Indiana Tackle That Sy and Dave Te like

BRANDON JOSEPH KNIGHT
Offensive Tackle/Guard
Indiana University Hoosiers
#62
6:05.1-307
Noblesville, Indiana
Noblesville High School

OVERVIEW
While the team's ground game struggled through the 2017 season due to the fast-paced offensive scheme, the Hoosiers seem to be developing another "stud" blocker in the process. Indiana has sent forty-three offensive tackles and guards to the National Football League via the draft, with four of those prospects hearing their names called in the first round.

The last time one was drafted during the draft's first day was tackle Eric Moore in 1988, as the New York Giant would start 74-of-84 games during his seven-year career. Knight has seen two of his teammates join the pro ranks in recent drafts. In 2016, Green Bay selected tackle Jason Spriggs 48th overall, but he has been limited to seven starting assignments in 23 games for the Packers. The Los Angeles Chargers feel they have settled one of their guard spots for the next decade, as 2017 third round choice, Dan Feeney, enjoyed nine starting assignments as a rookie.

Now, Brandon Joseph Knight is the Hoosiers blocker getting attention from NFL scouts during the 2018 campaign. At least this "Knight" donned an Indiana uniform. A more heralded basketball prospect by the same name accepted a basketball scholarship from the university before changing his mind when he enrolled at the University of Kentucky. That Brandon Emmanuel Knight, who won the 2009 and 2010 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year awards, becoming just the third junior to receive the award following LeBron James (2002) and Greg Oden (2005), is now employed by the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association.

A leg injury cut short the football version of the Knight hierarchy after eight games into the 2016 season and he missed 2017 preseason camp along with sitting out the first two games on the 2018 regular season schedule. Still, in eight starting assignments, Knight paced the Hoosiers with 79 key blocks/knockdowns, as they recorded six of eleven touchdown runs over his area, along with being successful on eleven touchdown tosses, thanks to his pass protection skills. Not a bad performance for a former 265-pound recruit that some on the former coaching staff considered him for the tight end position when he first arrived at the school.

A three-star recruit out of Noblesville High School, Knight started on the offensive line for Millers head coach Lance Scheib. The Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 and all-state selection as a junior and senior, he added Indiana Associated Press Class 6A All-State accolades as a senior. He was also a member of the 2014 Indianapolis Star Super Team and a finalist for the Indianapolis Star Position Award (offensive line).

The two-time All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference pick graded out at 88 percent for blocking consistency as a senior, as he did not allow a sack. Rated the seventh-best prospect in the state of Indiana by Rivals.com and the 51st-best offensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com, the three-year football letter-winner also saw action on the defensive line, recording fourteen tackles, one sack, one quarterback pressure and two stops behind the line of scrimmage in brief time on that side of the ball in 2014.

With seventeen major colleges pursuing him, Knight narrowed down his final choices to Indiana and Purdue, but chose the Hoosiers' "family" feel. He enrolled at the university in 2015, going on to earn Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team honorable mention, as he saw eleven games of action as both a reserve offensive tackle and tight end, thanks to his impressive speed. His lone reception was a 22-yard touchdown that propelled the Hoosiers to victory over Purdue. As a blocker, he helped Indiana rank tied for seventh in the nation for fewest sacks allowed (thirteen).

Knight appeared in the team's first eight games on the 2016 schedule, starting six contests, but the right tackle suffered a leg injury in the Maryland contest that saw him have to be carted off, missing the Hoosiers' final five contests. Speaking at his weekly news conference, former IU coach Kevin Wilson declined to elaborate on specifics, but said, “He got a leg injury that is not gonna require surgery, but he’s gonna be kind of gimped up for a little while.”

Knight had joined the starting lineup at right tackle when fifth-year senior Dimitric Camiel was lost to back surgery earlier that season. The youngster got hurt midway through the first quarter with IU up 6-0 and driving. The injury occurred without much notice. Knight began to stumble on the field until he called toward the sideline to signal he needed to be replaced. When he had the sideline's attention, he started jogging as best he could toward the bench but collapsed before he could get there.

The training staff helped get Knight upright and walked him off the field. He was clearly cautious about putting weight on his left leg and was eventually hauled off the field on a cart. In Knight’s stead, the Hoosiers turned to Delroy Baker, a little-used red-shirt sophomore who signed with Indiana over in-state program Florida in 2014.

Knight returned to action in the third game on the 2017 calendar, starting eight of his next ten appearances. He allowed just three shared sacks while grading 87.3% for blocking consistency under new head coach Tom Allen, having provided key blocks on 47.22% of the team's offensive touchdowns (17-of-36), despite sitting out the first two contests that saw the Hoosiers total six touchdowns in those games.

For the 2018 season, Knight has started each of the team's first nine contests, but missed several series when he hurt his leg late in the first quarter vs. Rutgers. The co-Offensive Player of the Game vs. Virginia, the senior is averaging 7.78 key blocks/knockdowns per game for a squad that has registered 216 offensive first downs, seventh in the nation and second in the Big Ten Conference.

