Game log · Week-by-week
2024 season · 2 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 29-24@ Nevada | 4 | 8 | 2.0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Wk 2 | L 15-18vs BYU | 8 | 35 | 4.4 | 0 | 17 | Season-high 35 yds |
| Total | 12 | 43 | 3.6 | 0 | 17 |
Jaylan Knighton
Jaylan Knighton is a running back who has not played this season; the last season with a stat line was 2024, at SMU.
Knighton does a little of everything without one standout trait. Played for four head coaches at two programs in five seasons: Manny Diaz, Jess Simpson, Mario Cristobal and Rhett Lashlee. That makes two seasons with an honor, the latest All-AAC in 2023. A game that shows it: 35 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards against BYU — Week 2, 2024.
Style of play
Style of play
Play style
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
Similar players
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
Where to follow
Career stats
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Game log
Signature plays
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Nevada · 3rd and 17 · Q2 · EPA +3.14Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jaylan Knighton for 18 yds to the NEV 21 for a
- Week 2 · BYU · 3rd and 3 · Q2 · EPA +1.37Jaylan Knighton run for 7 yds to the BYU 36 for a
- Week 2 · BYU · 3rd and 2 · Q1 · EPA −0.93Jaylan Knighton run for 1 yd to the BYU 43
- Week 2 · BYU · 1st and 10 · Q1 · EPA +0.84Kevin Jennings pass complete to Jaylan Knighton for 11 yds to the SMU 33 for a
- Week 2 · BYU · 1st and 10 · Q2 · EPA +0.53Jaylan Knighton run for 17 yds to the BYU 23 for a
- Week 1 · Nevada · 1st and 20 · Q1 · EPA −0.51Jaylan Knighton run for no gain to the SMU 35
4 more plays
- Week 2 · BYU · 1st and 10 · Q3 · EPA −0.51Jaylan Knighton run for 2 yds to the SMU 30
- Week 1 · Nevada · 1st and 10 · Q3 · EPA −0.45Jaylan Knighton run for 2 yds to the NEV 38
- Week 1 · Nevada · 1st and 10 · Q4 · EPA −0.42Jaylan Knighton run for 3 yds to the SMU 40
- Week 1 · Nevada · 3rd and 19 · Q4 · EPA +0.25Preston Stone pass complete to Jaylan Knighton for 8 yds to the SMU 49
Teams and coaches
2020Miami8-3HC: Manny Diaz · Balanced, fast tempo
2021Miami7-5HC: Manny Diaz · Balanced
2022Miami5-7HC: Mario Cristobal · Balanced
2023SMU11-3HC: Rhett Lashlee · Run-leaning
2024SMU11-3HC: Rhett Lashlee · Run-leaning
Our ratings
Splits
Home and road splits, scheme and staff
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 21.5 YDS/g, 3.2 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Rhett Lashlee
Pass share
45.3%
436 pass / 527 run
Plays / game
68.8
14 games
Team sack rate
4.0%
455 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Awards
Player standing · 2024
12 carries and 4 catches in 2 games
Fewer touches a game than most FBS running backs who play every week.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Six seasons, three schools
- 2025 West Virginia RodriguezYear 6 · on the roster, no stat line
- Apr 2025 Entered the transfer portalSMU to West Virginia
- 2024 SMU LashleeYear 5 · 2 games
- 2023 SMU LashleeYear 4 · 12 gamesAll-conference
- Dec 2022 Entered the transfer portalMiami to SMU
- 2022 Miami CristobalYear 3 · 10 games
- 2021 Miami DiazYear 2 · 8 games
- 2020 Miami DiazYear 1 · 9 games
- High school Deerfield BeachDeerfield Beach, FL · Class of 2020Four-star, No. 106 in the 2020 class. Signed with Miami.Also from Deerfield Beach: Jaziun Patterson (Michigan State), Alton Tarber (Colorado State), Kervins Choute (Virginia) and 2 more.
Moves
- Transferred from Miami to SMU, Dec 7, 2022.
- Transferred from SMU to West Virginia, Apr 28, 2025.
A blue-chip recruit with honors.
2020 9 games
- Signed with MiamiFour-star, out of Deerfield Beach
2023 12 games
- Transferred to SMUfrom Miami
- All-AACsecond
2025
- Transferred to West Virginiafrom SMU
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-AAC · 2ND TEAM
All-AAC 2nd team (2023)
Weekly recognition
2 weekly honors (2021)
ACC Rookie Player of the Week, ACC Running Back Player of the Week
Coaching lineage · 2020–2025
4 coaches2020–2021
Miami
Played for 4 head coaches at 3 schools: Manny Diaz, Mario Cristobal, Rhett Lashlee and Rich Rodriguez.