Life can change quickly for young football players aspiring to make it to D-1 programs. At the beginning of 2019, 2021 defensive back Kevin Knowles (McArthur, Hollywood, FL) started with just two offers from FIU and UAB. After competing in the Football Hotbed National Showcase back in January, Knowles now currently holds 17 scholarship offers including several from power five schools including recently from the national champion Clemson Tigers.
“I prayed for times like this,” said Knowles. “This is just a time where God is blessing me.”
Knowles was introduced to the #HotbedWorld when his head coach Pierre Senatus recommended him to play in the National Showcase All-American Game in Atlanta on Martin Luther King weekend. Teammates Jaylen Taylor (2020), Jerrold Pough (2020) and Isaiah Finnie (2021) were also in the ATL for MLK for the All-American game as well as Knowles’s cousin Jah-mal Williams currently at Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale).
“It was a great experience for me to play with other players and get coached by the Hotbed coaches. They’ve helped me not just playing football but also becoming a man.”
Like many young budding football players in Florida, Knowles has been working on his craft through various camps. He performed well at the Opening regional at the Miami Dolphins training camp and traveled with his school to camps at Alabama, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Clemson. Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables personally offered the young man based on his football instincts and ability.
“He came to McArthur and watched us practice and he let me know then that I was a great football player. Then after going to his camp this month, he let me know that he thought I was a versatile player that can help Clemson.”
Growing up in South Florida many of his peers considered him to be a small corner at 5’10” and 156 pounds. Knowles is currently not rated with any stars by the major recruiting sites and feels that star ratings are overrated.
Click here for Kevin Knowles Hudl Tape
“As I started going to these camps I realized that these star ratings don’t necessarily mean much,” said Knowles. “I went up against many five-star receivers that I don’t believe deserve as many stars as they have.”
Georgia he will admit is his dream school as he attended their camp last year and visited their campus along the way on the All-American Hotbed College Tour in six months ago.
OFFER: Congratulations to Kevin Knowles, 2021 DB at McArthur High School (Hollywood, FL) that received a verbal offer from #Clemson today. #gotigers🐅 #hotbedworld #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/HYjmnt9mLe
— Football Hotbed (@FootballHotbed) June 5, 2019
“It feels like home,” Knowles said of Georgia. “Just like Clemson, I like the intensity from the coaches.”
Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Wake Forest are the other notable schools to offer the young Mustang. Wake Forest and defensive backs coach Lyle Hemphill was one of the first schools to recognize his talent and Knowles truly feels he earned that offer from the Demon Deacons. Knowles is hoping to get an offer from the Miami Hurricanes with the opportunity to stay close to home.
“If Miami offers me they would definitely be in my top ten.”
Knowles will be visiting Maryland and UCF this summer along with his teammates and is looking to be a leader of the Mustang secondary. Knowles is part of a stacked young defensive backfield for McArthur that includes 2022 safeties Marquis Almon and Alfonzo Allen.
Knowles currently has a 3.2 GPA and will be looking to work towards the dentistry industry in college. Knowles plans to commit during his senior year and will be weighing his options as other offers may arise.
“I want to prove that size really doesn’t matter. I was always told I was too small but I play big.”
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