Scouts are impressed that the once lean blocker has added over forty pounds to his frame in the last three years, with minimal loss of his impressive quickness. Some scouts liken his upside to that of Tennessee's Jake Conklin, also a former tight end recruit. With his combination of height, size and athletic ability, the first thing evaluators recognize is that he has the quick foot shuffle, along with the fluid hip movement to possible shift to guard at the next level

Still, it is his pass protection ability that was a great boon to the team's aerial attack reliance in 2017, as their ground game struggled. He demonstrates the kick-slide and hand usage to maintain relationship and keep separation from the defender. His added weight and low pad level is evident in his anchor and he knows how to keep those hands active to prevent his opponent from getting underneath his pads. There is also his ability to get out front and move down the line on the team's jet-sweep plays and in the short-area screen passing attack, thanks to his vision and awareness to locate and take proper angles to neutralize his blocking assignments.

CAREER NOTES
Knight has started twenty-six of forty-two of his appearances as Indiana’s right offensive tackle, but he has also filled in on the left side, in addition to seeing time as a tight end earlier in his career.
Knight's Statistical Performance...Since the start of the 2017 season, Knight has appeared in 22 games for the Hoosiers, grading 85.58% for blocking consistency. The defenders he has been assigned to block have registered 59 tackles (38 solos) with 5.5 sacks for minus 58 yards, eight stops for losses of 66 yards and two quarterback pressures. He has been penalized six times and registered fourteen downfield blocks.
Knight has collected 173 key blocks/knockdowns (7.86 per game), delivering thirteen touchdown-resulting blocks for the ground game (total of 28 scores by the Hoosiers ground unit the last 22 games) and protected the pocket with key blocks on nineteen touchdown tosses (team accounted for 45 aerial scores during that 22-game span).

2018 SEASON
Postseason Recognition...Knight received All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors from The NFL Draft Report, as he was also selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the league's media and coaches. Knight started all of the team's twelve regular season games at right tackle and received co-Offensive Player of the Game honors vs. Virginia.
Preseason Recognition...The senior was a member of The NFL Draft Report's All-Big Ten Conference preseason team. That scouting information service lists the senior and Minnesota's Donnell Greene as the most underrated offensive tackles in the league.
Knight's Statistical Performance...In twelve starting assignments, the right tackle registered 94 knockdowns/key blocks, as he posted seven touchdown-resulting blocks for the ground game and eight more while protecting the pocket in order for Hoosiers' quarterbacks to complete touchdown tosses. He allowed four quarterback sacks for minus 45 yards and five stops behind the line of scrimmage for losses of 47 yards, along with one quarterback pressure. He was penalized twice, but delivered ten second-level blocks, compiling a blocking consistency grade of 84.33%, as he reached the 88% level in each of the Florida International, Virginia, Ball State, Ohio State and Minnesota.



2018 Season - Continued
Indiana Offensive Team Performance...The Hoosiers closed out the regular season ranked 52nd in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks and seventh in the Big Ten Conference with an average gain of 415.17 yards in total offense per game, compiling 4,982 yards on 909 snaps (5.48 yards per snap).
The Hoosiers were 36th nationally and third in the league with 257.83 yards passing per game, completing 316-of-481 attempts for 3,094 yards, twenty touchdowns and thirteen interceptions, but ranked third in the league and 18th in the nation with a pass completion percentage of .657. Their average of 9.79 yards per pass completion ranked 124th among 129 major colleges. The ranked 85th in pass efficiency with a 128.04 rating.
Indiana finished tenth in the league and 83rd in the country in rushing, carrying 254 times for 1,888 yards and seventeen touchdowns, averages of 157.33 yards per game and 7.43 yards per rushing attempt.
The offense finished 87th nationally in scoring with 317 points (26.42 ppg), but they ranked 24th in the FBS and second in the conference with 282 first downs (106 rushing; 143 passing; 33 opposing penalties). They were 41st in the country and fourth in the Big Ten, as they converted 78-of-184 third-down plays (42.39(), but only ranked 83rd in the major college ranks in red zone scoring (33-of-44; 75%).
The offensive line ranked ninth in the Big Ten and 70th in the country for quarterback sacks allowed (2.25 per game; 27 for minus 159 yards). They are 37th in tackles-for-loss allowed (5.33 per game; 64.0 for losses of 251 yards) and allowed 22 quarterback pressures.
Knight's Team Impact...Knight has accounted for just 14.82% of the quarterback sacks yielded by the offensive front (4-of-27) and just 7.81 percent of the tackles-for-loss allowed (5.0-of-64.0). The senior recorded the key block on 41.18% of the team's rushing touchdowns (7-of-17) and 40% of the team's aerial scores (8-of-20).

