McKnight played for USC from 2007-09, leading the team in punt return yards his freshman season and in rushing yards in his final season. He ranks 15th all-time on USC's career rushing yards list. McKnight's 206 all-purpose yards and a TD were key in USC's 49-17 win over Illinois in the 2008 Rose Bowl, as were his 105 all-purpose yards in USC's 18-15 come-from-behind victory over Ohio State in Matt Barkley's first career start in 2009.
The Kenner, LA native was drafted in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He played for New York from 2010-12, then for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014. After his NFL career ended, he moved on to the CFL, where he played for the Edmonton Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders this season.
According to local police, McKnight was shot at about 3 p.m. yesterday at an intersection in Terrytown, LA. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
Upon the news of his death, McKnight and his family received an outpouring of love from Trojans including Justin Davis, Matt Barkley, Cody Kessler, Robert Woods, Brian Cushing, Malcolm Smith, Frostee Rucker, Pete Carroll and many more.
Fight On Forever, Joe McKnight.
