2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Aulden Knight, DB, Limestone University

• Name: Aulden Knight 
• Position: DB/WR/ST
• College: Limestone (Cincinnati transfer)
• Height: 5’11
• Weight: 180
• Twitter: @IM_BLESSED_96AK
• Instagram: cat_knight_96

What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2023 NFL Draft? 

What makes me a top prospect at my “position” in the 2023 NFL draft is I have been called a “Jack Of All Trades” by Coach Luke Fickell and by many other elite coaches and star athletes, my unique versatility on the field, my ability to play all three sides of the ball/field 💯% DB/WR/ST (punt & kick returner) my amazing ability to instantly change direction and challenge men stands out and comes second to none amongst all, my experience coaching at the college level as well as having experience coaching in the college playoffs, having 2 years of graduate assistant experience learning not just from the playing and coaching aspect of the game but also learning and acquiring wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from the business side of the game as well. Being the only athlete in the 2023 NFL Draft who has played DB/WR/ST Kick and Punt Returner my entire career, having experienced being a college coach, experience coaching in the college playoffs, and finishing up on not just one but two masters degrees sets me far apart from other draft prospects, being able to contribute in all three aspects of the game at such a high level allows me to bring extremely great value to all teams, being very useful and versatile and just being of great help where ever I am needed on the field regardless if it’s on offense, defense, or on special teams, I can bring an exceptional amount of help & great value to all teams, especially when your team is short on players. My speed is very dangerous, being clocked at 4.2 and 4.3 and I am stronger than most people at my positions, being able to bench 225 30+ reps. Being a multi sport athlete as well as a right and a left handed athlete, makes me highly stand out. Being around the game so long and playing it at such a high level under some of the best coaches to ever coach the game such as Cincinnati/Wisconsin’s Head Coach Luke Fickell, Notre Dane’s Marcus Freeman, Notre Dane’s Mike Mickens, Hampton/XFL Vegas Vipers Duane Taylor, just to name a few, as well as coaching college DB’s myself, making it to the college playoffs my very first year of coaching college football with the opportunity and experience of learning to coach underneath an elite and stellar college football coaching staff with over 39 + years of recent (2021)  NFL coaching, playing, and super bowl experience such as Ex Chicago Bears WR Coach & NFL Player, Coach Mike Furrey, Former NFL standout WR & Ex Carolina Panthers WR Coach, Jerricho Cotchery, Ex New Orleans Saints & Super Bowl Champion, Anthony Hargrove, Ex San Diego Chargers RB Jordan Todman, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins Nate Garner, just to name a few, has allowed me to gain even more football IQ, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from all angles and aspects of the game. My on & off field experience, my speed, strength, and explosiveness, my versatility, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the game and of the business aspect, as well as my college coaching and playoff experience is what widely separates me from all other 2023 nfl draft prospects.

At what age were you first interested in the sport of football?

I was first interested in the game of football basically right out of the womb, as a child, I never wanted to play with toys, I only wanted a football, a basketball, or any type of ball that had to do with sports, I wanted no toys whatsoever, I love playing all sports but football has always been my favorite sport of all times, I have been interested in football from birth until this very day, I live, eat, and sleep with a football next to me at all times, football has always been my number one and favorite sport amongst all, therefore, at just a young boy, at the young age of 5, I knew back then, that it was destined for me to have a great love for this game like no other.

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

One thing that NFL Teams should know about me is, during my final college football season, my waiver was unexpectedly denied by NCAA, as I was training & staying in shape at school, I was asked right away by the coaching staff to immediately help coach the DB’s, as my original DB Coach had just left for another school. I thanked God and Coach Furrey for the offer and coaching opportunity and I immediately accepted the offer. I gained so much  more knowledge of the game being in coaches meetings every single day, sun up to sun down, the entire season, seeing the game from an entirely different view and angle other than just from a players view has really allowed me to separate myself and to grow and to take my game to an entirely higher level, especially the fact that I have learned so much more about the game and business with such an elite and stellar coaching staff with over 39 + years of recent (2021) NFL coaching, playing, and super bowl experience, I totally understand and view the game at an extremely higher level. 

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be? 

