Temple University Athletics
Knighton Selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Third Round of NFL Draft
4.26.09 | Football
April 26, 2009
NEW YORK - The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Temple defensive tackle Terrance Knighton (Windsor, Conn.), a 2008 First-Team All-MAC honoree, with the eighth pick of the third round (72nd pick overall) of the 2009 National Football League Draft.
"I'm just happy it's over; it's been a long process," Knighton said from his Connecticut home on Sunday afternoon. "I'm just happy that I get to play football for the rest of my life. I'm happy and excited and ready to go to Jacksonville and do whatever the team needs me to do there."
The 6-4, 291-lb. Knighton was the recipient of Temple's defensive most valuable player honor for the second consecutive year. Temple's first First-Team All-MAC honoree, Knighton ranked No. 2 in the MAC in fumble recoveries. In the win at Ohio, he recovered his third fumble of the season with 4:43 to go, setting up TU's game-winning touchdown. One of two senior starters on defense, Knighton helped the d-line lead the MAC in red zone and third-down defense. He blocked a kick at Navy, the fourth of his career. He finished the season with 54 tackles, 7.5 TFL, and 13 ball disruptions last season. He participated in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Challenge in January.
Knighton becomes the 58th Temple University football player to be selected in the NFL Draft since 1937 and the Owls' fourth third-round Draft pick. He joins DE Ralph Jarvis (Chicago Bears, 1988), DB Anthony Young (Indianapolis Colts, 1985), and PK Don Bitterlich (Seattle Seahawks, 1976) as third round selections.
There were five former Owls on NFL rosters last season-- DL Raheem Brock (Indianapolis Colts), DT Antwon Burton (St. Louis Rams), DT Dan Klecko (Philadelphia Eagles), FB Jason McKie (Chicago Bears), and LB Rian Wallace (Washington Redskins). Wallace was the last Owl to be drafted. He was selected in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005.
Knighton is also the first Temple player to be selected by the Jaguars in the Draft.
KNIGHTON'S CAREER STATS
Year GP-S S A TT TFL Sack FF FR INT QBH PBU Blk
2005 10-1 10 7 17 3.5 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0
2006 12-11 32 25 57 6.5 3.0 2 0 0 2 4 0
2007 12-11 28 28 56 8.5 2.0 0 3 0 0 3 3
2008 12-11 35 19 54 7.5 1.0 1 3 0 1 5 1
Totals 46-34 105 79 184 26.0 6.0 4 6 0 3 12 4
