Arthur Ward/CFL.ca
The 2015 Saskatchewan Roughriders season will be remembered for what it is, but it will also go down in history as “The Year of Jeff Knox Jr.”.
The linebacker seemingly came out of nowhere to rewrite the Roughriders’ record book in his rookie season. With two games to go, the Pittsburgh, Pa. product has already become one of just three CFL players to record 100 tackles in their rookie season (George White and Barrin Simpson were the others). Through 16 games of the season, Knox sits at 101.
A hands-down lock as early as Labour Day to be named the Riders’ Most Outstanding Rookie for 2015, Knox is now the leading contender for the Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player awards as well for the team.
Hopefully he has a big trophy case or a large mantle over the fireplace at his home in Pennsylvania. So what was his road to get here?
“He’s a player that actually started out at Pitt and then transferred over to Cal-PA, which is Wes Cates’s old school, and the conference that I played in,” reflected Rider GM Jeremy O’Day. “We actually found him through our U.S. scout Ron Saleskey. He brought him to Corey’s attention and the scouting department. He was a guy that was a little bit lighter coming out of Cal but he put on weight later on in his career.
“At Cal-PA he did a bit of everything for them: Linebacker, defensive end and running back. He was a guy that could do everything and what we liked about him was his athletic ability and his speed. When we got him to minicamp in Florida, it was pretty obvious that he was going to be a good player.”
Knox, who was named the Wireless Age Fans Choice Player of the Year at last week’s game against Edmonton, could be looked at as a classic “tweener” on the backend of the defence; too big of a defensive back for American football but also somewhat light for an NFL linebacker.
However up here, he’s just right.
“He had put on a little bit of size and because of him adding weight later in his college career, that’s why he might’ve been overlooked by some NFL teams,” O’Day continued. “He started out as a defensive back and that’s where he gets all his quickness from. Linebacker’s all new to him so that’s a position where he’s been learning. For him to step in and have the type of success that he’s had, is really, really good.”
Knox has spent time at both the middle and outside linebacker positions this year with the Riders and seemed to fit in perfectly. The middle linebacker spot (or MAC or MIKE as some call it) is routinely called the ‘quarterback of the defence’ and comes with huge responsibility. That never fazed Knox.
“Linebackers are supposed to get the defense set and put people in the right position,” O’Day explained. “For a young guy that’s just worried about his own position, and worrying about the plays at hand, that is impressive.”
INFOGRAPHIC: Knox among CFL’s top tacklers
Knox chipped in with six more tackles in Saturday’s home loss to Edmonton giving him 101 on the year. His tireless efforts did not go unnoticed by his coach.
“I can’t say enough about Jeff Knox,” Bob Dyce said in his postgame news conference. “Only two rookies have hit 100 tackles in the league. Barrin Simpson and George White and Knox didn’t even start game one. His progression has just been outstanding. Being a 23-year old, playing 18 games isn’t easy but he’s battled and made plays. There’s room to get better but there’s nothing but positive things to say about him.”
Knox is already set to go down in history by joining an exclusive group. However just five more tackles will have him standing alone as the Riders’ single season franchise leader in tackles. George White, Jerrell Freeman and Barrin Simpson currently hold the record at 105 while Knox is just four back.
And the following quote will hit you right in the heart, and tell you what Jeff Knox Junior is all about.
“No matter what people tell you, no matter what people say about you, never give up on yourself,” Knox said of his upbringing in Pennsylvania. “You’re going to come across people your whole life that are going to tell you that you can’t do this or you can’t do that or that you’re never going to make something of yourself. In your heart, you have to write your own story.
“I come from a bad environment and a lot of us didn’t make it out of that. There are a lot of guys before me and probably a lot guys after me who were better football players than I am, but they’ll never get a chance to tell people their story because of the circumstances we live in.”
What more could Knox possibly have done this season than set records and collect all of these awards? Not much likely, but apparently he’s just scratching the surface.
“We look for him to continue to grow and continue to be a leader,” O’Day concluded. “These are all things that he’ll get used to (on the field) and hopefully continue to improve. He’s got a bright future.”
