Nevada · W 27-0
11 carries, 53 yards
The other 7 games average 90 yards. This one was 37 below.
Dashed line: 100 yards.
Knight against UCLA’s best seasons, game by game
Backs who run like Knight, and how their seasons went
Knight against this year’s top backs, game by game
The road ahead: 680 yards, 85 a game, 4 regular-season games left.
Over the last few games, UCLA fans have been high on Knight's running.
“Wayne Knight has some crazy acceleration”
“Gotta think Wayne Knight is gonna have one explosive TD run in the 2nd half 🤞”
“Bow down to Wayne Knight”
From r/CFB game threads. Read by AI.
13 stories in the last 30 days, from 7 outlets.
UCLA HC Bob Chesney breathes a sigh of relief on Wayne Knight injury scare
Yahoo Sports Oct 25
Share of the team's total this season.
Each line is one carry: taller means more yards, and a line pointing down lost yards. Black lines are touchdowns. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside each lane the carries are lined up shortest to longest, not placed. Of his carries with a spot in the play text: left 13, middle 77, right 20. His longest went for 47 yards.
Play style
Cuts upfield fast. Designed to find the crease, not run through the line.
Closer · Q4-with-lead carry share
Not actually a closer
35.2% of carries overall (108/307) → 24.2% of Q4-with-lead carries (22/91) — 100.0% of those in competitive (≤16-pt) games.
Counted from the play-by-play, so a carry or two can differ from the box score.
Short-yardage / goal-line · enumeration
Who gets the tough yard
9 of 10 on 3rd/4th-and-2-or-less (90.0%). 8 of the team's 21 inside-the-5 carries (38.1%).
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 7 outlets
UCLA HC Bob Chesney breathes a sigh of relief on Wayne Knight injury scare
Yahoo Sports Oct 25 · 1 outlet
from 18 outlets
Wayne Knight scores 3 TDs as UCLA beats San Diego State 28-10
ABC News +2 Sep 12 · 3 outlets
Yahoo SportsBob Chesney knows he's got a star in running back Wayne KnightAug 16
USA TodayThe biggest reason UCLA feels different is its smallest player. Meet Wayne KnightSep 13
Sports IllustratedUCLA's Wayne Knight Has One Major Hurdle to Establish StardomSep 15
CBS SportsWho is Wayne Knight? UCLA running back went from unranked to Westwood star as Bruins get set to face OregonOct 8
FOX SportsWayne Knight rushes for second TD, extending UCLA's lead over SDSUSep 12FOX SportsWayne Knight runs for 7-yard TD, extending UCLA's lead over PurdueSep 20FOX SportsTy Dieffenbach finds Wayne Knight for 12-yard TD, further extending UCLA's lead over NevadaOct 31
247Sports +1Wayne Knight Named to Hornung Award Watch ListAug 11247Sports +1Wayne Knight Named 2026 Doak Walker Award CandidateAug 18
UCLA BruinsWayne Knight Added to Maxwell Award Watch ListOct 28ABC News +2Wayne Knight scores 3 TDs as UCLA beats San Diego State 28-10Sep 12CBS Sports +1Wayne Knight runs for 3 scores to carry UCLA past San Diego StateSep 13Sports IllustratedBruin Breakdown: Wayne Knight Continues Dominance, UCLA Defeats PurdueSep 20
New York Post +1Wayne Knight stars early in UCLA football camp: ‘He looks unbelievable’Aug 13247SportsUCLA football VIP practice observations on offense: Aidan Mizell, Wayne Knight pop on Day 2Aug 7247SportsUCLA football VIP practice observations on offense: Quarterbacks struggle on Day 3, Wayne Knight looks greatAug 8247SportsUCLA football practice observations: Should we be talking about Wayne Knight and Jensen Somerville more?Aug 11Yahoo SportsWayne Knight calls his new quarterback Nico Iamaleava 'a blessing'Aug 9UCLA BruinsWayne Knight Interview on SportsCenterOct 21FOX SportsUCLA BruinsSports IllustratedSports IllustratedNew York Post +1ABC News +2247Sports +1247Sports +1Each week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
UCLA41 stories2026 to nowMost about: profile and feature, performance and stat line, awards and watch lists.
