After completing the 2015 season with the Seymour football team, senior safety Chris Knight had options.
Receiving offers from NAIA, NCAA Division II and III colleges, Knight looked for the school with the best educational and athletics fit.
Knight chose Franklin College about a month ago, but Monday he made it official as he signed his letter of intent.
“I’m very blessed,” Knight said. “Not many people get to play in college. The football guys (at Franklin) will bring me under their wing. I’m looking forward to the memories the most. I think that college will be a lot faster and have a lot bigger guys.”
Knight, The Tribune’s 2015 Player of the Year, had 112 tackles (73 solo, 39 assists), five interceptions, eight passes defended and three fumble recoveries at safety.
The senior also acted as the Owls’ long-snapper.
Knight is the first player that has signed collegiately under coach Josh Shattuck, who is entering his fourth season with Seymour.
“Chris’ three years in our program was a microcosm for our program as a whole,” Shattuck said. “When he first started as a sophomore, he was undersized and lacked a lot of the skills necessary to be a varsity football player at a 4A school. His hard work and dedication to the weight room helped give him a better chance to be successful physically.”
The Grizzlies are an NCAA Division III school.
Last season, the Grizzlies finished 8-3 on the season, including 8-0 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
The Grizzlies are coached by Mike Leonard, while Gil Speer heads the defensive backs and Mel Mills serves as the defensive coordinator.
Knight liked the campus and coaching staff at Franklin.
“Everyone was nice, and it was a beautiful campus,” Knight said. “The coaches were the best I could ask for. I went there for a game one time, and the coaches were running a little kids program. I saw them giving back, and it was really awesome.”
Knight plans on playing the same positions at Franklin as he did at Seymour.
Shattuck said that Knight has a lot of intangibles that will serve Franklin well.
“(Knight) was always extremely coachable and was a good leader for us, particularly on the defensive side of the ball,” he said.
Knight said he plans on studying education with the hopes of becoming a teacher.