Freshman Tailback Zonovan Knight Excited For First Game

Zonovan Knight smiled when asked about his feelings right now with the Wolfpack’s season opener against East Carolina just a couple days away.  

“I'm trying not to be nervous,” Knight stated.  “But I know when I run down that field and step on it for the first time, I'll probably be nervous. Especially since it's a sold out crowd.”

It won’t be his first time playing in Carter-Finley Stadium.  The true freshman dazzled during the 2019 Kay Yow Spring Game, rushing for 139 yards on 17 carries, including a 73-yard touchdown run.  

However, he’s expecting a completely different atmosphere on Saturday.

“[Playing in the spring game] will help [with the nerves], but obviously it’s nothing like this,” said Knight.  “It wasn’t sold out... it’s not like playing in front of 60,000 people.”

Regardless, that spring game performance put Knight on the map and he’s in a position to play a major role this year.  After receiving a ton of reps in the spring his work was scaled back in the fall with additional tailbacks available for action.

That didn’t prevent him from trying to really focus on improving his overall game.

“What I was looking to work on the most would probably be my vision,” Knight said.  “It’s different than high school because a hole can be open one second and close just like that. 

“I really had to work on my reads and vision through the holes.  With my reads, the hole could be there and close based on how it’s being blocked.  That’s something you have to catch instantly.”

What has Dave Doeren seen from Knight?

“[Zonovan Knight] is, as you guys have seen in our Spring Game, a top-end speed running back,” Doeren stated this week.  “He’s learned our offense. He needs to play a game now too. He’s not thinking as much as he was. I think for him it’s that having a little success will help him confidence-wise. You can say that for most of these freshmen.”

One of the top backs in the state, Knight played in a Wing-T offense at Southern Nash High School.  Has he had issues transitioning to NC State’s shotgun system?

“We ran shotgun sometimes,” Knight said.  “We were also more of a downhill team so we had a lot of downhill plays.  I was used to the holes, but it has been more about getting used to the tempo of the offense.”

Hailing from the eastern part of the state, Knight knows all about East Carolina and is familiar with the State-ECU rivalry.  While nervous, he’s clearly excited about his first game.

“I can’t wait,” he said, smiling.