Nick Saban has done some impressive things on the recruiting trail at the University of Alabama.
He has flipped athletes from rival schools, offered international players, and could have Dre Kirkpatrick’s son playing for him in a few years.
However, those aspects pale in comparison to the Crimson Tide nearly having an Olympian.
Erriyon Knighton was offered a scholarship to Alabama for the 2022 class. As a native of Tampa, Fla., he was a very talented football and track star at Hillsborough High School. Knighton played quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and safety. In studying his highlight tape, he possessed the ball skills, speed, hands, tackling abilities, football intelligence, and explosiveness to play on offense or defense.
The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder would have been a receiver, cornerback, or safety for the Tide.
His skillset would have fit perfectly at Alabama, and Saban would continue his success in recruiting the state of Florida. Knighton recognized his calling was in the 100 and 200 meters during his freshman year in 2019.
He ran the second-fastest time in the 200 meters for an under -18 athlete in world history, clocking a time of 20.23 seconds in the final at the 2020 USA Track and Field Junior Olympics.
When he saw his potential, Knighton decided to forgo his final two years of high school and turn professional.
He signed a sponsorship in January with Adidas at 16 and has not looked back. He broke the 10-second barrier over 100 meters at the PURE Athletics Sprint Elite Meet on May 2 in Clermont, Fla. Knighton posted a time of 9.9 seconds in the event, but he did something bigger on May 31.
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The 17-year-old set the world under-18 best for the boys’ 200-meter race, clocking in at 20.11 seconds.
Last week, Knighton recorded a time of 20.04 seconds in the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He would then run a time of 19.88 seconds in the semifinals, beating the under-20 record held by the legendary Usain Bolt. Knighton also beat Noah Lyles, a 23-year-old world champion, in the event. Lyles won the World Athletics Championship in 2019 for the 200 meters.
A young man with this kind of acceleration once considered Alabama football as an option.
After seeing what Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle did, one could imagine the records Knighton would have set if he would have continued football.
He holds the world under-18 and under-20 records in the 200 meters.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
