2008 BYU Hall of Fame

Unlike most boys, playing in the NFL was not a dream Shawn Knight had when he was a kid. He wanted to go to Wimbledon. Fortunately, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound high school freshman decided to put the tennis racket away after five years of practice - but not much success - and learned how to play football. He always knew he would be great at something; he just picked the wrong sport at first.

Knight's high school experience with football had little to do with strategy and a lot to do with size. He played defensive line, where all he had to do was "chase the ball and knock down the guy who had it." His teammates would even tell him when to come off the field. Even so, he achieved was All-League and All-State as a junior and started thinking about college.

BYU was very honest with him when he was recruited; they wanted him for his speed and intensity, not his football knowledge. Knight gained a new kind of training when he arrived in Provo and was later part of the 1984 team that won the national championship. As a junior, he was second on the team with 11.5 quarterback hurries and 2.5 sacks.

When he began his senior year, he had the training to go along with his speed. He led the team with 16 sacks and was second on the team with eight quarterback hurries. He was voted to the All-America Third Team by The Associated Press, received All-America honorable mention by United Press International, and was a member of the All-Western Athletic Conference First Team. He also was a participant in the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game.

He didn't consider going into the NFL until his senior season was almost over. By the time he realized the possibility of playing professional football, it was a certainty. He was the 11th pick of the first round of the NFL Draft where he became the newest member of the New Orleans Saints. His first year playing professional football landed Knight on the 1987 NFL All-Rookie Team. He also played for the Denver Broncos, St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings.

Knight also later played for the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football, where he was named to the 1991 All-World Team of the WLAF.

After his football days slowed, Knight got his master's degree and began a physical therapy practice. Eventually he worked into medical sales. He has four children.

• Saw a lot of action as a backup
• Was defensive lineman in the week vs. New Mexico
• Was in on the fourth-down tackle late in the game vs. Missouri in the Holiday Bowl VII

• Was scheduled to start but broke a bone in his foot on the last play of a pre-season scrimmage
• Returned to the lineup for the Colorado State game
• Was defensive lineman of the game vs. New Mexico

• Broke his arm in a freak accident only weeks before the season started
• Played sparingly during the Kickoff Classic
• Started the remaining games
• Was second on the team with 11.5 quarterback hurries and 2.5 sacks
• Deflected three passes and had 2.5 fumble recoveries
• Named defensive lineman of the week vs. Temple, Colorado State, Utah State and Air Force

• All-America Third Team by The Associated Press
• All-America honorable mention by United Press International
• All-Western Athletic Conference First Team
• Participant in the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game
• Led the team with 16 sacks and was second on the team with eight quarterback hurries

• Took advantage of the NCAA freshman redshirt rule