Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Can be overpatient reading run fits, occasionally allowing blocks to develop rather than triggering downhill to disrupt timing
• Lateral agility and change of direction skills are limited by tight hips, leading to some challenges redirecting in space
• Will occasionally duck his head or dive at ankles when tackling, leading to missed opportunities to wrap up ball carriers
• Man coverage limitations against shifty backs and tight ends could restrict his three-down value early in his career
• Despite good straight-line speed, can get caught flat-footed and struggle to recover when offensive players get him leaning

Scouting Report: Summary

Knight's film reveals a classic downhill MIKE linebacker with elite straight-line speed and natural blitz timing. His explosive first step consistently shows up in gap penetration, particularly against Alabama and Oklahoma where he lived in the backfield. The ability to read protection schemes and time delayed blitzes hints at an advanced understanding of pressure concepts beyond his years.

In an aggressive 4-3 scheme, Knight's combination of 245-pound frame and 4.62 speed makes him an immediate weapon on calculated pressures and run blitzes. His development from high school quarterback to SEC defensive leader shows up in his pre-snap communication and ability to redirect the front seven. The natural instincts in zone coverage, while still raw, suggest room for growth in passing situations.

Three years of NFL coaching should yield an impactful defensive signal-caller who can both coordinate the defense and create havoc himself. His proven special teams prowess provides day one value while he develops as a rotational linebacker. The tackling technique needs refinement, but his appetite for contact and closing burst project him as a future three-down MIKE.