2018 SEASON GAME ANALYSIS
Florida International...The Hoosiers' first unit played the first half in a 38-28 win over FIU as Largo High School products Donavan Hale and Jonathan Crawford helped spur Indiana to victory during the season-opener for both teams. The hosts got on the board first after a Peyton Ramsey interception set the Panthers up at their own 34, but the quarterback remained undaunted, shining as the offense responded with 21-straight points after that miscue.
With the triumph, Indiana has won thirteen of its last fifteen season openers. In his fifth career start, red-shirt sophomore Peyton Ramsey completed 20-of-27 for 156 yards and matched a career-high with three touchdowns. Ramsey added 36 yards on the ground and the Hoosiers had seven players rush the ball, totaling 213 yards (4.5 per rush). Indiana featured ten players with receptions, tallying up 252 yards (9.0 per reception).
Knight's Game Highlights...The right tackle wasted little time getting involved in the action. During the team's first play from scrimmage for the season, he engaged defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, taking a drop step with a reach block to neutralize his opponent and clear a path used by quarter-back Peyton Ramsey to hit the outside gap for a 12-yard scamper.
Ramsey was able to locate Luke Timian over the middle at the top of the route for an 18-yard pass completion, thanks to Knight standing up defensive end Noah Curtis at the line of scrimmage, pushing the opponent into middle linebacker Sage Lewis and rush end Fermin Silva to create a logjam of FIU defenders. The second quarter 75-yard, 9-play series ended with Ramsey lobbing a 2-yard pass to Donavan Hale, as Knight drove his hands into Kevin Oliver, standing the rush end up to prevent his opponent from looping around the left edge in an attempt to get to the Hoosiers' passer before he could connect for a touchdown.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...SDE#96-Josh Little (6:04-260)-Recorded three solo tackles during the game, but known while Knight was his assigned blocker; DE#94-Kevin Oliver (6:04-243)-Recorded no tackles during the game.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with nine key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the passing game, delivering one block in the second level to compile an 88% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered four touchdown drives, along with one possession that produced a field goal, as they gained 213 yards with twelve first downs and no touchdowns on 45 carries (4.73 ypc), completing 28-of-37 passes (75.68%) for 252 yards, fourteen first downs, four touchdowns and one interception, to finish with 465 yards on 82 total plays (5.67 yards per attempt).



Florida International Game - Continued
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Florida International recorded 84 tackles (50 solos) with one sack for minus nine yards, three stops for losses of 13 yards, one quarterback pressure, no fumble recoveries, no forced fumbles, one interception for a 14-yard return and two pass deflections.

Virginia...Tailback Stevie Scott finished just three yards shy of Hall of Famer Anthony Thompson's single-game true freshman rushing record, with 31 carries for 204 yards, as the Hoosiers held on for a 20-16 decision on a soggy field. Virginia had held Richmond to 34 rushing yards in a season-opening romp a week earlier. Indiana bettered that by over 200 yards, finishing with 237 (5.4 per attempt) to fuel a total offense advantage of 387-294.
Scott became the 12th true freshman in program history to reach the 100-yard rushing mark. He is the first Indiana running back to reach 200 yards since Devine Redding raced for 227 in the 2015 Pinstripe Bowl. His 40-yarder was the team's first 40-yard run since Ricky Brookins raced 64 yards in the 2017 finale at Purdue on Nov. 25.
Peyton Ramsey recorded his fifth career multi-touchdown game and his second straight to open 2018. The red-shirt sophomore tossed two touchdowns and went 16-of-22 (.727) for 150 yards.
Knight's Game Highlights...The right tackle was named co-Offensive Player of the Game for his performance vs. the Cavaliers.
Knight's surge off the snap and reach block saw weak-side linebacker Chris Pearce be taken out of the play when Knight shoved defensive end Richard Bruney into his teammate. This cleared a rush lane that Reese Taylor used on a 12-yard carry to the Virginia 9-yard line. Payton Ramsey then took to the air to cap that drive, finding Donavan Hale with a 9-yard touchdown, thanks to Knight again neutralizing a stunt executed by those two Cavaliers.
With a few minutes left in the first half, Knight rode defensive end Aaron Faumui away from the pocket to give Ramsey ample time to fire a 20-yard touchdown to Nick Westbrook.
Confusion on the Virginia defense allowed Knight to get out and take defensive end Richard Bruney down, clearing a path that Stevie Scott used to gain 42 yards with his feet before he was knocked out of bounds during the first series in the second half by Indiana.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...SDE#16-Richard Burney (6:04-282)-Recorded four tackles in the game, including three stops (one solo) while Knight was his assigned blocker.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with nine key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the passing game, along with posting two blocks in the second level, compiling an 88% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered three touch-down drives, as they gained 237 yards with twelve first downs and one touchdown on 44 carries (5.39 ypc), completing 16-of-22 passes (72.73%) for 150 yards, seven first downs, two touchdowns and one interception, to finish with 387 yards on 66 total plays (5.86 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Virginia recorded 68 tackles (52 solos) with no sacks, six stops for losses of 19 yards, no quarterback pressures, no fumble recoveries, no forced fumbles, one interception for a one-yard return and five pass deflections.

