USF cornerback Ben Knox gave his coach cinematic gold and ESPN a Top 10 highlight

On a day when the USF offense produced 715 total yards, five rushing touchdowns, and 63 points, the play everyone was talking about afterward was a defensive stop made by Bulls cornerback Ben Knox.

Surely, you’ve seen it by now.

Midway through the third quarter, the Bulls were cruising, leading Tulsa 49-7, when Golden Hurricane freshman receiver Joseph Williams caught a pass and was headed toward the end zone.

Or so he thought.

Bulls cornerback Ben Knox came charging full-speed from behind as Williams neared the goal line. He punched at the ball from behind, it popped into the air, and Knox somehow caught it and rolled into the end zone.

Incredible.

ESPN thought so much of the play that it made No. 8 on the list of Top Ten highlights – quite a feat for a jam-packed Saturday of college football.

So, what did Knox think of his sudden celebrity status?

Not much, actually.

That’s because he actually messed up the coverage on the play, which is why Williams was headed for an apparent touchdown.

“I got beat. So I'm like, I was more upholding myself accountable," he said. "Never be in that position ever again, obviously, because you want your corner to make a pick or something like that. Just really beat myself up on it.”

Actually, the “beat-up,” part came later. What happened on the field was pure instinct and want-to.

“I saw the way (Williams) was holding the ball, saw where I can go get it," Knox said. "Try something, do something at least. At first I was trying to locate the ball, then obviously caught the ball. And it was just a hard thing at that point – not letting my teammates down and finding a way to make a play.”

For head coach Alex Golesh, the play was cinematic gold – something he can show for here to eternity what happens when you don’t give up on a play.

“Ben got beat on a go ball, which is not good, and then played through the very last inch of that play, which is awesome. That's the standard. So it's a really good teach clip of why you keep playing and why you play until the echo of the whistle,” he said.

“It's a really good teaching clip offensively, too, of why you secure the ball no matter what until you get through the stinking end zone. I think this is probably a play that you'll use every year in spring ball and fall camp on both sides of the ball.”

Knox said his phone blew up with text messages after the play appeared on Sports Center, particularly from his mother.

“She was hyping me up,” he said.

Knox is a graduate student but said he has a year of eligibility remaining if he chooses to use it. He said Tuesday, “I made up my mind” about what to do, but added, “I’m still talking to Coach Golesh. I’ve got family issues at home and stuff like that, but my heart is here.”