Trevor Knight’s walks across Oklahoma’s campus are no longer shrouded in anonymity. That went out the window after his MVP performance in leading the Sooners to an upset win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. “Walking through campus, people notice me a bit more,” the redshirt junior told the Sentinel in a recent interview. Knight and the Sooners look to parlay the Sugar Bowl experience into the upcoming college football season. NCAA Tournament Bracket: Fill in your teams and print your bracket Q: Is there something you’re looking to improve on this offseason? Trevor Knight: “Improving on being a leader and stepping into that role a little bit more. Being the guy – week in and week out – this next year. I’m also working on the little things. I think I have a good grasp of what we’re trying to do, but I want to work on the little details whether it’s footwork or arm placement or reads, coverages … just recognizing things quicker. …” Q: How have things changed for you after the Sugar Bowl? TK: “A little bit more recognition. Walking through campus, people notice me a bit more. It’s been fun. To see people and have them tell you good job and all that good stuff … I think the coolest thing is having the opportunity to speak places. … I love sharing my faith and my testimony and giving a little bit of encouragement to younger kids. It’s been a lot of fun.” Q: It’s just one game, but was there a moment in the game where things just clicked? TK: “I thought we had a great plan. Coming in and playing real fast and get them on their heels early. I felt like we executed the plan really well. It’s a testament to our coaches and the way we worked down in New Orleans prior. I was just a great plan and we executed it perfectly.” Q: What can you carry over from that game into 2014? TK: “The morale before that game … that chip on our shoulder, that presence in the locker room … everybody just knew it was time to go. They were fighting to keep us in the tunnel before the game so it’s that getting up to play every game. Whether it’s the first game of the year or the fifth game of the year or the last game of the year, you’ve got to be consistent week in and week out.” Q: You mentioned developing your leadership skills. How have you been doing that this offseason? TK: “We had success last year, but you can’t ride on that. You have to go in and be the same guy every single day. I feel like I’ve done that and I come in and try to be the hardest worker there is. I try and conduct myself in a manner in which those guys can look up to and the way it’s supposed to be done. I lead a lot by example and just try to get those guys to follow me. I feel like we’ve had a great offseason and the guys have been working really hard just to carry that momentum over and I’m excited about our group.” Q: As a Big 12 player, did you get tired of hearing about the SEC’s success? TK: “We play in a great league. You can’t knock the SEC though with the way they’ve played football there. But I feel like the Big 12 can play with the best of them as well. Whether the media puts the Big 12 or the SEC at the top, it really doesn’t matter to us much. We’re going to be us every single day. We know what we’re capable of, but hats off to them and the way they play football.” Q: Is there someone you idolize growing up? TK: “I’ve always been a big Peyton Manning fan. The reason I say that is just the way he prepares. He’s huge on the details. You can tell. And the way he leads by example. … Watching the way he’s played over the years, it’s been an inspiration to me.” Q: What sort of things do you do for fun? TK: “I enjoy going fishing. I enjoy playing ping pong. Hanging out with my brother and with my friends. … I love going to watch other sports and supporting those guys. I was a four-sport athlete in high school so I miss some of those sports that I don’t play anymore. Q: What sport do you miss the most? TK: “I’ve always joked around that I’m going to walk-on the basketball and baseball team when I’m done here. Just because I miss it so much. I grew up playing baseball and basketball every weekend and really enjoyed it, but football was the way everything worked out. You gotta love basketball and baseball as well.” For college football news, head over to our blog at OrlandoSentinel/collegegridiron or you add him on Google-Plus and email him at mmurschel@orlandosentinel. Follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 01:35:11 +0000
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