Trey Knox hoping to add versatility to Gamecocks' tight end room
Trey Knox saw two versions of South Carolina last season.
First was the Gamecocks team still trying to find its footing in a Week 2 loss to Knox’s then-team at Arkansas. The next was the team thrashing Tennessee and upsetting Clemson to end the regular season.
And it’s that team he committed to out of the transfer portal.
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“As the season progressed it definitely picked up and they figured out what they wanted to do on the offensive side of the ball. They started scoring points at a fast rate,” Knox said.
“I was excited to see that because. That means you’re trending in the right direction when the guys are together. They’re willing to battle and fight and that’s why I really wanted to come here.”
In addition to passing the eye test, South Carolina is home to a pair of coaches that Knox knows well.
Wide receivers coach Justin Stepp was part of the offensive progress this fall and was integral in Knox–who was a receiver in high school–committing to play at Arkansas.
Knox transitioned to tight end and played under Dowell Loggains, South Carolina’s new offensive coordinator, for a pair of seasons.
“Coach Loggs and I have a great connection, a very special relationship,” Knox said. “I’m just happy to be here and be around these great people, man, and excited to work.”
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Loggains steps into a larger role in Columbia. Knox will look to do the same by establishing himself as the starting tight end for Loggains’ first-year offense.
“I think I’ll catch a lot more balls here, I was a big blocker at Arkansas which I don’t mind,” Knox explained. “I just think I’m going to be used in an actual tight end role: catching more passes, blocking downfield, blocking on the perimeter but also getting involved in the pass game a lot.”
The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound Knox can be a matchup problem on the field. Despite tallying 892 yards and nine touchdowns for Arkansas across four seasons, believes he can provide more versatility through the air.
Knox and his offensive teammates are also focused on helping Loggains establish his style of play in Columbia this spring. The graduate transfer detailed the goals of the Gamecocks’ new-look passing attack.
“Definitely hard-nosed team, you know, a team that knows what to do and knows how to do it under pressure. Those are [Coach Loggains’] big three things right there.” Knox continued. “We’re smart enough to do it. We’re going to go really fast and try to tire out defenses and just make plays when the ball’s in the air.”
