NC State sophomore running back Zonovan Knight spoke with the media following today's practice. Here is some of what the preseason All-ACC pick had to say!
You missed all of spring camp. What’s it like to be back on the field?
It’s been an amazing feeling so far.
Missing that time kind of made me sit out and reflect on how much I do love football. So being out there with the guys and kind of going through plays, getting that experience, even if it's a mess up for me or the other guys... it’s not bashing them. It's just kind of teaching them, telling them to just kind of grow as a person, as a teammate.
Because when I was out for that long period of time, it just helped me kind of reflect on what kind of teammate I need to be.
You were feeling healthy and now back on the field. How are you feeling at this point?
I'm feeling pretty good.
I just got to get used back to the tempo and stuff since I've been out. So a little bit of conditioning, and I'll be back to normal.
I'm curious how you sort of deal with the aspect of wanting probably more touches but wanting to be a good teammate, and just dealing with sharing the load while probably wanting to be more of the number one guy.
Yeah, it's not been an issue for me.
That's something that me and Ricky, we both kind of know the situation. You look at guys in the SEC, they're getting 30, 40 carries a game. They are essentially going to be burned out by the time they get ready for the next level. Just because of the wear and tear from all the hits.
Me and Ricky, whether it'd be Jordan, Trent, or Delbert, we will essentially be fresh or, I guess you could say, have tread on our tires by the time we get ready for the next level. It’s something I kind of look at as an advantage as far as looking at the next level.
Where does the nickname “Bam” come from?
It's a childhood nickname. My uncle gave me.
My mom said when I was a child she put me in the toy center you put babies in with all the toys around and I was banging on all the toys. When my uncle walked by he said, ‘That’s all you hear, bam, bam bam.’ It stuck after that.
It actually was Bam Bam, but after time people dropped off the second Bam so it’s just been Bam.
Do you like having that as a part of your football identity?
Yes.
It was a family name at first and I started playing football in the fourth grade, and I think for them it was easier to announce than Zonovan. I think it stuck because in high school I put it in my Hudl highlights... I think it stuck and I kind of like it, but it’s all about personal preference for what you want to refer to me as.
You were able to watch Delbert a lot in the spring. What have you seen from him? And just tell us a little bit about his game. We haven't seen much from him yet.
Delbert is essentially a power back. You know, he still has a little burst to him, but in the spring I felt like that helped him grow a lot. He's a guy that kinda needed that extra work and in the protections kind of learn how to read through some difficult formations or fronts from the defense.
I think getting him some of that experience, that was great and will get him ready for the future and the season.
You played right away as a freshman. Were there some times, though, during your freshman year that you felt like if you had more time to develop, the game would slow down for you? Do you feel the benefits of it now?
Uh, no, not really. I think more so that would have to tie into my weight because I came in at 185. I played my freshman season at around 200, so I was essentially still kind of light compared to everybody else. I'm getting tackled by guys who are 250 or 270, and I just felt like I had a disadvantage.
That's why I took my weight gain to the next level and focused on that aspect. That's why I'm up to 212 now.
But you had no issues with adjusting to the speed of the game?
No. I think being from the high school I am, coming from that Wing-T offense, you kind of learn that pace. That was one thing I had to work on, slowing down the tempo at this level, just going. That was what coach Kitchings said; as soon as I came in I was too fast in everything I did... I had to kind of slow down my read keys, and after I got done with spring ball that adjustment was over for me.
It didn’t take anything. I think it was more of a natural feel for me.
Was that the first time anyone ever said you were too fast?
Yeah, pretty much. I looked at it as like, coach, ‘I'm going half-speed, what do you mean too fast?’ He wanted me to slow down and allow the blocks to develop.
Last year you told us going into the season that you wanted to really work on breaking more explosive plays, and you were able to do that last year. Is there anything this season you're really focusing on going in to your junior year?
Yeah, I think the one thing that I haven't been able to put on film as often is my pass protection. I feel like that's something that NFL scouts would kind of question me about the most. I feel like that's something I have to focus putting on film this year.