Ball State...The Hoosiers dominated Ball State - a team with fifty Indiana natives on its roster - marching to a 38-10 victory over the Cardinals. BSU, which lost by a single score to Notre Dame the previous week, put the first three points on the scoreboard before the Hoosiers accounted for the next 31. IU's offense totaled 457 efficiently amassed yards, averaging a healthy 6.0 per play (including 5.8 on runs), and completed 75 percent its passes (24-of-32). They gained 255 yards on the ground, the second time in three contests that the Hoosiers rushed for 200 yards in 2018. They had two such performances during the entire 2017 campaign.
Stevie Scott carded his second consecutive 100-yard game with 114 yards on 18 attempts (6.3 average) and his first career two-touchdown game (two). He did not lose a yard on those 18 carries. Scott is the fastest true freshman back in IU history to reach the century mark twice. Thanks to stellar blocking from his offensive line, Scott became the fourth IU true freshman back to reach the 100-yard mark in consecutive weeks, joining Mike Harkrader (1976), Anthony Thompson (1986) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (2003). Thompson holds the program record with five consecutive 100-yard games followed by back-to-back 100-yarders from Scott, Harkrader and Green-Ellis.
Knight Game Highlights...Indiana thought they had scored when Knight knocked down defensive end Fred Schroeder to spring Stevie Scott for a 4-yard touchdown, but officials ruled that the tailback was downed at the 1-yard line. That set up third-& -goal for the Hoosiers. At the snap, Knight and tight end Matt Bjorson both executed a classic old-school scramble block, with Knight firing low to neutralize defensive tackle Kyle Williams and Bjorson neutralizing Schroeder, giving Scott the clearance needed to run the ball in from a yard out to cap a 69-yard, 10-play series.
Ball State Game - Continued
Quarterback Payton Ramsey followed behind Knight, his lead blocker, on a keeper around the right side that resulted in a 5-yard touchdown run during the closing seconds of the first half.
Fourth quarter action saw Knight flush out linebacker Brandon Martin from the rush lane between right tackle and guard, as Scott gained nine yards and a first down. On the tailback's cutback run for 18 yards to the BSU 11, Knight again forced Schroeder to the ground. That play was followed by Scott scoring on a power run over the left side of the field on the next snap, upping Indiana's lead to 38-10, as the first unit was then given the final 10:11 of the contest off.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#52-Fred Schroeder (6:02-273)-Recorded one assisted tackle, but was shut out in one-on-one battles vs. Knight during the game.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with eight key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the running game, compiling an 88% blocking consistency grade for the third consecutive game.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During thirteen possessions, Indiana registered four touch-down drives and one possession that resulted in a field goal, as they gained 255 yards with thirteen first downs and four touchdowns on 44 carries (5.80 ypc), completing 24-of-32 passes (75.00%) for 202 yards, nine first downs, no touchdowns and no interceptions, to finish with 457 yards on 76 total plays (6.01 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Ball State recorded 78 tackles (62 solos) with no sacks, five stops for losses of 12 yards, one quarterback pressure, one fumble recovery for a 12-yard advancement, one forced fumble, no interceptions and five pass deflections.

Michigan State...The Spartans scored two touchdowns in the first 9:25 – the second on a fortuitously tipped 69-yard pick-six – en route to a mostly methodical 35-21 victory. A Memorial Stadium crowd of 45,445 entered buzzing because of IU's 3-0 start this season but exited bummed as Indiana missed a chance to affirm and build belief outside its locker room. Indiana, meantime, rushed for just 29 yards against a MSU defense that was allowing only 34 yards rushing per game coming in. The Hoosiers' veteran offensive line, counted upon to carry the team early in the season and beyond, struggled up front much of the night, allowing five sacks as quarterback Peyton Ramsey finished 32-of-46 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. His 32 completions tie a career-high and share the eighth-most in school history.
Knight Game Highlights...Knight recognized the Spartans' blitz package, firing out low from the snap to take the legs out from under defensive tackle Gerald Owens as Peyton Ramsey hid behind his right tackle before locating tailback Stevie Scott with an 8-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 51-yard series in the second quarter.
Scott was later tackled for a 2-yard loss late in the third quarter when Spartan defenders Naquan Jones and Jack Camper stunted around Knight to take the ball carrier down in the backfield.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#91-Jack Camper (6:04-238)-Recorded an assisted tackle for a 2-yard loss during one-on-one battles vs. Knight; DT#41-Gerald Owens (6:02-310)-Recorded one solo tackle in the game vs. Knight; NT#93-Naquan Jones (6:04-339)-Assisted Camper in registering that tackle-for-loss vs. Knight.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with six key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the passing game, compiling a 78% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During sixteen possessions, Indiana registered two touchdown drives and two possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 29 yards with one first down and no touchdowns on 32 carries (0.91 ypc), completing 32-of-46 passes (69.57%) for 272 yards, fifteen first downs, two touchdowns and two interceptions, to finish with 301 yards on 78 total plays (3.86 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Michigan State recorded 69 tackles (53 solos) with five sacks for minus 24 yards, nine stops for losses of 34 yards, one quarterback pressure, no fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two interceptions for 73 yards in return with a touchdown and three pass deflections.

