david from wyoming

January 8th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^

McKnight said in the article it was because this was his first healthy season and didn't want to risk injury next year.

Joined: 03/15/2009

MGoPoints: 2981

WolvinLA2

January 8th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^

Joe McKnight will probably get drafted at a decent spot because of potential/athleticism, but he's never really done much that much at USC. Not saying he's a slouch, but if he gets dradted it won't be because of his production.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

tdumich

January 8th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^

pete carroll sold this to him and on the fact he was reggie bush 2.0. honestly, he's a dynamic playmaker at the college level but was a bit injury prone. the comparison to bush will continue with teams evaluating him for the draft and i think he'll go in the middle rounds. he'd be a solid 3rd down back.

Joined: 11/07/2009

MGoPoints: 132

Zone Left

January 8th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^

He's had a pretty typical USC running back career. He averaged an excellent 6.2 YPC, and broke 1000 yards. His production was limited more by injuries and the high level of talent around him than limited skills on his part.

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 16428

WolvinLA2

January 8th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^

I'm not trying to be a Joe McKnight hater, but he barely notched 1000 yards (good for 53rd in the country) with 142 of those coming against San Jose St. The 6.2 ypc is good, but USC played against very few good defenses (McKnight was shut down against the Bucks), USC's OL was very good and experienced and again he gained over 10 yards a carry against SJS. Also, if you're a "leave for the NFL after 3 years" type of guy, the talent around you shouldn't limit you too much.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

PurpleStuff

January 8th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^

I have no idea why Carroll has been so enamored with Joe McKnight. He is nowhere near the playmaker Reggie Bush was, yet Carroll acts like he is the second coming. Guys like Allen Bradford and Stafon Johnson are/were much better backs who should have taken the bulk of the carries for SC this year.

Joined: 04/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15969

Jim Harbaugh S…

January 8th, 2010 at 1:40 PM ^

he wasn't going to improve his stock by coming back and was risking injury. He was a good player but injuries and a Voltron backfield prevented him from living up to the OMG shirtless hype. Should be a good change of pace back for a team with a powerback. I'm guessing 3rd round pick, maybe can rise to the second round if he excels at the combine.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 577

stankoniaks

January 8th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^

Unfortunately for him, what will affect his stock is both the injuries and the comparisons to Reggie Bush. Fair or not, people will liken him to Reggie Bush, who unfortunately has not lived up to his high billing in the NFL.

Joined: 02/04/2009

MGoPoints: 1766

pullin4blue

January 8th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^

Just look at Colt last night. These guys are getting potentially career-ending injuries every week during playing season. If I was a guy who was going to go in the 2nd round by passing up my senior year, I would do it. There are no guarantees in life. However, I would have to give it serious thought if I was a candidate for the Heisman. McKnight was not a candidate.

Joined: 08/14/2009

MGoPoints: 1597

kriegers

January 8th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^

...but seems like the move of a guilty man. Plus, he seems like he has less experience than the average RB in the draft (but I could just be making that up).

Joined: 05/23/2009

MGoPoints: 217

bronxblue

January 8th, 2010 at 3:53 PM ^

He never really impressed me like Reggie Bush did at USC, but who knows how he'll play in the pros. He might be injury-prone, or maybe the USC medical team just kept missing something/did not provide proper rehabilitation. My guess is that his physical tools will make him an appealing late first-day pick, but I don't expect him to make much of an impact in the pros unless he magically turns it around.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171013