In Zonovan Knight’s first NFL game in Week 12 against the Bears, he made Jets history. Knight had 69 yards on 14 carries (4.9 yards per carry) and had 3 receptions for 34 yards, giving him 103 yards from scrimmage, setting a new Jets record for yards from scrimmage in an NFL debut.
In his 2nd NFL game last week, Knight had 15 carries for 90 yards (6 yards per carry) and 5 receptions for 28 yards, giving him 118 all-purpose yards in the Jets’ Week 13 loss to the Vikings, making history once again.
Knight joined Phillip Lindsay as the 2nd undrafted player in the common-draft era to garner 100+ yards from scrimmage in their first two career games.
The only undrafted players in common-draft era with 100+ scrimmage yards in each of their first two career games
Over the past two weeks, Bam ranks 2nd in broken tackles, and his PFF grade of 83.1 ranks 4th out of all NFL RB’s, and his receiving grade of 77.0 ranks 1st.
#Jets RB Zonovan Knight ranks second in the NFL in broken tackles over the last two weeks.
His 83.1 PFF grade ranks 4th among RBs since Week 12 and his 77.0 receiving grade ranks first.
Dude’s been one of the best RBs in the NFL over the last two weeks.
Bam went undrafted earlier this year, but then signed an undrafted free agent deal with New York. He initially made the Jets 53-man roster, but then was waived a few days later to make space for an Offensive Lineman. Two days later, the Jets signed Knight to their Practice Squad, and that’s where he was until he was called up to the 53-man roster on October 25th.
It was a crime that Knight wasn’t drafted earlier this year, and he’s proving all the naysayers wrong.
Oh yeah, Knight took the opportunity this week to explain why he has had the nickname “Bam” since he was a child, for all of you that have been wondering all these years.
#Jets rookie RB Zonovan Knight explains how he got the nickname “Bam” as a child – and how it stuck: pic.twitter.com/yjtNhGgHq8
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was ecstatic that NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson was available for Pittsburgh to pick up with the 98th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“We had to get comfortable with his medical and we brought him in on a pre draft visit. We allowed our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort. And so from that perspective, man, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)
“Man, we’re really excited about Peyton. When we turn his tape on, we see him making all the type of plays you need linebackers to make. He’s a volume tackle player. He makes plays in the passing game from a coverage perspective via interception and pass breakup. He gets after the quarterback in the blitz game. He’s got a very well-rounded skillset. He’s a fluid mover. He can run. Had an opportunity to lay some real up close eyes on him down there in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, we’re thankful we had an opportunity to get him. He’s got all the hardware that comes with some of those things that I described being a Butkus Award winner and so forth. We had to get comfortable with his medical and we brought him in on a pre draft visit. We allowed Our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort. And so from that perspective, man, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)
“I think you could characterize it as surprised. I mean, he is an award-winning linebacker, Butkus Award winner. Had an opportunity to get really familiar with him down in Mobile as well. But the linebackers themselves weren’t coming off the board at that juncture. So sometimes they make runs on positions at different times and it hadn’t been a lot of linebackers to that point. I think what he was number five or so.” (Link)
“We’re really excited about Payton. When we turn his tape on, we see him making all the types of plays you need linebackers to make. He’s a volume tackle player. He makes plays in the passing game from a coverage perspective via interception and pass breakup. He gets after the quarterback in the blitz game. He’s got a very well-rounded skill set. He’s a fluid mover. We had to get comfortable with his medical, and we were. We brought him in on a pre-draft visit to allow our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort, and so from that perspective, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)
NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.
NC State’s Shyheim Battle has been invited to rookie mini camp with the Jets with the opportunity to earn a priority free agent contract. #ncstate#NFLDraft#wpn
Battle had 1 year of eligibility remaining, but declared for the NFL Draft on January 3rd.
He finished this past year as the most experienced player on the Wolfpack’s defense, starting in 41 of the 51 games he has played in dating back to 2019. In a rarity in this day-and-age, Battle was a 4-year starter at the Cornerback position for NC State. He graduated with a degree in Communications.
In his final season in Red and White, Battle had 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery. His PFF Grade of 70.6 was the 7th best on the Wolfpack defense.
In his one season in Raleigh, Narveson made 18 of his 23 Field Goal attempts for the Wolfpack, and made all 38 Extra Point attempts. Narveson made some history in his one season at NC State, kicking a 57-yard Field Goal against Duke, breaking the school record for the longest Field Goal.
Narveson ranked 4th in the ACC in Field Goals attempted (23), and 5th in Field Goals made (18) this season. He ranked 9th in conference in scoring (7.1 points per game).