Rutgers...Indiana team came away with 24-17 win at Rutgers, holding on after building a 24-7 half-time lead via a decisive 17-0 second quarter. The result marked the program's first Big Ten Conference road-opening win since a 38-20 result at Iowa in 2007, eleven years ago to the day. That was the last year IU posted a winning season in football.
The Hoosiers out-gained the Scarlet Knights, 451-291, and had a 35:24-24:36 advantage in time of possession. Their 16-play, 88-yard touchdown drive that lasted 6:09 minutes in the first half was the longest play-wise and second-longest in yards and time this season. Quarterback Peyton Ramsey was 26-of-39 for 263 yards and a touchdown.
Rutgers Game - Continued
Knight Game Highlights...The right tackle was limited vs. the Scarlet Knights after he left the game late in the first quarter, returning to action just before halftime. With 6:05 left in the first frame, Peyton Ramsey connected with Ty Fryfogle on an 11-yard toss that got the ball near midfield. While retreating to seal off the edge, Knight contained Olakunle Fatukasi, knocking the opponent down, but as the linebacker hit the turf, the right tackle tried to step over the fallen opponent and seemed to have suffered a leg injury. He would return to the field after missing several series, but the coaches alternated between Knight and DaVondre Love on the right side, with right guard Simon Stepaniak shifting to tackle when Love entered the game.
With 4:05 left in the first half, Knight's return to action saw the right tackle get penalized for holding, negating a third-down conversion run by Stevie Scott. He made up for that miscue by crushing nose tackle Julius Turner on an inside block that allowed quarterback Peyton Ramsey to bolt out of the pocket on an 18-yard keeper, setting up Indiana's 44-yard field goal with twenty seconds left before halftime.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#97-Mike Tvedov (6:04-258)-Recorded two tackles while engaging in one-on-one battles vs. Knight during the game.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with five key blocks/knockdowns, including a downfield block that helped set up an Indiana field goal just before halftime, compiling an 84% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During nine possessions, Indiana registered three touchdown drives and one possession that resulted in a field goal, as they gained 163 yards with eight first downs and two touchdowns on 42 carries (3.88 ypc), completing 27-of-40 passes (67.50%) for 288 yards, fourteen first downs, one touchdown and one interception, to finish with 451 yards on 82 total plays (5.50 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Rutgers recorded 84 tackles (40 solos) with one sack for minus seven yards, two stops for losses of eight yards, four quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, one interception for zero yards in return and four pass deflections.

Ohio State...The outcome might have shown Ohio State winning this 49-26 encounter, but heading into the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers trailed OSU by a 35-26 score, but couldn't stay close as the third-ranked Ohio State squad dominated down the stretch. It has been thirty years since the Hoosiers beat the Buckeyes.
The frenetic first half produced a combined 668 yards and 48 points (38 coming in a wild and wooly second quarter), with Ohio State taking a somewhat tenuous 28-20 lead into intermission. Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey went 26-of-49 for a career-high 322 yards and matched a career-high with three touchdowns. It is the seventh multi-touchdown game of his career and his fourth of the season. Ramsey also set a career-high with his 49 attempts.
Knight Game Highlights...During the game opening drive, Knight used his long reach to prevent rush end Chase Young from sacking Peyton Ramsey, as the quarterback located J-Shun Harris with a third-down toss for 14 yards at the OSU 19. The 7-play drive then stalled and the Hoosiers settled for a 37-yard field goal for the contest's first points.
Knight again denied Young a "chase route" to his quarterback, riding the Buckeye away from the action as Young tossed a 17-yarder to Mike Majette, setting up the passer for a 32-yard touchdown toss to tight end Peyton Hendershot on the next snap early in the second stanza.
Facing a third-& -goal situation midway through the third frame, Ramsey hit Donavan Hale with a 3-yard scoring strike at the end of that 8-play, 58-yard drive. At the snap, OSU was coming with an eight-man front. The savvy right tackle locked horns with Young, driving the defender into middle linebacker Tuf Borland to seal the right edge, giving Ramsey time to locate his target.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#2-Chase Young (6:05-267)-Recorded four tackles with a stop for a 2-yard loss, but in one-on-one battles vs. Knight during the game, he managed just two solo tackles.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with ten key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the passing game, along with one second level block for the ground game, compiling an 88% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During fourteen possessions, Indiana registered three touch-down drives and two possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 84 yards with four first downs and no touchdowns on 21 carries (4.00 ypc), completing 26-of-49 passes (53.06%) for 322 yards, fourteen first downs, three touchdowns and no interceptions, to finish with 406 yards on 70 total plays (5.80 yards per attempt).



Ohio State Game - Continued
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Ohio State recorded 43 tackles (39 solos) with three sacks for minus 11 yards, six stops for losses of 16 yards, two quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, no interceptions and eleven pass deflections.

