LOOK: Lane Kiffin pens touching message to former Ole Miss player Luke Knox after his passing
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin says he woke up thinking of former Rebel Luke Knox this morning, following the 22-year-old’s sudden death this week. He took to Twitter at 6 a.m. to share another message for the former linebacker, this time addressing Luke directly.
“Was hoping today would be easier than yesterday, but it didn’t start that way,” Kiffin shared. “First thing I saw was visions of you Luke when I woke up. Miss you, but know for sure you are in a better place. You touched more souls than you may realize and will live on in them. Love and miss u.”
The Rebels head coach shared the post with a graphic that reads, “How can the dead be truly dead when they still live in the souls of those who are left behind?”
Kiffin coached Knox for two seasons before he ultimately opted to transfer to FIU for his fifth season this March. Luke is the younger brother of Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox, who was a second-round draft pick out of Ole Miss.
Knox played a total of 23 games during the past four years for the Rebels before opting to transfer in March. His best season came in 2019 at linebacker when he racked up 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery. In 2021, he had 11 tackles, two TFLs, a fumble recovery and one pass defended. Coming out of Brentwood Academy (Tenn.), he was a three-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, according to the On3 Consensus.
Coaches mourn loss of FIU Panther Luke Knox
FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre posted his condolences following the announcement of Knox’s passing on Thursday morning.
“Words cannot express the heartfelt sorrow we feel because of the passing of our teammate and friend, Luke Knox,” MacIntyre wrote. “I had the honor of coaching Luke at Ole Miss and at FIU. While I admired his passion for football, his genuine love for his family and teammates is what I will always remember.
“He had a special way of making everyone around him feel comfortable and confident. Luke’s family is special to me, and they will continually be in my heart and in my prayers during this difficult time. On behalf of the entire FIU football family, I extend sincere condolences to Luke’s family and all who love him.”
The Panthers staff informed the team of Knox’s death on Wednesday night and canceled practice on Thursday.