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Joe Nathan McKnight (born April 16, 1988) is an American football running back and return specialist who currently is a free agent. He was cut from the Kansas City chiefs in the 2015 off season. He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC). He was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. ==High school career== McKnight attended John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, Louisiana, located approximately 10 miles west of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish. 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 2005 season. 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, the same school which previously produced USC quarterback and future teammate John David Booty.〔 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 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, 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.,〔(Rivals.com running backs 2007 ), Rivals.com〕 and the 2nd best recruit overall.〔(Rivals.com Rivals100 2007 ), Rivals.com〕 Analysts notice his elusiveness and impressive speed (10.59 seconds in the 100 meters and 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash), as well as his incomparable instincts and field vision but some say he is somewhat undersized, at 205 pounds (93 kg), for the college game. 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 McKnight's commitment to the LSU. However, on February 7 McKnight committed to the University of Southern California. 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 Heisman trophies and his interest in sports broadcasting, noting the USC Annenberg School for Communication.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Joe McKnight」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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