Trevor Knight's transfer proves godsend for Texas A&M Football

So much can change in just two years.

And yet so much can remain the same.

Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight would certainly attest to that.

In early October of 2014, Knight was considered a Heisman Trophy contender for the Oklahoma Sooners by some.

But then pop star Katy Perry famously told Knight to call her when she made an appearance on ESPN College Game Day in Oxford, Miss. on Oct. 4th.

Knight passed for 309 yards that day, but threw a fourth quarter interception which was returned for a touchdown in a 37-33 loss to TCU.

There began his decline – in which he would eventually lose the starting quarterback job to Baker Mayfield and arrive at Texas A&M as a graduate transfer.

Then, almost two years later – Oct. 8, 2016 – ESPN College GameDay came to College Station to feature Texas A&M against Tennessee.

Knight passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 110 yards and three touchdowns in the Aggies’ 45-38 double-overtime victory.

Just like that, some – like College Football News – suggested Knight could get in the Heisman Trophy race.

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin isn’t among them. Not yet, anyway.

But Sumlin acknowledges that Knight has been very good – probably better than the Aggies dared to have hoped – and could get better.

“Trevor Knight has been good,” Sumlin said on Tuesday. “He wants to get better. He's a guy that works extremely hard. He wants to be great. The biggest deal is how Noel (Mazzone, offensive coordinator) has gotten to know his strengths and weaknesses.

“We have two plans. We have to win and keep developing him, but we have to play to his strengths. He's not going to be here for four or five years. That relationship has grown every week. He's a winner. Stats sometimes say one thing, but the win and loss columns say a lot more. He's been as impactful as any player on this team.”

Knight has indeed made an amazing impact on the Aggies. He’s passed for 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns. He rushed for 502 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s tied for 12th in the nation in 'points responsible for' with 108.

Most importantly, though, he’s led the Aggies to a 6-0 start. A&M is one of 11 FBS teams that remain undefeated.

Knight might have proved a point about this ability. That is, if he felt like he had a point to prove.

Despite losing the starting job at OU to Mayfield, Knight never felt he had to prove himself.

“I knew I was capable of playing and playing at a high level,” Knight said after the victory over Tennessee. “When I got here my mindset was never to prove anybody wrong. It was let’s get this team ready for the 2016 season.”

Knight indicated he was ready when he ran for two touchdowns and threw for another in a season-opening win over UCLA.

He reinforced that when he passed for 247 yards and a touchdown in a 29-16 win over Auburn.

He removed all doubt by passing for 225 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-24 victory over Arkansas.

Then on Monday he was named the Walter Camp National Player of the Week for his performance against Tennessee.

As good as he was against Tennessee, Knight could have been better.

Though he excelled with the zone read, he seemed to make the incorrect reads quite often. He even acknowledged making a bad read on his 1-yard touchdown run in double overtime which proved to be the game-winner.

“It was a bad read and I just made a play on it,” Knight said. “We were running a zone read. The end stayed flat-footed. I should have handed that ball off and (running back Trayveon Williams) probably would have walked into the end zone. But I pulled it, and once that happens you make a decision and you've just got to be an athlete. Luckily, I was able to get in.”

Knight also appeared to have several opportunities to pick up big yardage had he chosen to keep the football rather than hand it off to the running backs.

Mazzone seemed to confirm there were some missed opportunities but also said he’s very satisfied with Knight’s supervision of the offense and in-game decisions.

“The zone read is hard,” Mazzone said. “On Sunday watching the film, I make the right read every time. In this offense, he's making a lot of quick decisions. If that snap takes his eyes away from where they need to be, nothing is going to be where it was. You're making a decision on some great defensive ends in this league. I never second-guess any of his decisions during the game. On Sunday, sure, but during the game, I don't want him to hesitate on his decision.”

The Aggies are glad Knight didn’t hesitate to come to A&M for what may become a special football season.

“I believe in this team,” Knight said. “I believe in our guys, and I know internally we believe in each other. When our backs are against the wall and we’re forced to make plays, we believe in the guy next to us, and it just happens.”