by Justin Melo
Interviews
Tyrice Knight Draft Networking Interview: Making Immediate Impact
UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight may possess the most upside of any linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft. Knight is a rare athlete who’s going to light the NFL Scouting Combine on fire. Knight also produced 140 tackles, 15 for loss, and 4.5 sacks this season.
Knight recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his journey that took him through the JUCO ranks, his breakout campaign, his experience at the Senior Bowl, and so much more.
JM: You began your career in the JUCO ranks, playing at Independence Community College. How did the JUCO grind help shape you?
Tyrice Knight: JUCO really helped shape me. It’s nothing like D-I. You have to go through a lot of trials and tribulations just to get outta there. It made me stronger. It got me ready for all of the challenges that would arise at the D-I level. I was prepared when I got there.
Your schedule is very congested. You have to balance school work with football. I was ready for it. You have way more resources at your disposal. JUCO will get you ready for anything.
JM: You’ve come a long way. What an incredible season you had, posting a career-best 140 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, and three fumbles. What do you think led to the uptick in production?
Tyrice Knight: The game has slowed down a bunch for me these past two years. I really took a big step forward this past season. I had a great summer in the weight room and on the practice field going into the season. That played a big role in my overall success.
I also spent a lot of time watching film my coaching staff. I developed great pre-snap instincts as a result. I was always a step ahead of my opponent. Everything tied together top to bottom leading to a great season.
JM: You measured in at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds at the Senior Bowl. You look the part. How do you use size and strength to your advantage?
Tyrice Knight: I think my best attribute is my long arms (32.5 inches verified). I try to use length to the best of my ability. Length gives me a unique advantage. It helps me keep the blockers from reaching my body. I can create space between the blocker and me to make tackles. I’m a sideline-to-sideline defender. I use that range to the best of my ability.
I also feel like people underestimate my speed. They try to run past me or outrun me, but you can’t really do that. Speed is a big aspect of my game as well. I think it was my best attribute this past season, and at the Senior Bowl as well.
Speed and length are at the forefront of my skill set.
JM: We love your length and speed on tape. What do you think you proved to NFL GMs and scouts at the Senior Bowl?
Tyrice Knight: Playing at UTEP, I think scouts had questions about the overall level of competition. I proved I could handle the big dogs from bigger conferences. I think that was the question surrounding me even though this past season, in my opinion, I played my best games outside my conference against Northwestern and UNLV.
I showcased more of the same at the Senior Bowl against prospects from the best schools. Even though I’m from UTEP, that’s not a problem for me. I definitely held my own in the run game and the pass game. That entire week in Mobile helped me out a lot.
JM: You probably met with every team in attendance. Which of those meetings stood out to you? Who were some of the teams you had a great vibe with?
Tyrice Knight: I felt like I had a great vibe with everyone. It all felt like family to me. A team that really stood out to me during the interview process was the New York Giants. I had two meetings with them. We broke down some UTEP film together. We went through the coaches' tape and talked about executing my assignments.
We went through my gap responsibilities. I jotted down some of our coverages. We broke it all down. I went through our defense from this past season and explained what our rules were. I felt like that meeting went great. That experience really stood out to me.
JM: That sounds like an awesome session. You trigger downhill violently on tape. You trust your eyes. How did you develop that aspect of your game?
Tyrice Knight: If you watch it on film, you’ll see how quickly I get downhill. It’s really about my pre-snap recognition. Those plays are made because I watch a lot of film. I try to zero in on the offensive line and their tendencies. Do they flow one way or the other? I take good angles from guard to guard. I keep everything in front of me and get into the backfield.
I trust my instincts. Nine times out of 10, your instincts will lead you to the right place. You have to trust your gut. I try to beat the O-lineman to the ball-carrier.
JM: Talk to me about playing man and zone coverage. Today’s linebacker has to defend the pass.
Tyrice Knight: I feel like I’m a good asset in man and zone coverage, especially in zone. But I’m starting to feel like I can really show more of my abilities in man coverage. I’m a very physical guy with long arms. That makes me a great fit for man coverage. I’m very fast and I have good acceleration. I can match up with running backs coming out of the backfield.
I can also cover tight ends and slot receivers. I love playing zone coverage, but man-to-man might be my bread and butter.
JM: I’ve heard that you may run the 40 in the high 4.4s to low 4.5s. That could place you in the 90th percentile or greater among all off-ball linebackers. Are you going to blow the lid off Indianapolis?
Tyrice Knight: I might (laughs). I prefer that people aren’t expecting much from me. I can just go out there and do my thing. I know what I can do. I want to drop some jaws and open some eyes.
I saw somebody say I was going to run a 4.7 or a 4.8. That’s crazy to me. I don’t have any documented 40 times on any websites out there. I damn sure know my film doesn’t show a 4.8 athlete either (laughs). I don’t know where that came from.
I’ll probably run something between 4.49 and 4.57. I think my time will end up in that range.
JM: You’re definitely not a 4.7 guy. I’ve appreciated your time today. What kind of impact is Tyrice Knight going to make for the team that drafts him?
Tyrice Knight: Whatever team takes a chance on me is getting a guy that’s going to make an immediate impact, both on defense and special teams. I’m the type of guy that treats every practice like a game. I’m a team-first guy that practices hard. I’m a great teammate in the locker room. I love those good vibes.
By the end of my rookie season, my team is going to be very happy that they drafted me. I’m going to make an immediate impact from day one.