MISSOULA — The Montana Grizzlies needed some more help at running back. Marcus Knight wanted to prove himself at the Division I level. Now a transfer decision made months ago could be mutually beneficial this fall.
Knight is making an impact in the Grizzlies' backfield. The former junior college standout burst onto the scene in spring drills. Now the sophomore from California is step for step with incumbent Adam Eastwood in a battle for the starting job.
Many athletes who pick the junior college route do so to improve their academic standing. Knight needed no help there.
"Came out of high school, didn't have the offers I wanted," said Knight. "So I made the decision to go to junior college for a semester, hoping to get out as soon as possible, because I know what I can do. I know when I get the ball I can be a dominant player. I'm just very confident in myself. And I knew that if I got the opportunity I could make the most out of it."
He ran for more than 900 yards and eight touchdowns in a season at Citrus College, while he bet on himself to land somewhere bigger.
"He's a junior college running back with a 4.0 GPA. He's kind of a Sasquatch or a yeti or something. He's a mythical creature, first of all," said head coach Bobby Hauck. "He's just an awesome, awesome guy to bring into the program. And he's done a nice job."
Knight said the Grizzlies own the best offensive line he's ever run behind by far. Look for him to get his share of carries when Montana kicks off at South Dakota on Aug. 31.
