CFL.ca
In his first year in professional football, playing a position he’s never played before, Roughriders rookie Jeff Knox Junior is trying to make history.
The rookie middle linebacker is trying to become the first freshman linebacker in the CFL to lead the entire league in tackles since 2001. The last to do so was Barrin Simpson, who was CFL Rookie of the Year and followed up that remarkable season with a Hall of Fame worthy career.
Simpson was a natural. He played middle linebacker all throughout high school and college, eventually being nominated for the Dick Butkus award in college.
For Knox Jr., he just finished playing his sixth game ever at middle linebacker.
Position changes are nothing new for one of the leading contenders in the CFL for the top rookie award.
“In my freshman year, I did both (offense and defence), I started corner and running back. My sophomore year, I did both, started as a safety and rotated in at running back. My junior year, I just did running back, couldn’t do both, it took a toll on me. Then I went back (to defence) and played outside ‘backer my senior year.”
He also returned kicks.
His ability to go back and forth from offense to defence and not only play but succeed at multiple positions in college is helping his star rise in his first season in Canada.
“He’s got the big picture. A lot of times if you’ve played linebacker your whole life, you’re in more of a fish bowl,” explains Defensive Coordinator Greg Quick.
“He’s used to seeing the big picture so it opens up to him and I think he’s able to see a little bit more. And it might be a reason why he’s been able to pick up the Canadian game because he has that awareness of what’s happening around him.”
Quick is also quick to point out that Knox has incredible ‘personal perseverance’ and great courage, which is also helping him tackle the challenges he’s faced this season.
Out of high school at just 18-years old, Knox pleaded guilty to a simple assault charge and was immediately kicked off the University of Pittsburgh football team.
| Dunk ranks Knox at #2 on Rookie Report |
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CFL.ca’s Justin Dunk has Jeff Knox Jr. sitting at #2 on the September edition of the Rookie Report … READ MORE. |
With his football future in limbo, his second chance came at California University of Pennsylvania where his positional carousel started before he caught the eye of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“It was hard, it was very hard but I stuck to it. But eventually something caught the eye of Coach Corey Chamblin and (Linebackers) Coach (Tyrone) Pettaway, he liked me a lot and gave me a shot and I’m going to be always thankful for that.”
Knox Jr. hasn’t disappointed. Although CFL players have four and a half hours to work with their coaches, the rookie linebacker has made it full time job. He shows up early and leaves late.
Putting the team ahead of the individual has been his calling card since getting a second chance in college.
“Knowing my assignments day in and day out, studying … I do a lot of film study, I’m here from 8-5 every day. I don’t take any days off. I’ve come here to work and get better every day. Me getting better every day has allowed me to perform so that’s what I give the credit to, just putting in the work.”
His new Head Coach, Bob Dyce, has noticed. Dyce, as special teams coordinator, says Knox Jr. and fellow rookie linebacker Jake Doughty were common visitors to his office.
“Jeff’s always looking for an extra advantage. He’s someone here, both he and Jake Doughty, are a couple of guys who are inseparable. They’re always buzzing down one of my offices and Coach Pettaway’s office, they’re in there all the time. They’re in here taking care of their bodies and that’s key because they’ve never had an 18-game schedule and you don’t want to see them wearing down. They’re doing a lot of the right things, whether it’s watching film, their attitude and their eagerness to learn I think has really helped them.”
It was Doughty’s injury that led Knox Jr. to make another position change in his career. He moved from outside linebacker and made his first ever start at middle linebacker in his life.
He picked up eight tackles and added three special teams tackles for good measure.
“Jeff is such a great athlete and Coach Pettaway has done a really good job, he and Coach Quick of putting Jeff in a situation where he’s had great success,” praised Dyce.
“The one thing you have to understand is, Jeff’s played two positions and for a rookie to do that is outstanding and for a rookie to do that at the level he’s done it is just a testament to they type of player Jeff is.”
In a season, in which there hasn’t been a lot of great stories for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, seeing the rise of Knox Jr. has definitely been one of them for his coaches, teammates and fans.
With the Riders needing an influx of young talent to make a charge up the standings next season, it appears they’ve found one in Knox.
Especially when Greg Quick calls him ‘one of the best linebackers in the CFL.’
“As he continues to mature, you can only imagine what kind of player he’s going to become. I think we should be very excited about having a player like that, who plays like he does in his youth and I think he’s got a great future in the game.”
And in a pinch, Bob Dyce knows he can hand him the ball.
“He reminds me all the time about how many touchdowns he scored in college…”
