Romeo McKnight
Defensive End / Illinois State

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Romeo McKnight:  6’5, 265 and I don’t have a forty.    

Alex Khvatov:  How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Romeo McKnight:  I have been working out in my garage and backyard.  I work out two or three times a day.  I have been doing it in the morning and evening.  I have been putting on some weight.  I got up to 260 pounds before the season, and they lost 10 or 15 pounds during the season.  I finished the season at 245.  Now I am at 265 pounds.  I felt light at the end of last season.   

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Romeo McKnight:  I wrestled.  I won the state title in Iowa.  He was an All-American in Greco-Roman wrestling.   

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Romeo McKnight:  I played LB and RB.  I only put in my hand in the ground in college at Iowa. 

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Romeo McKnight:  I had no offers going into the summer of my senior year.  I went to a Nike camp as a pass rusher.  I got my first offer.  It happened so fast.  At a Nike camp, I competed and beat some five-stars.  I committed before the season.  Toledo was the first offer.  Then I got Iowa and Illinois.      

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Iowa? 

Romeo McKnight:  It was my only visit.  I liked the campus, the recruits that made my teammates, the people, and the coaching staff.  They had a great strength and conditioning program.  I knew that my development was huge.

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your career at Iowa. 

Romeo McKnight:  The week before my senior year of high school, I tore my ACL.  Iowa didn’t pull their offer.  I was coming back from the ACL when I got there.  Then when I got back, I tore my PCL.  I was trying to push through it, but I had to get surgery.  I had to go through rehab again.  I wanted a chance to play right away when I got back, but nothing was guaranteed.  I wanted to get more out of my college experience and play.  At Iowa, I had to wait a couple of more years to start.     

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you transfer to Illinois State? 

Romeo McKnight:  They were the only school to show interest.  They didn’t ask for my tape.  Coach Spack called me right away.  He showed real interest in me.  It was close to home, and my family can come and watch me play.       

Alex Khvatov:  How would you describe your overall career with the Redbirds?      

Romeo McKnight:  We went 6-5 during my first year.  We went 10-5 this past year.  We changed the culture the past couple of years.  I got to play in big games against Colorado State.  I recorded my first couple of sacks against them, and we upset them.  It was a great experience.  I have a great relationship with the coaches. 

Alex Khvatov:  Your team advanced to the FCS quarterfinal game against North Dakota State this past year.  Tell us about that stingy defensive performance.      

Romeo McKnight:  We have a lot of history.  We played them during the regular season, and we didn’t have a good defensive game.  I left a lot of opportunities.  When we saw the seeding for the playoffs, we went there and competed.  There was a questionable call.  We didn’t allow a TD.  It was a defensive battle.  It is too bad we lost.     

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Romeo McKnight:  I am a versatile pass rusher.  I am a high-motor guy.  I play with effort and have good hands.  I am quick.    

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Romeo McKnight:  Getting bigger, faster, and stronger.  I am nowhere near my ceiling.  I need to work on my pass rush and keeping my pad level down.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Romeo McKnight:  The Colorado State game.  It was a special game.  I had two sacks, and we won the game.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Romeo McKnight:  Competing every day.  Coaches preach that to us.  We all got here at the same time with my positional coach and defensive coordinator. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Romeo McKnight:  I became a Bears fan around 2006.  Now I am a fan of players.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Romeo McKnight:  I watch so many guys at my position.  Aaron Donald and Chandler Jones are my favorites. 

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Romeo McKnight:  CB Devin Taylor, true freshman CB Charles Woods, LB Shanon Reid who is a transfer from Tennessee, LB Brandon Simon, QB Brady Davis and RB Jeff Proctor.  WR Andrew Edgar had over 200 yards against Northern Arizona.  OG Gabe Megginson is a transfer from Illinois.  OT Drew Himmelman is the best OL that I play against on every single play in practice and he has made me better.  S Christian Uphoff is another player.      

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Romeo McKnight:  LT Dillon Radunz from NDSU.  They run a good program.  They do combo blocks well.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a DL?

Romeo McKnight:  Effort.  It will help you make a lot of plays. 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Romeo McKnight:  Competitive nature of the game.  I have the passion for this game. 

Alex Khvatov:  How proud are you of the individual accolades that you received over the past two years?

Romeo McKnight:  I guess that I am doing something right.  I need to keep getting better.  I am nowhere near my ceiling.  There is so much room for improvement.

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from Illinois State this upcoming season? 

Romeo McKnight:  You always looking to win the National Championship every year.  It is the mindset that you need to have.  We should have the best defense in the country this year.   

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Romeo McKnight:  I have friends all over the country.  We play madden, 2K and call of duty.  I am pretty good at video games.  I also like to listen to music.    

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Romeo McKnight:  I just have one more class in the fall.  My major is in university studies, emphasis on politics and sociology.  I want to make some smart investments and get into real estate.  I want to start a business.      

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Romeo McKnight:  Competitive, persistent, effort, adaptable, and tough.