Iowa...Hawkeyes' quarterback Nate Stanley finished with a robust 199.0 quarterback, hitting 21-of-33 passes for 320 yards and six touchdowns as Iowa defeated their hosts, 42-16, making for a very dispiriting Hoosier Homecoming. Given how dominant Iowa proved on both sides of the ball, and given how Stanley played, once the game commenced there probably wasn't much chance for IU coaching to further influence the outcome. Former Indiana (2012-15) and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nate Sudfeld served as today's honorary game captain.
Knight Game Highlights...Midway through the first quarter, Knight delivered a glancing block that defensive end A.J. Epenesa bounced off of to zero in on quarterback Peyton Ramsey, sacking him for a 9-yard loss on third-& -6.
The senior made up for that miscue in the third quarter, as he upended defensive end Anthony Nelson in the backfield. Ramsey reversed course and spotted Luke Timian with a 22-yard pass between two Hawkeyes. That 8-play, 75-yard possession ended with Knight engaging Nelson in the B-gap, moving the defender laterally out of the rush lane used by Ramsey for a 12-yard touchdown run.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#90-Anthony Nelson (6:075-271)-Recorded four tackles with an assisted stop for a loss, but in one-on-one battles vs. Knight during the game, he managed just two tackles (one solo); DE#94-A.J. Epenesa (6:05-277)-Recorded two tackles with a 9-yard sack during the game, as the sack came while Knight was his assigned blocker.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with six key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the running game while compiling an 80% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered two touchdown drives and one possession that resulted in a field goal, as they gained 67 yards with eight first downs and one touchdown on 25 carries (2.68 ypc), completing 31-of-42 passes (73.81%) for 263 yards, ten first downs, one touchdown and two interceptions, to finish with 330 yards on 67 total plays (4.93 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Iowa recorded 63 tackles (47 solos) with two sacks for minus 14 yards, six stops for losses of 26 yards, no quarterback pressures, no fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two interceptions for 19 yards in return and five pass deflections.

Penn State...Indiana played right with – and sometimes beyond – 18th-ranked Penn State, only to fall, 33-28. It certainly constituted a more competitive performance than the previous week's Homecoming loss to Iowa. The host Hoosiers out-gained PSU by a significant chunk of real estate, 554-417, and amassed 32 first downs to the Nittany Lions' 20.
However, two lost fumbles after halftime really hamstrung the home team. Their offensive line really struggled in the second half, as the Nittany Lions' defense recorded six sacks, including four by rush end Skaka Toney. Indiana never surrendered and pulled within the single-score final margin with 49 seconds left.
Knight Game Highlights...Knight teamed with right guard Simon Stepaniak on a combo block that drove the Nittany Lion front wall into a pile in the middle. Somehow, Ronnie Walker was able to follow his two blockers through the trash before seeing daylight once he reached the second level. With several linebackers in pursuit, he shifted into second gear, racing 30 yards for a touchdown that gave the Hoosiers a late first quarter 14-7 lead.
In the second half, Knight raced into the second level, taking middle linebacker Jan Johnson down on a third-& -1 keeper by Peyton Ramsey to the PSU 13. Two plays later, tailback Stevie Scott ended that 81-yard, 9-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
The fourth quarter was not so kind to Knight, as he first allowed a 9-yard sack of Ramsey by rush end Yetur Gross-Matos with 10:25 to play, followed by seeing speedy Shaka Toney race past the right tackle, resulting in Ramsey taking a 16-yard sack on an intentional grounding call.
Knight made it up to his quarterback by taking the legs out from under Toney - who had replaced an injured Gross-Matos - giving his quarterback time to locate J-Shun Harris with a 21-yard scoring strike that concluded an 85-yard, 15-play drive with 0:49 left on the game clock.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE-Yetur Gross-Matos (6:05-259)-Recorded ten tackles (six solos) with two sacks during the game, and in one-on-one battles with Knight, he posted five tackles (3 solos) that included a 9-yard sack; DE#18-Shaka Toney (6:03-241)-Recorded six solo tackles with four sacks for minus 29 yards, as Knight was charged with allowing a 16-yard sack.

POenn State Game - Continued
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with ten key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks - one each for the passing and running games, adding one second level block, but he gave up two sacks for losses of 25 yards while compiling an 82% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During sixteen possessions, Indiana registered four touchdown drives, as they gained 224 yards with thirteen first downs and three touchdowns on 45 carries (4.98 ypc), completing 35-of-55 passes (63.64%) for 330 yards, seventeen first downs, one touchdown and one interception, to finish with a season-high 554 yards on 100 total plays (5.54 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Penn State recorded 91 tackles (67 solos) with six sacks for minus 44 yards, eight stops for losses of 47 yards, one quarterback pressure, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, one interception for a one-yard return and three pass deflections.

