A versatile linebacker who was highly regarded for his leadership qualities during the draft process, Knight comes to Cincinnati as a second-round pick of the Bengals in 2025 ... He spent his first four collegiate seasons (2019-22) at Georgia Tech, then played at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in '23 and capped off his career at the University of South Carolina in '24 ... Ranked second on the Gamecocks with 82 tackles last season, and tied for fourth in the Southeastern Conference with three FFs ... He was a four-year starter at QB in high school, then transitioned to LB at Georgia Tech under then-head coach Geoff Collins ... While playing at Charlotte, he and his wife, Jensy, both worked as DoorDash delivery drivers to help support their young daughter, Kamilla ... His cousin, DeAngelo Hall, played defensive back in the NFL for 14 seasons and was a three-time Pro Bowler ... He also is a distant cousin of R&B legends Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.
Selected by Cincinnati in second round of NFL Draft (49th overall) on 4-25-25 ... Signed with Bengals on 7-19-25.
Defensive coordinator Al Golden says:
"He's just a competitor. I loved his movement in space. He's a sudden blitzer, can spy a quarterback on third down, gifted in coverage. You're talking about (a guy who is) just shy of 6-2, 33-inch arms, 240 pounds. I just love where he is as a player right now."
Spent first four collegiate seasons at Georgia Tech (2019-22), before playing one year at Charlotte ('23) and one at South Carolina ('24).
2024—Played in all 13 games with 10 starts in lone season at South Carolina ... Voted a team captain ... Recognized by coaches as one of three Gamecock players to earn the program's Strength and Conditioning Award, and was one of three players named the Joe Morrison MVP for the team's defense ... Ranked second on the team with 82 tackles (57 solos) ... Had eight TFLs and two sacks, and added one INT and three FFs (tied for fourth-most in SEC) ... Recorded double-digit tackles in three games ... On Nov. 30 at Clemson, sealed 17-14 win over rival Tigers with INT with 12 seconds remaining ... Key member of South Carolina defense that ranked fourth in SEC in total yards allowed per game (316.6).
2023—Started all 12 games in lone season at Charlotte ... Named first-team All-American Athletic Conference ... His 96 tackles ranked second in the AAC and were fifth-most in a single season in Charlotte history ... Had 5.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups and three INTs ... Had first career pick-six on Sept. 9 at Maryland, returning an INT 16 yards to end zone ... Had 82 total INT return yards, the second-most in a season in school history.
2022—Played in Georgia Tech's first four games, then elected to redshirt and did not play for remainder of season ... Recorded nine tackles.
2021—Played in all 12 games for Georgia Tech ... Registered six tackles and a FR defensively ... On Sept. 25 vs. North Carolina, scooped up a fumble and returned it 37 yards to set up a TD drive ... Had first passing attempt of college career on Nov. 13 vs. Boston College, completing a four-yard pass on fake punt to convert fourth-and-two.
2020—Saw action in eight games for Georgia Tech ... Logged 18 tackles, one TFL and one FF.
2019—Played in all 12 games as a true freshman for Georgia Tech ... Tallied 18 tackles with two TFLs and one sack ... Added two PBUs and one FF ... Notched season-high six tackles and a PBU on Oct. 12 at Duke ... First career sack was a strip-sack in end zone on Oct. 19 at Miami (Fla.); fumble was recovered by Georgia Tech for a TD.
Attended Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, Ga., where he was a four-year starter at QB ... Earned two first-team all-region and two first-team all-area honors ... Eclipsed 1000 yards in both passing and rushing as a senior in 2018 ... Passed for 1025 yards and ran for 682 yards as a junior in 2017 ... Also played WR and RB during prep career ... Set school record with 99-yard TD run ... Became first Division I student-athlete to come out of Strong Rock Christian ... Also lettered four years in basketball, once causing 30-minute delay in high school game after breaking rim on a slam dunk.
Hometown is Locust Grove, Ga. ... Earned bachelor's degree in literature, media and communication from Georgia Tech in December 2022 ... He and his wife, Jensy, have two children — Kamilla (daughter) and Malachi (son) ... While playing at Charlotte, he and Jensy both worked as DoorDash delivery drivers to help support Kamilla ... His cousin, DeAngelo Hall, played 14 NFL seasons as a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins, and was a three-time Pro Bowler ... Knight Jr. also is a distant cousin of R&B legends Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.