ABC News +2Wayne Knight scores 3 TDs as UCLA beats San Diego State 28-10Sep 12247Sports +1Wayne Knight Named to Hornung Award Watch ListAug 11Sports Illustrated +1Buy or Sell: Evaluating Wayne Knight's Hype With UCLA FootballAug 11New York Post +1Wayne Knight stars early in UCLA football camp: ‘He looks unbelievable’Aug 13247Sports +1Wayne Knight Named 2026 Doak Walker Award CandidateAug 18
James Madison5 stories2022 to 2025Most about: profile and feature, performance and stat line.
Sports Illustrated +1Why Wayne Knight Can Carry UCLA Football’s OffenseJun 19James Madison University AthleticsBeyond the Pads: Where Wayne Knight Finds MeaningDec 13
Locked OnUcla's top JMU portal targets Are available! Can Bob Chesney Grab Sahir West & Wayne Knight??Jan 7UCLA BruinsWayne KnightJul 1Sports IllustratedWhy Wayne Knight Crucial to UCLA's Offensive SuccessJul 2Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Fans first named Wayne Knight at California.
Sports IllustratedOct 26
Los Angeles TimesOct 23Aura™ · Him Watch
Aura compares how much fans talk about this player with how well this player plays, each ranked among RBs.
−12aura tax
100th percentile our rushing-value metric (weighted expected points added) ranked among 104 RBs
— the play ranks higher than the talk.Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UCLA | 110 | 680 | 6.2 | 12 | 47 |
| 2025 | James Madison | 207 | 1,373 | 6.6 | 9 | 73 |
| 2024 | James Madison | 77 | 449 | 5.8 | 2 | 59 |
| 2023 | James Madison | 4 | 23 | 5.8 | 0 | 22 |
| 2022 | James Madison | 5 | −8 | −1.6 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 403 | 2,517 | 6.2 | 23 | 73 |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UCLA | 16 | 127 | 7.9 | 2 | 22 |
| 2025 | James Madison | 40 | 397 | 9.9 | 1 | 57 |
| 2024 | James Madison | 15 | 138 | 9.2 | 2 | 23 |
| 2023 | James Madison | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2022 | James Madison | 5 | 63 | 12.6 | 0 | 32 |
| Career | 77 | 736 | 9.6 | 5 | 57 |
Last game (Wk 9): 53 rushing yards, 2 catches.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 8 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-24@ California | 8 | 71 | 8.9 | 3 | 31 | 3 rushing TDs |
| Wk 2 | W 28-10vs San Diego State | 13 | 97 | 7.5 | 3 | 36 | 3 rushing TDs |
| Wk 3 | W 52-38vs Purdue | 18 | 177 | 9.8 | 2 | 47 | Season-high 177 yds |
| Wk 4 | W 54-3@ Maryland | 10 | 100 | 10.0 | 1 | 45 | |
| Wk 6 | W 17-15@ No. 13 Oregon | 22 | 103 | 4.7 | 1 | 35 | |
| Wk 7 | W 17-7vs Wisconsin | 13 | 23 | 1.8 | 1 | 5 | |
| Wk 8 | W 28-10vs Michigan State | 15 | 56 | 3.7 | 1 | 9 | |
| Wk 9 | W 27-0vs Nevada | 11 | 53 | 4.8 | 0 | 15 | |
| Total | 110 | 680 | 6.2 | 12 | 47 |
Oct. 31 · W 27-0 vs Nevada, play by play
11 carries for 53 yards.
The per-play feed is missing a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter (the play drew a penalty), which the play text shows; the chart draws the 10 carries it has.
No gain on 3rd and 3. First quarter, tied 0-0.
15-yard run on 3rd and 1. Third quarter, up 17-0. Converted.
15 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown.
5-yard run on 3rd and 2. First quarter, tied 0-0. Converted.
5-yard run on 3rd and 3. Second quarter, down 7-0. Converted.
1-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 1. Second quarter, made it 14-7.
9-yard run. Third quarter, up 14-7.
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
13 carries for 23 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 3 passes for 6 yards.
5-yard catch on 3rd and 5. Second quarter, up 3-0. Converted.
Incomplete on 4th and 4. Third quarter, up 10-7. Turnover on downs. Broken up by Wisconsin’s M. Jung.
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
22 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, with UCLA ahead by one score, he carried 6 times for 27 yards. He also caught 3 passes for 12 yards.
4-yard run on 3rd and 2. First quarter, tied 0-0. Converted.
6-yard run on 3rd and 11. Second quarter, down 6-3.
35-yard touchdown run. Second quarter, made it 10-6. Fans named him again and again right after: the most-talked-about moment of his game.
