Storm Warning: McKnight Looks to Fulfill Considerable Promise @HopkinsCentral, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @KyHighFootball, @_CoachManning

’27 LB had the season we predicted

Some predictions age better than others. This past May, in 2024, we predicted that McKnight would have a break out season. Here is the article, tell me we didn’t make that exact prediction! Well he really came through big time both for this magazine and for his team. It should only get brighter from here.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Morton’s Gap, KY: We are kind of in the prediction game. We predict which young players will mature into great older players.

We miss sometimes. We don’t miss much. Ask anyone.

Last year (as a freshman), we made a bold prediction about Isaac McKnight, a ’27 OLB. McKnight had played in three (3) varsity games in his freshman campaign.

McKnight registered 7-tackles, a tackle for loss (TFL), and a QB-sack. We noted the “rarity” for a freshman, on limited playing time (PT), to pick up specialty stats like TFLs and QB-sacks.

Of course, McKnight wasn’t just any freshman. McKnight was an uncommonly good freshman. This made the prediction all the more likely.

Based on what we studied on film, we predicted back in May that the Storm’s defense would need McKnight to step-up in ’24 and lead from the front. This was not a roll required of him in ’23. McKnight answered that call.

McKnight logged 52-tackles in ’24. McKnight registered a TFL and 2.5-QB sacks. McKnight even slipped in a fumble recovery.

Now if there appears to be a smile traipsing around the mouth area of head football coach, Chris Manning, there should be. The Storm performed well in ’24, made the playoffs, and acquitted itself rather nicely for a team which sustained the talent loss to graduation endured in the Spring of ’23.

There will be lots of young talent returning to the roster in ’25. Sylas Gunn, Isaac Earl, Jeremiah Groves, just to name a few, will be seniors next year.

McKnight, Mattox Allen, Glennis McKnight, and a host of other ’27s return for their junior years. Getting a reliable placekicker back in Blaze Whitaker (’27) will, likewise, prove fortuitous.

We will make another prediction, since we are in that game anyway. Look for the Storm to take a big step forward in its district in ’25. We can’t wait, we’re sure you can’t either.

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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