Knight ready for action after heart murmur

TUSCALOOSA | It wasn’t until after the University of Alabama football team returned home from the devastating double-overtime loss at Arkansas last September that Ezekiel Knight knew something was wrong.

He felt dizzy, light-headed, experienced some numbness in his arms, and his speech was a little slurred. Knight was fine during the game earlier that day, taking 10 snaps and assisting on a tackle, and had never experienced anything like the episode before.

So he called teammate Darren Mustin and they headed for the hospital. At the time, his thoughts dwelled on the disappointment of probably having to miss some football, especially during the heart of the season. But then the doctors couldn’t tell him what was wrong.

One of the initial tests showed a small spot on his brain. They ran more tests and offered various theories over time. Eventually the wide-ranging guesses even included high cholesterol.

“I would say it was about four or five months before they knew what was wrong with me,” Knight said Wednesday afternoon. “That was a long time.”

Finally, long after the Crimson Tide’s 2006 season had ended and Nick Saban had replaced Mike Shula, the winning diagnosis was made, a heart murmur — common among young children, only Knight’s didn’t close up.

He had corrective surgery in February. No longer having to try and block out thoughts that his career, or life, could be jeopardy, Knight was back on the practice field with teammates in April, learning how to play strong-side linebacker.

“When you get hurt, that’s the last thing you want to think about,” Knight said.

“I never told myself that, but at one point of time they didn’t know what was wrong for me. … I just thought positively.

“It was very hard. Stressful and everything.”

“I’m really proud of Zeke,” senior Keith Saunders said.

Suddenly, playing his third position in three years doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, although it probably never was to Knight to begin with.

After a stellar high school career at Randolph County, Knight began his career as a wide receiver despite being bigger than many defensive linemen.

In 2004 and 2005, he had 21 receptions for 223 yards and a touchdown against Utah State his sophomore year.

After moving to defensive end, Knight was in for 74 snaps last year, including special teams, before his junior season was sidetracked. He was credited with four tackles, including one for a loss, and a forced fumble against Hawaii.

With Saban installing a new 3-4 defense, and preferring to have tall, fast linebackers, ends Knight and Saunders were relocated (although Saunders’ position is the hybrid linebacker/end position called “Jack”). Occasionally dropping back into pass coverage is one of the many adjustments they’ve had to make.

Knight, listed as 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, responded by winning the “Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award” this spring.

“I get to hit people now, that’s the difference,” Knight said. “It’s just natural because I played linebacker in high school. It just carried over. I was getting recruited at linebacker and wide receiver, it was just my choice on which one I wanted to play.”

Knight was credited with 147 tackles and two sacks as an outside linebacker at Randolph, and his senior year he scored on a 31-yard touchdown run and had a 77-yard punt return in the Class 2A title game against Luverne.

And that was with the heart murmur.

Now he finally gets to see how good he can be while healthy, with the new defense having his entire focus.

“Just learning the new system has been the biggest challenge for everyone on defense,” Knight said. “If we knew the plays, we’d play faster, but I think we’re doing a good job right now.

“A couple of years ago I was covering the routes. Now I’m actually covering them. I’m kind of familiar with what the receivers are running when they line up, so that helps me a little bit.”

Actually, there is one other significant item regarding Knight: the NCAA granted him a medical redshirt for last season, giving him an extra year of eligibility. Technically, he’s a junior again.

“I feel great,” he said, adding that he could feel the difference almost immediately after surgery.

“I was like ready to go in three days,” Knight said.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196