Minnesota...Minnesota withstood a furious Indiana comeback to prevail, 38-31, despite the Hoosiers scoring 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to forge a 31-31 tie with 3:24 left. Indiana didn't score its first touchdown until 13:24 was left in the game, on a perfect 43-yard pass from Peyton Ramsey to Donavan Hale. The quarterback completed 29-of-44 passes for 232 yards and two touch-downs, as he also rushed eight times for 57 yards.
Knight Game Highlights...The Indiana offense managed just three field goals before reaching the end zone three times in the fourth quarter, as Knight had key blocks that gave the Hoosiers great field position during their first two successful three-pointers. During the game's opening series, Indiana faced a third-& -2 situation from their own 33, but Knight came off the snap, stepping laterally to engage rush end Esezi Otomewo, controlling his opponent long enough for quarterback Peyton Ramsey to break up the middle for a 15-yard first down near mid-field, setting up a 33-yard field goal by Logan Justis for the game's first points.
Later in the first frame, Knight dropped into the backfield, working his way towards the left side of the field to neutralize a bull rush by defensive tackle Gary Moore, allowing tailback Stevie Scott to bounce outside and pick up 14 yards to the Gophers' 35. On the next snap, Scott raced around his right tackle for a 22-yard pick-up, as Knight knocked down Otomewo once again to spring his Scott before Logan entered the game to kick a 24-yarder.
Knight's lone miscue for the day saw the senior get flagged for holding on a late third quarter 8-yard pass completion by Ramsey to Luke Timian.
The final quarter saw Minnesota tack on 21 points. During their first touchdown, Knight drove defensive end Winston DeLattiboudere away from his quarterback in the backfield, giving Ramsey time to fire a 33-yard touchdown on an over-the-shoulder grab by slot receiver Donavan Hale.
Later in the fourth quarter, Knight pulled along the line of scrimmage, turning inside to flatten line-backer Blake Cashman, springing Ramsey for a 29-yard keeper around the left side on a fourth-& -9 snap. With the ball placed at the Gophers' 3-yard line from Ramsey's jaunt, it was Scott's turn to gain the final three yards for the score, as Knight again redirected in-line, using a strong hand jab to drive rush end Carter Coughlin into linebacker Blake Cashman, creating a logjam for defenders trying to stop Scott before he went up the middle to conclude that 55-yard, 10-play march with 3:57 remaining in a game deadlocked at 31-31.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#46-Winston DeLattiboudere (6:03-254)-Recorded both of his solo tackles while Knight was his assigned blocker; DE#9-Esezi Otomewo (6:06-263)-Recorded one solo tackle during the game, but none when Knight was his assigned blocker.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with seven key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the passing game, adding two more key blocks on running plays that helped set up a pair of first quarter field goals. He was penalized once for holding and compiled an 88% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During fourteen possessions, Indiana registered three touch-down drives and three possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 153 yards with nine first downs and one touchdown on 30 carries (5.10 ypc), completing 29-of-44 passes (65.91%) for 232 yards, eleven first downs, two touchdowns and two interceptions, to finish with 385 yards on 74 total plays (5.20 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Minnesota recorded 62 tackles (48 solos) with one sack for minus six yards, five stops for losses of 17 yards, no quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, two interceptions for zero yards in return and five pass deflections.




Maryland...Indiana's offense effectively capitalized on the first three takeaways by their defense, turning them into seventeen big points to seal a hugely important 34-32 win over Maryland. Behind a stout offensive line, the running game was solid, but it was the downfield passing game featuring quarterback Peyton Ramsey and his trusty receivers that was revelatory. Ramsey averaged 15.2 yards per completion, a huge number. He entered the contest averaging 9.2 yards for the season.
"They were just giving us those down-the-field throws," Ramsey said. "For me, it was really just a matter of letting Ty (Fryfogle), Donavan (Hale) and Nick (Westbrook) go make plays. And they did a really good job."
Knight Game Highlights...Early in the second quarter, Knight sealed the edge, neutralizing defensive tackle Keiwan Jones' attempt to loop around into the backfield. This gave Peyton Ramsey time to fire a slant pass to Ty Fryfogle along the left sidelines for a 35-yard gain. Ywo plays later, Knight showed off his athleticism, recovering after he fell down trying to 0065ecute a reach block, only to regain balance and get into the second level, where he shoved middle linebacker Isiah Davis to spring Ramsey for a 35-yard touchdown jaunt that capped a 6-play, 90-yard series.
Knight missed a block in the backfield as defensive end Mbi Tanyi pressured the pocket. Ramsey, trying to avoid a sa ck, tossed the ball up and into the waiting arms of weak-side linebacker Trey Watson at the Maryland 45 with less than three minutes remaining in the first half.
Knight made up for that miscue during the first possession in the third quarter. Despite playing with a leg injury, Ramsey decided to run with the ball during a fourth-& -3 situation at the Maryland 48. Fast out of his stance to lead the charge, Knight hit the C-gap to knock down nickel back Antoine Brooks. With the right tackle stalking defenders in the second level, he flattened nose tackle Adam McLean as Ramsey cut back inside for an 11-yard first down. Two plays later, the quarterback hit Nick Westbrook with a 19-yard touchdown pass, ending a 9-play, 81-yard march that gave the Hoosiers a 28-15 lead.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#9-Byron Cowart (6:04-293)-Recorded three tackles (2 solos) during the game, as he served as Knight's primary blocking assignment.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with seven key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered two touchdown-resulting blocks for the passing game, adding two more key blocks on running plays that helped set up a pair of first quarter field goals. He was penalized once for holding and compiled an 88% blocking consistency grade.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During fourteen possessions, Indiana registered five touch-down drives and one possession that resulted in a field goal, as they gained 131 yards with seven first downs and two touchdowns on 30 carries (4.37 ypc), completing 16-of-28 passes (57.14%) for 243 yards, eight first downs, two touchdowns and one interception, to finish with 374 yards on 58 total plays (6.45 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Maryland recorded 55 tackles (41 solos) with four sacks for minus 21 yards, five stops for losses of 22 yards, three quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, no forced fumbles, one interception for zero yards in return and three pass deflections.

