Pop quiz.
Who is the nation’s leading rusher?
Michigan’s Chris Perry? No.
Syracuse’s Walter Reyes? No again.
Boston College’s Derrick Knight? We have a winner…
In just five games this season, Derrick Knight has rushed for 728 yards, which places him atop both Perry (687) and Reyes (681). In four out of the five BC contests, Knight topped 100 yards, including 175 yards last Saturday against Ball State. He has three rushing touchdowns on the season and a long of 42 yards.
Following Saturday’s game, Tom O’Brien had this to say about his star tailback:
“He’s done it against everybody. 175-yard day more seems like his norm than the exception. Another great effort by him. Everybody knows that we are gonna hand him the ball and they’ve got everybody up there trying to stop him. He’s a great aide to the whole offense. That’s a great comfort zone knowing you give him the ball and he gets his way.”
However, despite his sustained dominance of some good football teams and his obvious importance to the success of the Eagles, Derrick Knight fails to receive the regional or national recognition and respect that he deserves.
Despite more rushing yards, Knight remains behind Virginia Tech’s Kevin Jones and Miami’s Frank Gore in most Big East running back discussions. And don’t even get me started about Heisman watch lists.
The most recent ESPN.com "expert" poll on Heisman candidates features six running backs, none with the initials "DK" or the school "BC." In order, they are current ESPN Heisman favorite Jones, Arkansas’ Cedric Cobbs, Perry, Northern Illinois’ Michael Turner, Reyes, and Gore. Yes, that’s three Big East tailbacks and three others who all have fewer rushing yards than Knight who find themselves amongst ESPN.com’s top 15 Heisman hopefuls.
Since any experts who might have read this article most likely have already forgotten the subject-matter, I will restate the main point: Derrick Knight is the leading rusher in the nation. Repeat after me: Derrick Knight has rushed for the most yards of any running back in college football thus far this season.
There will be another pop quiz tomorrow.