“Bow down to Wayne Knight”UCLA fan, r/CFB game thread
9-yard touchdown on 3rd and 3. Fourth quarter, made it 17-6. Fans named him again and again right after.
“Wayne Knight. That is all”James Madison fan, r/CFB game thread
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
10 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 3 passes for 35 yards.
The per-play feed is missing a 45-yard run in the second quarter (the play drew a penalty), which the play text shows; the chart draws the 9 carries it has.
33-yard run. Second quarter, up 7-0.
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
A big game: 18 carries for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns, his most this season. 5 of his 18 carries went 10 yards or more; the longest went 47. He also caught 3 passes for 23 yards.
7-yard touchdown run. Third quarter, made it 38-28. Fans named him again and again right after.
“Rushing TDs: UCLA Football 2024 - 4 UCLA Football 2025 - 8 Wayne Knight in 2.7 games - 8”UCLA fan, r/CFB game thread
4-yard run on 3rd and 1. Third quarter, up 38-31. Converted.
47-yard run. Fourth quarter, up 45-38.
21-yard run. Fourth quarter, up 45-38. Fans named him again and again right after: the most-talked-about moment of his game.
“Wayne knight first round pick”UCLA fan, r/CFB game thread
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
A big game: 13 carries for 97 yards and 3 touchdowns.
36-yard touchdown run. Fourth quarter, made it 28-10.
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
A big game: 8 carries for 71 yards and 3 touchdowns.
22-yard catch on 3rd and 2. First quarter, down 7-0. Converted.
8-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 2. Second quarter, made it 21-10.
31-yard touchdown run. Fourth quarter, made it 31-24. Fans named him again and again right after: the most-talked-about moment of his game.
“Gotta say “Hello Newman” whenever Wayne Knight scores”Tennessee fan, r/CFB game thread
4-yard touchdown run. Fourth quarter, made it 38-24. Fans named him again and again right after.
“Wayne Knight is HIM”UCLA fan, r/CFB game thread
Each carry is a stem from the line, in the lane the play text names, sorted shortest to longest. The play text only says left, middle or right, so inside a lane marks are sorted, not placed.
Week 6 · 2026
W 17-15
at Oregon
103 rush yds (22 car) · 1 TD · 3 rec · 12 yds · 1 TD
A close one, won by 2 on the road.
With C. Gerrand — 41.3 yards per punt · 6 punts · 2 inside the 20 · M. Bhaghani — 45.5 yards per punt · 2 punts · 1 inside the 20
The plays that mattered most
33rd in rushing yards, among all 1,551 FBS players with a rushing row this season, any position
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from -9 to +17 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Rush profile · Shape, efficiency, and ball security
How he gets his yards, and how often it works
Success rate
55%108 carriesFumble rate
0.9%1 of 110 carriesStuffed
0 or fewer ydsGrind
1–3 ydsChunk
4–9 ydsExplosive
10+ yds6.2 yds/carry on 110 carries · 12% explosive (10+ yds) · 55% success rate.
Receiver profile · Targets, catch rate, and throw depth
How often he's targeted, and how well it works
Targets
1910% of team targetsCatch rate
84%16 of 19 targetsBehind LOS · Negative air yds
Short · 0–9 air yds
Middle · 10–19 air yds
84% catch rate on 19 targets · 10% of the team's targets.
Situational · Carry shape (PBP, full season)
Yardage DNA
Stuffed (≤0)
Grind (1–3)
Chunk (4–9)
Explosive (10+)
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 8 games
Home vs Road
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home5g | 81.2 | 5.5 | 1.4 |
| Road3g | 91.3 | 7.9 | 1.7 |
First half vs Second half
| YDS/g | YPC | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-76g | 95.2 | 7.1 | 1.8 |
| Weeks 8+2g | 54.5 | 4.2 | 0.5 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bob Chesney
Pass share
40.8%
218 pass / 316 run
Plays / game
66.8
8 games
Team sack rate
4.6%
241 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Player standing · 2025
First team in his league at the position.
Our Heisman model · 2026 · week 10
Weeks outside our model's top 25 sit on the baseline.
#16 in our model as of week 10, the highest yet this season.
2026 is in progress.
Recruited without a star rating, and honored since.
The role got bigger.
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-SUN BELT · 1ST TEAM
All-Sun Belt 1st team (2025)
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Curt Cignetti and Bob Chesney.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to UCLA