Child guidance programs. I say this because children are our future and some children go through things you’d never imagine. Some go through mental illness, some don’t have the proper guidance on what direction to take, some get molested or go through traumatic situations at home, some don’t get to fit in at school like others, some may be less fortunate to things such as family love or food to eat and some even suffer from mental or physical disabilities. All of these things can tear someone’s character down and cause them to do things that they may regret in the future, just because they get picked on or maybe because they want to help make a way for their family or even just making a bad decision at a young age. If we have these programs to help kids before it’s too late or to help them with guidance and mentoring at an early age you’d be surprised at the changes that you can see in a kid who just wanted to be loved or show that they are important or enough.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Keep God first, always treat others the way that you would want to be treated with love and respect. Always believe in yourself and anything that you do, always have a positive attitude even when you think no one is watching or cares, always stay ready so that you don’t have to get ready! 

Who was your childhood hero? 

My mom, my brother, and Lebron James 

Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school? 

Marleek Reid strength coach, really gets the players in great shape and ready to go, working to a whole different level 

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

Smacking on food talking with your mouth full at the same time, it doesn’t show good manors 

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome? 

One thing of course is losing the lives of my family members and loved ones who were very close to me and who loved, supported, and believed in me, Second of all is the situations that I had to constantly go through at different schools, colleges, etc…facing adversity not being given a fair chance or opportunity, being discriminated against and lied to, not given the proper credit, scores, or  stats that i solely earned, deserve, and worked for so very hard on and off of the field, missing out on seasons due to these setbacks, injury, surgery, COVID & on people who have tried to hold me back, to only be denied my final season of eligibility by NCAA. These are just a few examples of overcoming adversity. However, I took all of the adversity and used it as motivation to stay positive, motivated, strong, and on top. I chose to always believe in myself and to never give up on myself. I used the adversity and setbacks that I have had and have been through to be an example and a testimony to any and everyone who is looking up and who needs encouragement.

Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?

Limestone University is a special place to me because this is the school where I was given my very first opportunity and experience to coach college football and to coach in the college playoffs after being denied my final season of college football by NCAA. This was a great experience, opportunity, and memory that I will never forget, making it to the college playoffs my very first year of coaching. This was truly a great blessing that I will never forget and will always appreciate. Limestone University is a place where people care about you, understand your situation, and look to help people no matter if it’s in sports, academics or just around the community, it’s a great place that allows you to excel and to feel at home. 

What is your favorite snack food? 

Cereal is my favorite snack food

What is the best part of football? 

Feeling the adrenaline rush of knowing every play is a risk and could be your last, it makes you appreciate it so much more and makes you feel so alive out there, building a bond with your teammates who turn into lifelong brothers as well. 

If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say? 

SAVE BIG ON DRAFT PICKS, DRAFT THE “JOAT” (JACK OF ALL TRADES) AULDEN 🏈 KNIGHT DB/WR/ST.💯

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be? 

 I’d say I’m a mixture of Champ Bailey on defense, Steve Smith senior on offense and Devin Hester on special teams, If you put them all into one person I’d compare to that. 

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why? 

 I would have dinner with my favorite athlete, Lebron James which I have done so before when I was in 5th grade as I was chosen as athlete of the year in Ohio, Lebron James is my favorite NBA player of all times since my childhood as we are both from the same small town Akron, Ohio. I would have a nice dinner and talk about sports and growing up in Akron, Ohio, I’d ask Lebron if he still has the plaque that I had given to him back when I was in 5th grade at the Thanksgiving Dinner at the University Of Akron with the Lebron James Foundation along with my autographed pee wee football and basketball cards? Lebron gave me, my mom, and my brother floor seats to any Cleveland Cavaliers game of my choice, my brother and I was able to shoot around with the Cleveland Cavaliers team before and during halftime of the game, I would first congratulate Lebron on all of his success in life and on all that he has done and is still doing not only for our community back in Akron but for many communities all over the world, I’d congratulate Lebron on all of the records that he has broken as well as set. I’d let him know that my mom, my, brother and I are his biggest fans of all times, and I’d talk about my documentary that is being written. I’d also get advice about the business side, investing, growing capital, growing businesses, and just learn as much as I possibly could in that small amount of time. My second choice would be to have dinner with Martin Luther King Jr, I would thank and appreciate him for all of his greatness and powerful work that he has done and inspired in millions of people all over this world, for all of the changes that he has made with leading a nonviolent campaign for racial justice during the Civil Rights Movement, Voting Rights Act, Nobel Peace Prize and so much more, I would thank Martin Luther King Jr tremendously, and last but not least, I would have dinner with Steve Harvey, as he is a really great comedian and we are both truly two of a kind, always making people laugh and both from Ohio, Cleveland and Akron. When ever i need a good laugh i can always find Steve Harvey on almost every channel on tv. I’d like to ask Mr Harvey on the more serious side about tv, business, as well as business and investing.