbled Syracuse kickoff in the fourth quarter after the Tar Heels had taken a 30-22 lead Started in the 27-21 loss to Miami (Ohio) at cornerback, making six tackles (four solo) Recovered a fumbled snap on a RedHawks field goal attempt late in the second quarter and returned it six yards.
2001 Junior Season
Played in every game, including the Peach Bowl, as the nickel back and top kick return man Was ninth on the team with 49 tackles (33 solo), including one sack vs. Duke for a six-yard loss Had at least one tackle in every game Made a season-high seven tackles against Wake Forest Posted five solo tackles and broke up a pass at Clemson Began the year with six tackles at defending national champion Oklahoma Also made six tackles at Georgia Tech Credited with three tackles in the Peach Bowl victory over Auburn Led the team with 15 kickoff returns for 272 yards, an average of 18.1 yards Had a season-high five kickoff returns at Texas for 75 yards Had a season-long 29-yard kickoff return vs. Duke.
2000 Sophomore Season
Played in all 11 games as a kick returner and a cornerback Did not start, but played 290 snaps, an average of 26 snaps per game Had his best game at Wake Forest, where he played a season-high 50 snaps and had seven tackles, including three tackles for loss Sacked Wake Forest quarterback C.J. Leak for an 11-yard loss Finished the season with 25 tackles, including 15 solo stops and 10 assists Had six tackles in the season-opener vs. Tulsa Registered at least one tackle in 10 of 11 games Returned 10 kickoffs for 155 yards, an average of 15.5 yards per return Season-high 31-yard return came on the opening kickoff of the Clemson game Also had a return of 26 yards at Duke and 21 yards at Pittsburgh.
1999 Freshman Season
Played in every game on special teams Started one game at cornerback Played 202 snaps, including 52 against Maryland in his first college start and 42 against Furman Made nine tackles, including six solo hits Broke up passes against the Terps and Duke Had a season-high three tackles vs. Maryland.
Lakeland High School
Two-time All-Southeastern District running back Compiled more than 4,000 all-purpose yards in his career As a senior, rushed 190 times for 1,042 yards and six touchdowns Also had four receptions for 57 yards and a score Returned both a kickoff and punt for scores Rushed for 263 yards and three touchdowns to beat Michael Vicks Warwick High School team, 35-10, in a game in which Knights team was a big underdog Had 16 tackles and two interceptions Team captain Two-time Offensive MVP at Lakeland High School Played for Coach Edward Smither State 300-meter indoor champion Qualified for nationals in the 55 meters Ranked fifth in the country in the 55 meters.
Personal
Born Kevin Nathaniel Knight on December 22, 1980 in Newport News, Va. Favorite NFL team as a kid was the New York Giants Favorite athlete is Deion Sanders Greatest personal athletic moment was helping Carolina beat Florida State last season Favorite former Tar Heel football player is Dre Bly Goal is to be a sport psychologist Is an ACT mentor Wears his favorite high school football shirt underneath his jersey Has modeled his game after Darrell Green Can play the trumpet Majoring in exercise and sports science.
|
Year
|
Solo
|
A
|
Total
|
PBU
|
FR
|
KR
|
Yards
|
Avg
|
TD
|
Long
|
|
1999
|
6
|
3
|
9
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2000
|
15
|
10
|
25
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
155
|
15.5
|
0
|
31
|
|
2001
|
33
|
16
|
49
|
1
|
0
|
15
|
272
|
18.6
|
0
|
26
|
|
2002
|
47
|
15
|
62
|
7
|
2-6
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Totals
|
101
|
44
|
145
|
10
|
2-6
|
25
|
427
|
17.1
|
0
|
31
|
