Friday Night Focus: Boogie Knight can put moves on Longhorn defenders
According to Bovada, the point spread for Saturday’s game between Texas and Louisiana-Monroe currently has the Longhorns as a 37.5-point favorite over the Warhawks.
[Get FOUR MONTHS of Inside Texas Plus for $1!]
Unlike last year’s season-opening opponent for the Longhorns, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, this Warhawk team is not as talented, nor are the expectations as high for a program entering year two under Terry Bowden.
That said, there are good college football players to be found on all 131 FBS rosters, including ULM’s. The biggest threat to add points to the Warhawks’ total this Saturday? Wide receiver Boogie Knight.
Yes, Boogie Knight.
“Really good player,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “You can tell he’s a veteran football player. He’s played a lot.”
Boogie, whose actual first name is Jeremiah, transferred from Akron to ULM ahead of the 2021 season. Knight’s freshman year with the Zips was Bowden’s final as Akron head coach. After three years of MAC football where he totaled 43 catches for 584 yards, he transferred to the Sun Belt program.
His production last year alone exceeded that of his Akron career. He caught 45 passes for 588 yards and three touchdowns and factored into the Warhawk return game. Prior to this season, his fifth in college football, Knight was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt second team.
There aren’t a ton of pieces around him, but ULM quarterback Chandler Rogers will look to get him the ball often. Same with Bowden and Warhawk offensive coordinator Matt Kubik.
“He’s a really good route runner,” Sarkisian said. “He’s extremely competitive. Playmaking ability. Clearly they lean on him. He’s a go-to, feature guy for them, and the guy that we’re going to have to definitely be aware of.”
Knight could move all over the field, but his 5-foot-10, 188-pound frame likely puts him in the slot. Jahdae Barron, Jaylon Guilbeau, and even the Longhorn linebackers will have to match the moves Boogie Knight tries to put on them Saturday night, or else Knight could be dancing down the field, and potentially in the end zone.