Michigan...Indiana took the lead three times vs. the Wolverines during the first half before Michigan rallied in the final quarter to go home with a 31-20 victory over the Hoosiers. Michigan's defense entered allowing foes just 219.8 yards per game, best in the nation - Indiana gained 385. Michigan had allowed just 103.8 yards rushing per game, but surrendered 190 to the Hoosiers. U-M, also the nation's leader in pass defense, averaging 116.0 yards per game, say Indiana collected 195 aerial yards vs. their secondary. The Wolverines hadn't allowed more than ten completions in five-straight games before the Hoosiers' Peyton Ramsey posted sixteen successful tosses.
Knight Game Highlights...On a third-& -7 play early in the first quarter, it appeared that Ramsey was about to be sacked by Kwity Paye, as the defensive end was holding tight to the quarterback's leg. Ramsey never touched the ground, though. Along came Knight and with one hand swipe, he "swatted" Paye off Ramsey, who then bounced back up and took off on a keeper that gained 15 yards and a first down at the Hoosiers' 43.
It also looked like Stevie Scott was about to be tackled near the goal line on a rushing attempt from the Michigan 13, but Knight raced into the second level, exploding into linebacker Josh Ross, clearing away the final obstacle for the tailback to score on a 13-yard scamper, finishing a 6-play, 80-yard late first quarter march.
Michigan defensive end Rashan Gary was jumping along the line of scrimmage during Indiana's first series in the second quarter and Knight reacted, as the officials threw the flag for a false start.
A blitz by linebacker Josh Uche was stalled by Knight's big paws in the defender's face, giving Ramsey time to locate Nick Westbrook on a slant for a 41-yard gain to the Wolverines 8-yard line. Two plays later, the quarterback connected with Ty Fryfogle for a 7-yard touchdown.
Midway through the third quarter, Knight was walked back into the pocket, as Gary and middle linebacker Devin Bush converged to sack Ramsey for an 11-yard loss.
Michigan Game - Continued
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#3-Rashan Gary (6:05-283)-Recorded nine tackles (6 solos) with 1.5 sacks for minus 11 yards, but was held to three tackles and an assisted sack while Knight served as his assigned blocker; MLB#10-Devin Bush (5:11-233)-Recorded eleven tackles (8 solos) with an assisted sack, 1.5 stops for minus eight yards, one quarterback pressure and a pass deflection, but posted just an assisted sack while Knight was blocking on the play.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with eight key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting blocks for the running game. He posted a second level block that led to that rushing score, but also allowed one sack and was penalized for a false start, compiling a 77% grade for blocking consistency.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered two touchdown drives and two possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 190 yards with ten first downs and one touchdown on 40 carries (4.75 ypc), completing 16-of-35 passes (45.71%) for 195 yards, eight first downs, one touchdown and one interception, to finish with 385 yards on 75 total plays (5.13 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Michigan recorded 67 tackles (37 solos) with two sacks for minus 17 yards, five stops for losses of 24 yards, six quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, one interception for zero yards in return and four pass deflections.

Purdue...The in-state battle saw Purdue hand the Hoosiers a 28-21 loss in the season finale for Indiana, even though their offense tallied 487 yards to the Boilermakers' 440.
Knight Game Highlights...The right tackle retreated into the backfield to stop defensive tackle Anthony Watts from getting to Peyton Ramsey as the quarterback tossed an 11-yard slant to Luke Timien at the Purdue 43 late in the first quarter.
Knight knocked down defensive end Giovanni Reviere at the line of scrimmage before moving down the ride side of the field, attacking linebacker Derrick Barnes in the second level to spring tailback Stevie Scott for an 8-yard touchdown run on a fourth-& -1 attempt at the end of a 14-play, 87-yard series to begin second quarter action.
Just before halftime, Knight was forced to the sidelines after a collision with linebacker Cornel Jones saw the right tackle fall to the ground after a helmet-to-helmet hit on a 6-yard pass play from Ramsey to Nick Westbrook.
With Ramsey hobbling on a bad leg, Knight retreated into the backfield, keeping linebacker Markus Bailey Jr. away from his quarterback until Ramsey tossed a 21-yarder to Donavan Hale at the Purdue 29. Two plays later - bad leg and all - Ramsey bolted from the pocket for a 23-yard touchdown.
Knight's Primary Blocking Assignment...DE#92-Giovanni Reviere (6:05-272)-Recorded five tackles (4 solos) with a 7-yard sack during the game, including three tackles (2 solos) while Knight was his assigned blocker.
Knight's Game Impact...The right tackle was credited with nine key blocks/knockdowns, as he delivered one touchdown-resulting block for the running game and one second level block, compiling a blocking consistency grade of 86%.
Indiana Offense Game Performance...During eleven possessions, Indiana registered two touchdown drives and two possessions that resulted in field goals, as they gained 190 yards with ten first downs and one touchdown on 40 carries (4.75 ypc), completing 16-of-35 passes (45.71%) for 195 yards, eight first downs, one touchdown and one interception, to finish with 385 yards on 75 total plays (5.13 yards per attempt).
Opponent Defensive Game Performance...Purdue recorded 71 tackles (59 solos) with two sacks for minus 10 yards, four stops for losses of 13 yards, three quarterback pressures, no fumble recoveries, no forced fumbles, one interception for zero yards in return and two pass deflections.


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