2019 Football Roster
Jersey Number 10
James Knight
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-10 / 200
- Position:
- DB
- Hometown:
- East St. Louis, Ill.
- High School:
- East St. Louis
Career Highs
Tackles: 6 vs. South Florida, 9/15/18
Solos: 6 vs. South Florida, 9/15/18
QB Hurries: 1, twice (last vs. Wisconsin, 10/28/17)
Fumbles Forced: 1 vs. South Florida, 9/15/18
2019 Junior
- Missed the season after suffering a knee injury during 2019 Spring Ball
2018 Sophomore
- Played seven games with one start
- Started against South Florida 9/15/18
- 12 tackles and one forced fumble on season
- First career forced fumble and career-high six tackles against South Florida 9/15/18
2017 Freshman
- Played in all 12 games with one start at linebacker
- Three tackles, one quarterback hurry on the season
- Played primarily on special teams
- Made his Illinois debut in the opener vs. Ball State
- First career start in the eighth game of the season against Wisconsin
- Ejected for targeting against Wisconsin
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports
- Ranked No. 102 safety in the nation by 247Sports
- Ranked No. 41 recruit in Illinois by Scout and No. 46 by 247Sports
- Played at East St. Louis for head coach Darren Sunkett
- Lettered three years in football
- Three-time all-conference selection
- Led East St. Louis to 2016 IHSA 7A state championship and an undefeated season
- 2016 STL Post-Dispatch All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year
- 144 tackles, five sacks, three TFLs and one INT in 2016
- Led East St. Louis’ defense to hold opponents to 10 points per game in 2016
- Junior season cut short by teachers’ strike after five games
- Played at East St. Louis with fellow Illini Stanley Green
- Former Illini Terry Hawthorne was an assistant coach for his high school team
Personal
- Born Sept. 25, 1998
- Son of Kenneth and Rachelle Knight
- Has two brothers, Kenny Knight Jr. and Jemar Stennis
- Brother, Kenny Knight Jr., plays football at Ball State
- Picked Illinois because of, “we will win!”
- Listed Floyd Mayweather as his favorite athlete because of his hard work and dedication
- Majoring in sociology
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
