Former Brentwood Academy standout Knox taken by Buffalo in NFL Draft

Former Brentwood Academy standout Dawson Knox is the first Williamson County-area football player taken in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Knox was selected as the 96th pick overall in the third round by the Buffalo Bills. Th 6-foot-4, 254-pound tight end out of Ole Miss. Draft gurus have noted Knox’s potential as a blocker, plus his blend of size, length and speed.

“Time to get to work,” Knox tweeted after his selection. He said this weekend was a “lifelong dream” becoming a reality before the draft.

Buffalo made a trade with Washington to move back into the third round and select Knox, the eighth tight end taken in the draft. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein said Knox could be the next Kyle Rudolph.

At Brentwood Academy, Knox was a dual-threat quarterback as a senior, but dislocated his ankle in the season-opener. Knox played for one half as the Eagles starting quarterback as a senior in high school during a 31-14 season-opening win against Memphis University in 2014. He completed 9-of-17 passes for 120 yards and touchdown, while rushing for a 40 yards and hauling in an 18-yard catch in the first half. 

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He made the switch to a tight end prospect and turned down offers from the likes of Air Force, Cornell and others to walk-on at Ole Miss.

Knox sprouted four inches and gained more than 30 pounds between his junior and senior years in high school. That growth continued as a redshirt freshman at Ole Miss. In 2015, he packed on 40 more pounds on his lengthy frame.

Last season, Knox collected 15 catches for 284 yards – with an impressive 18.9 yards per catch. The overall numbers might not jump off the page, but it should be noted that Knox played with fellow draft selections AJ Brown and DJ Metcalf – two wide receivers selected before him.

He closed his career at Ole Miss with 39 catches for 605 yards.

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Knox joins fellow Brentwood Academy alums Derek Barnett of the Philadelphia Eagles and Jalen Ramsey of Jacksonville in the NFL.

Area players hopeful to be selected on the final day of the draft Saturday include former Centennial teammates Emanuel Hall of Missouri and Tyrel Dodson of Texas A&M. Other Missouri standouts, former Christ Presbyterian Academy lineman Paul Adams and former Franklin kicker Corey Fatony, are also awaiting selections.