Joe McKnight Joe McKnight ( born April 16 , 1988 ) is an American football running back and cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Jets . He played college football at the University of Southern California ( USC ) . High school career . McKnight attended John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge , Louisiana , located approximately 10 miles west of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish . For his first years of high school , McKnight played defense as a cornerback ; his high school career was complicated by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina , which devastated his part of Louisiana just before his junior 2005 season . Separated from his mother who had evacuated to Baton Rouge , McKnight temporarily relocated to Shreveport where he eventually enrolled and played two games for Evangel Christian Academy , the same school which previously produced USC quarterback and future teammate John David Booty . His family was able to relocate back to River Ridge , but their home had been destroyed so they moved into a one - bedroom apartment . For the rest of the shortened 2005 season , McKnight scored 22 touchdowns ( nine rushing , five receiving , four punt returns , three interceptions , one kickoff return ) and averaged 18 yards a play in leading his team to the state championship . In 2006 , McKnight rushed for 719 yards on 45 carries , scoring 14 touchdowns , had 24 catches for 735 yards and 13 touchdowns , and with special teams play scored a total of 30 touchdowns as a senior ; he was instrumental in John Curtis Christian ' s 14 - 0 season , often used as a decoy player due to his scoring threat . McKnight is the latest and arguably the most talented of a line of running back prospects out of John Curtis Christian HS – among them Reggie Dupard , Chris Howard and Jonathan Wells . Most recruiting analysts rank him among the top 2 of the 2007 high school class ( next to quarterback Jimmy Clausen of Oaks Christian High School ) . Considered a 5 - star recruit , on January 28 , 2007 , McKnight was named co - Player of the Year by " Parade " , sharing the honor with Clausen . Rivals . com ranked McKnight the best running back prospect in the U . S . , and the 2nd best recruit overall . Analysts notice his elusiveness , impressive speed ( 4 . 3 in 40 - yard dash ) as well as his incomparable instincts and field vision but some say he is somewhat undersized , at , for the college game . McKnight has been called “ the most exciting prospect the state of Louisiana has produced since Marshall Faulk ” by recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg . USC assigned linebackers coach and former NFL All - Pro Ken Norton Jr . to handle recruitment of McKnight . LSU coach Les Miles visited McKnight on February 1 , 2007 , the last possible date before National Signing Day , in order to ensure McKnight ' s commitment to the LSU . However , on February 7 McKnight committed to the University of Southern California . At USC , McKnight was joined by second - ranked running back prospect , Marc Tyler . The backlash against McKnight ' s decision to attend college out of state manifested itself when the Curtis School ' s marching band was booed performing at a Mardi Gras parade . McKnight stated that his interest in USC came from its football tradition , notably Heisman trophies and his interest in sports broadcasting , noting the USC Annenberg School for Communication . Recruiting controversy . McKnight told reporters on National Signing Day that he spoke to former USC running back Reggie Bush before he chose Southern California over favored LSU . On February 9 , the " Los Angeles Times " reported that USC officials were investigating whether an NCAA recruiting violation occurred during the Trojans ' pursuit of the Louisiana prep star . At issue is whether McKnight listened to a phone call between head coach Pete Carroll and Reggie Bush . NCAA rules state that alumni cannot speak to players and attempt to persuade them to join their former school . Joe McKnight and his high school coach , J . T . Curtis , would both later claim that McKnight misspoke during the news conference and that McKnight has never actually met or spoken to Bush . Bush and Carroll denied that a conference call ever took place . Carroll blamed the controversy surrounding McKnight on LSU fans who were unhappy that McKnight would choose to leave the state of Louisiana and attend USC . College career . Because of his talent and versatility , the media and opposing coaches have called McKnight the " next Reggie Bush " . McKnight began college at the University of Southern California in June 2007 . He was awarded with the inaugural “ Frank Gifford Endowed Football Scholarship ” , which is given out annually by the USC athletic department to an incoming freshman running back , quarterback or wide receiver who best emulates Gifford ' s life , success and spirit . By the pre - season practice before his freshman season at USC , McKnight had already demonstrated some of the speed and moves that made him an impact player in high school . After a slow start during his freshman season , dealing with fumble - issues for the first time in his career , he made a pivotal contribution in a victory against Arizona , where he ran a punt return for 45 yards , and later ran for 59 yards to set USC up for their last 10 points in their game . McKnight achieved a break - through at the end of his freshman season during the 2008 Rose Bowl , where he had 206 all - purpose yards : 36 on three punt returns , 45 on six pass receptions and 125 in 10 carries with one touchdown . During his freshman season , McKnight painted " I need $ " under his eye black s to signify his desire to play professional football in the NFL . Before his sophomore season , McKnight was included in " Sports Illustrated " ' s spring list of top ten Heisman Trophy contenders going into the fall . However , his sophomore season was hampered early on by medical conditions , fumbles and injuries , including a nagging metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain that prevented him from playing in two games . In February 2009 , Bobby Burton of Rivals . com summed up his career by writing , " McKnight really hasn ' t lived up to the hype . He ' s good , but he just hasn ' t broken out to show he ' s the best back in his class " . In his final college football season it was reported that McKnight was granted free use of a 2006 Land Rover SUV registered to Santa Monica businessman Scott Schenter , in violation of NCAA rules . Schenter responded , claiming that the SUV actually belonged to McKnight ' s girlfriend , Johana Michelle Beltran , although McKnight has reportedly been seen driving it around town . As a result of the pending investigation , the USC compliance department would not clear McKnight to play in the 2009 Emerald Bowl . On January 8 , 2010 , McKnight declared his intention to forego his final year of eligibility , hired an agent and entered the 2010 NFL Draft . Professional career . New York Jets . 2010 . McKnight was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round ( 112th overall ) of the 2010 NFL Draft . To select McKnight , the Jets traded up twelve spots in the fourth round with the Carolina Panthers . In return , the Jets sent their fourth ( 124th overall ) and sixth ( 198th overall ) round selections to Carolina . McKnight formally signed with the Jets on June 22 , 2010 . McKnight struggled in the early stages of his professional career , vomiting during the Jets ' rookie minicamp in May 2010 . McKnight later admitted he had not been in proper condition at the time . He continued to struggle into the preseason , fumbling the football three times . Though he was not in danger of being released from the team , it was maintained that McKnight would not appear on the active roster until the coaches felt more confident in his abilities . McKnight made his NFL debut on October 3 , 2010 against the Buffalo Bills and was used in a limited capacity on offense before being utilized as an emergency cornerback and on special teams over the course of the season . In McKnight ' s first game as the starting running back , against the Bills during the Jets ' final regular season contest , McKnight ran for 158 yards on 32 carries with no fumbles and caught two passes for 15 yards . 2011 . During the Jets ' 2011 home opener against the Dallas Cowboys on September 11 , 2011 , McKnight blocked Matt McBriar ' s punt on a critical play resulting in a touchdown by fellow defender Isaiah Trufant . The Jets went on to defeat the Cowboys 27 – 24 . During the Jets ' Sunday night game against the Baltimore Ravens , on October 2 , 2011 , McKnight returned a kickoff for 107 yards , his first career touchdown . It was the longest play in Jets history . On January 16 , 2012 Mcknight was named as the Kick Returner for All - Pro team By Pro Football Weekly / Pro Football Writers Association . 2012 . McKnight announced that he had been gaining weight throughout the season and going into the 12 - 13 preseason camp he weighed 215lbs , aiming to be between 205 and 210 pounds throughout the regular season . On September 26 , 2012 , Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan announced that McKnight will play cornerback . This change is due to Darrelle Revis ’ season - ending ACL tear .