Ben Knox’s experience with USF football has been anything but smooth.
Charlie Strong was the first Bulls’ coach Knox committed to when he was a senior at DeLand High School, but Strong was fired before ever having a chance to coach the talented cornerback.
The Daytona News-Journal reported that Knox’s phone began to explode with calls from other schools trying to coax him to reopen his recruitment. After meeting with then-coach Jeff Scott on his official visit, Knox went home satisfied that USF was the place for him.
We all know what happened with the Jeff Scott era, but Knox stayed the course after another coaching change. He finally worked his way into a starting position at the start of camp last summer under new coach Alex Golesh, and things were looking good – until they weren’t.
Knox suffered a season-ending knee injury in camp and was red-shirted while enduring the torturous process of rehabiliation.
Now, this determined young man is back, healthy, and ready to roll.
His USF teammates spoke highly of their respect for his quiet leadership, and Golesh underscored that by choosing Knox to join quarterback Byrum Brown as the Bulls’ player representatives at the recent American Athletic Conference media days.
“...he represents the Bulls and everything we stand for as a program,” Golesh tweeted.
"The energy and the passion he brings is unmatched ... he represents the Bulls and everything we stand for as a program."@CoachGolesh and our team are excited to get @PresiKnox back on the field this season!#AACKickoff | #ComeToTheBay pic.twitter.com/miIl5OiH7I
— USF Football (@USFFootball) July 23, 2024
For Knox, that means leading by example and getting to really know and support his teammates.
“I'm more invested in locker room moments … knowing their dreams, aspirations, knowing how I can influence and help them as well and try to reach their goals,” he said.
“So you get happy for each other. We're in my own family, so they're like coming to me.”
A healthy and productive Knox would definitely be a plus as USF tries to rebuild its defense from the battering it took a year ago.
Knox was one of three Bulls chosen to the East-West Shrine Bowl watch list, along with receiver Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen and cornerback Aamaris Brown. That’s getting ahead of things, though.
“Right now, I'm just focusing on the process, focusing on day-to-day. Right now, it's fall practice,” he said.
“So going in there I’m working on what I can do to get better, working on how I can help as my teammates get better, as well as just bringing energy and juice.”
And staying healthy?
"Yes sir," he said.