Trey Knox, TE Arkansas: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Knox was a four-star wide receiver recruit from Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn. in the class of 2019
Arkansas tight end Trey Knox hauled in three receptions for 30 yards in yesterday’s win against the Missouri State Bears. Knox is a true senior and a converted wide receiver who is quickly learning the fundamentals of playing tight end. Here’s his 2023 NFL Draft profile.
Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more updates and previews of the 2023 NFL Draft Guide.
Trey Knox, TE Arkansas: 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Senior tight end from Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Background: Knox was a four-star wide receiver recruit from Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 228 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 128 for Rivals, and No. 231 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 271st in the nation with an 81 grade out of 100. Knox picked Arkansas over offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Penn State. As a high school senior, he produced 35 receptions for 558 yards and four touchdowns plus 34 carries for 301 yards and four touchdowns in ten games. Knox also played defense, totaling 19 tackles, including five tackles for loss and three sacks. As a high school junior, he caught 52 passes for 667 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games. As a sophomore, Knox totaled 54 receptions for 669 yards and ten touchdowns in 13 games. He was born on Aug. 14, 2001 and has two siblings.
2021 Production: 12 games, 20 receptions, 141 yards, 1 touchdown
2020 Production: 10 games, 7 receptions, 70 yards
2019 Production: 11 games, 28 receptions, 385 yards, 3 touchdowns
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed one game in 2019 with a hip injury that nagged him for the rest of the season, missed one game in 2021, suffered an ankle injury early in the 2022 season
Awards: 2020 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll, 2021 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
Pros: Highpoints the football, finishes catches through contact, uses his large frame to box out defensive backs, extends for natural hands catches outside of his frame, background as a wide receiver leads to advanced knowledge on releases and routes, boxes out defenders for the ball, long arms for extended catch radius, release hasn’t slowed despite adding at least 30 lbs., best as a blocker when he can motion into the action, much better blocking linemen than linebackers because they’re slower and offer larger targets, has the power to move defenders as a blocker, put several defenders in the dirt against Cincinnati (2022), strong enough to control defensive backs as a blocker, offers alignment versatility, well-proportioned frame with room to add muscle
Cons: Lacks the speed to stack defenders, only 34 targets combined between 2020 and 2021, not a natural separator, lacks the athletic traits to shake sticky defensive backs, high-cut player with long legs, only significant special teams experience before 2022 was on the punt return unit, angles to block players at the second level are inconsistent, out-leveraged at the point of attack, slow getting into his blocks on screens and swing passes, holding call against Cincinnati (2022), hands get too wide and allow defenders into his pads, not many broken tackles for a player his size, slow to react and maintain angles as a blocker, slow feet in pass pro
Overview: Knox is unofficially listed at 6'5", 245 lbs. He began transitioning from wide receiver to tight end during the 2021 season. This year will be his first full campaign at his new position. Knox has a well-proportioned frame with room to add more muscle. His experience as a wide receiver and expanding usage by Arkansas makes him fairly alignment versatile as he’ll play out wide, in-line, in the slot, or in the backfield. He lacks the speed to stack defenders vertically and struggles to separate. Fortunately, he’s excellent at high pointing the football and rising to make natural hand catches outside his frame. These contested catches allow Knox to survive despite his lack of dynamic athleticism. He’s a significant red zone threat because of his size and how he uses it. Knox knows when to box out defenders for the football and uses his long arms to extend his catch radius. Surprisingly, Knox doesn’t break many tackles at his size. It’s important to note that Knox is still developing a natural feel for blocking and refining his fundamentals as an in-line tight end. That said, he’s struggled with the role early in the 2022 season. Knox allowed a sack against Cincinnati (2022) and also drew a holding call that erased a good-sized run. His hands get too wide, which allows defenders into his pads. Knox displays little natural bend, which causes the 6'5" converted wide receiver to lose the leverage battle. The senior is high-cut with long legs, which only adds to his leverage issues. He’s slow to react and adjust to angles in pass pro and struggles to take proper angles to second-level targets when blocking on runs plays. Knox is slow setting up for blocks on screens and swing passes, which allows defenders to jump the route for tackles for loss. Most of his successful blocks come against bigger, slower linemen. Knox has the strength to contain or drive back the defender when he successfully lands blocks on linebackers or defensive backs. He put several defensive linemen in the dirt against Cincinnati.
Overall, Knox’s background as a wide receiver and experience playing in different offensive alignments make him an intriguing practice squad candidate, but he lacks technical development as a tight end (especially as a blocker).
Role & Scheme Fit: Developmental tight end who spends a lot of time in the slot
Round Projection: UDFA
Player Comparison: N/A
Submitted: 09-16-22