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Signing Day Profile: DE Quentin Williams Signing Day Profile: QB Tyler Van Dyke Signing Day Profile: Safety Keshawn Washington Signing Day Profile: Safety Brian Balom Signing Day Profile: LB Tirek Austin-Cave Signing Day Profile: CB Marcus Clarke Signing Day Profile: Linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. Signing Day Profile: OT Chris Washington Signing Day Profile: Athlete Xavier Restrepo Signing Day Profile: Safety Jalen Harrell Signing Day Profile: TE Dominic Mammarelli Signing Day Profile: RB Jaylan Knighton Signing Day Profile: WR Michael Redding Signing Day Profile: WR Dazalin Worsham Signing Day Profile: RB Don Chaney Jr. Signing Day Profile: OL Jalen Rivers Signing Day Profile: DE Chantz Williams Signing Day Profile: DT Elijah Roberts2020 Deerfield Beach (FL) RB Jaylan Knighton signed with Miami this morning. Miami now has 12 players signed.
The 5-9, 195-pounder is currently a consensus 4-star in the national rankings. According to the 247Composite, Knighton is the #104 player nationally, the #10 RB in the country, and the #19 player in the Sunshine state.
Recruiting Story
Knighton’s recruitment was a roller coaster ride and a wild one at that. Knighton originally committed to Oklahoma the spring before his junior year. Knighton then reopened his recruitment back up in January of 2019. When summer rolled around, Knighton was ready to make a decision and he chose Florida State over the Hurricanes. Knighton would eventually decommit from FSU two days after Miami won in Tallahassee, and the day after Willie Taggart got fired. His recruitment then shifted into a Miami and Florida battle before he ultimately chose Miami on Thanksgiving.
Evaluation
On film, Knighton shows elite straight-line speed that makes him seem like he was shot out of a cannon. A true burner that is still physical enough to lower his shoulder and run through contact. Shows an effective jump cut to defeat contain and swiftly run away from the flow of the defense. Love how decisive he is with his cuts and he doesn’t dance around in the backfield; in other words, he gets north-south very quickly. Crafty in leaking out of the backfield as a pass-catcher and is a threat in the screen game. He’s a complete back in every sense of the term and also is frequently cited for his leadership in the locker room.
Knighton averaged a whopping 9.7 yards per carry in 2019 during 12 regular season games, racking up 1,414 rushing yards and 19 TD’s on the ground to go along with 13 catches for 267 yards and 2 TD’s through the air. Last season, he was awarded Broward 8A Player of the Year after setting the Bucks’ single-season rushing record (2,099 yards, 28 TD’s). He ran a 4.49 40-yard dash, a 4.26 short shuttle, and had a 32.90 inch vertical leap at the Opening Finals in July.
The Team
Miami’s running backs were one of the only bright spots on the offense in 2019. Despite playing in a system that was not running back-friendly and running behind an offensive line with serious talent, depth, and experience issues, Deejay Dallas and Cam Harris put together a decent season. Both of these backs managed to average over five yards per carry and they combined for over 1,000 yards on the ground.
Redshirt Probability: 7/10
As it stands, Knighton would arrive on campus as the 5th running back on the depth chart at best. If Miami keeps their current offensive system, a system which refused to use more than two backs a game, it would be hard to find playing time for Knighton. Also, Manny Diaz has shown that he favors redshirting freshmen unless they are needed immediately. However, should Deejay Dallas leave for the draft or if one of the younger running backs decides to transfer, Knighton’s chances of playing in five or more games would rise drastically. As of now, though, I have him ending up behind classmate Don Chaney on the depth chart, so playing time is going to be hard to come by.
The 5-9, 195-pounder is currently a consensus 4-star in the national rankings. According to the 247Composite, Knighton is the #104 player nationally, the #10 RB in the country, and the #19 player in the Sunshine state.
Recruiting Story
Knighton’s recruitment was a roller coaster ride and a wild one at that. Knighton originally committed to Oklahoma the spring before his junior year. Knighton then reopened his recruitment back up in January of 2019. When summer rolled around, Knighton was ready to make a decision and he chose Florida State over the Hurricanes. Knighton would eventually decommit from FSU two days after Miami won in Tallahassee, and the day after Willie Taggart got fired. His recruitment then shifted into a Miami and Florida battle before he ultimately chose Miami on Thanksgiving.
Evaluation
On film, Knighton shows elite straight-line speed that makes him seem like he was shot out of a cannon. A true burner that is still physical enough to lower his shoulder and run through contact. Shows an effective jump cut to defeat contain and swiftly run away from the flow of the defense. Love how decisive he is with his cuts and he doesn’t dance around in the backfield; in other words, he gets north-south very quickly. Crafty in leaking out of the backfield as a pass-catcher and is a threat in the screen game. He’s a complete back in every sense of the term and also is frequently cited for his leadership in the locker room.
Knighton averaged a whopping 9.7 yards per carry in 2019 during 12 regular season games, racking up 1,414 rushing yards and 19 TD’s on the ground to go along with 13 catches for 267 yards and 2 TD’s through the air. Last season, he was awarded Broward 8A Player of the Year after setting the Bucks’ single-season rushing record (2,099 yards, 28 TD’s). He ran a 4.49 40-yard dash, a 4.26 short shuttle, and had a 32.90 inch vertical leap at the Opening Finals in July.
The Team
Miami’s running backs were one of the only bright spots on the offense in 2019. Despite playing in a system that was not running back-friendly and running behind an offensive line with serious talent, depth, and experience issues, Deejay Dallas and Cam Harris put together a decent season. Both of these backs managed to average over five yards per carry and they combined for over 1,000 yards on the ground.
Redshirt Probability: 7/10
As it stands, Knighton would arrive on campus as the 5th running back on the depth chart at best. If Miami keeps their current offensive system, a system which refused to use more than two backs a game, it would be hard to find playing time for Knighton. Also, Manny Diaz has shown that he favors redshirting freshmen unless they are needed immediately. However, should Deejay Dallas leave for the draft or if one of the younger running backs decides to transfer, Knighton’s chances of playing in five or more games would rise drastically. As of now, though, I have him ending up behind classmate Don Chaney on the depth chart, so playing time is going to be hard to come by.
