How Brentwood Academy's Dawson Knox went from college walk-on to NFL combine invitee
Tom KreagerIt's a late afternoon in February when Dawson Knox picks up the phone in Irvine, California.
The former Brentwood Academy and Ole Miss football player has a few minutes to talk on what is a packed schedule as he preps for the NFL Scouting Combine, which begins Tuesday.
He's running, lifting weights, working on his route running and spending time on interview skills.
"It's so much fun," Knox said. "I know everything I'm doing right now is exactly what I want to be doing."
It's been a long road to get to this point for Knox.
Ironically, it began really with a season-ending injury during the first half of the first game of his senior year of high school. It took him to the SEC and then to California, where he has been training with Rep1.
From Brentwood Academy quarterback to season-ending injury
Knox played receiver early in his high school career and was a backup quarterback. But he grew into the starting role after his junior season.
He was about 5-foot-11, 165 pounds before he grew to 6-3, 210 pounds before his final year.
"He was a late bloomer as far as his height," Brentwood Academy coach Cody White said. "But his grades were spectacular."
Knox ran track and even won a dunk contest at his school. Then came the injury — a dislocated ankle during a win at Memphis University School.
Ole Miss assistant coaches were in attendance looking at other prospects. Knox wasn't on any SEC school's radar at that point.
Something about him interested the Rebels. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze called him the morning of Knox's surgery.
"It made me want to take a visit," Knox said. "He said there was a preferred walk-on spot if I wanted it."
Walking on and changing positions
Knox knew when he visited that it was the place for him. And despite not being a tight end, he became one.
Knox redshirted his first year, played in six games on special teams as a freshman in 2016 and was put on scholarship. The past two years he's played at tight end, catching 39 passes for 605 yards.
And now he's caught the eye of the NFL.
"Once I realized I could play at the SEC level and once I started a few games, I realized I could compete," Knox said. "That's when I realized I could play at the next level."
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Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.