Terrance Knighton

Terrance Knighton coached Nebraska's defensive line for two seasons in 2023 and 2024. He spent four consecutive seasons on Matt Rhule's staff after previously serving two seasons on Rhule’s Carolina Panthers staff.

 

In his six years as a coach, Knighton served as both a collegiate and NFL assistant, spending two seasons at Wagner before joining the Panthers. He coached the defensive line for the sixth straight season in 2024. Knighton was a standout defensive lineman at Temple and went on to be a third-round NFL Draft pick. He played in more than 100 games during his seven-year professional career. Knighton tallied 231 tackles from 2009 to 2015, ranking in the top 15 of all NFL defensive tackles during that time frame.

 

Knighton has a personal understanding of what it takes to succeed at the collegiate and professional levels at one of the sport’s most demanding positions. He is able to use his first-hand experience to teach and develop, and Knighton’s coaching ability is enhanced by his relatability to his players since he is less than a decade removed from his playing career. He made a major impact on Nebraska’s defensive line in his first season in 2023, when three defensive linemen earned All-Big Ten accolades while helping Nebraska post its top statistical defensive season since joining the Big Ten in 2011.

 

NEBRASKA (2023-24)
Knighton’s defensive line was a strength for a vastly improved Blackshirt defense in 2023. The play of his line helped Nebraska rank eighth nationally in rushing defense. The Huskers allowed only 92.9 rushing yards per game, their lowest total since the 1999 season. NU held eight of its 12 opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards. Knighton’s defensive line also helped Nebraska rank third in the Big Ten with 32 sacks, the program’s highest total in 10 seasons. Knighton’s group was key in Nebraska posting its top defense in the Big Ten era, as the Huskers allowed their fewest yards per game (303.5) since 2009 and fewest points per game (18.3) since 2010.

 

Nebraska’s defensive linemen combined for more than 150 tackles, as Knighton developed great depth on the line. All 13 defensive linemen who recorded a tackle in 2023 set career highs in tackles, a testament to Knighton’s development ability. Three of his defensive linemen earned All-Big Ten honors - Nash Hutmacher, Ty Robinson and Jimari Butler - with each player earning the first recognition of his career. Hutmacher had 40 tackles, 8.0 TFLs and 4.5 sacks after entering the season with 15 career tackles in his first three seasons. Robinson finished with a career-high 29 tackles, and he broke up six passes and had 11 quarterback hurries. Butler was perhaps the biggest beneficiary of Knighton’s coaching, as Butler had 34 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He led Nebraska in TFLs and sacks after recording just nine tackles and 1.5 TFLs in his first two seasons combined. 

Nebraska’s returning defensive linemen weren’t the only ones to impress in Knighton’s first season. Seven newcomers found their way into the defensive line rotation, including three true freshmen. Cameron Lenhardt recorded 16 tackles with 5.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks as a true freshman. Classmate Riley Van Poppel finished with five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack. First-year transfers Chief Borders and Elijah Jeudy had the most productive seasons of their careers, while junior college transfer James Williams recorded two sacks in four games while redshirting.

 

In 2024, Robinson earned third-team All-Big Ten honors while Hutmacher was an honorable-mention selection. Nebraska's defense ranked 14th nationally against the run, 19th in total defense and 20th in scoring defense. In his final game on the Nebraska sideline, Knighton's defensive line helped the Huskers limit Iowa to five first downs and 164 total yards, both of which were the lowest totals Nebraska had allowed in a Big Ten Conference game.

 
BEFORE NEBRASKA
CAROLINA PANTHERS: Knighton spent two seasons on Rhule’s staff at Carolina in 2021 and 2022, serving as a coaching assistant who helped with the defensive line. In 2021, Carolina limited its opponents to only 4.1 yards per carry, ranking ninth in the NFL in that category. The work of Knighton’s defensive line helped the Panthers rank second in the NFL in total defense during the 2021 season.

WAGNER: Knighton began his coaching career at Wagner, an FCS program in New York. He spent two seasons as the Seahawks’ defensive line coach in 2019 and 2020. Knighton’s final season at Wagner was cut short due to the pandemic, as the Seahawks played only a two-game spring schedule.

In his only full season on staff in 2019, three of Knighton’s defensive linemen earned all-conference honors including Cam Gill, who was the conference defensive player of the year and an FCS All-American. Gill posted 60 tackles with 20.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, while his defensive line teammate Chris Williams recorded 62 tackles with 11.5 TFLs and 4.0 sacks.

Gill and Williams became the first defensive players from the Northeast Conference to earn invites to the East-West Shrine Bowl, and both went on to play in the NFL.
 
PLAYING CAREER (TEMPLE/NFL)
Knighton was an outstanding defensive lineman at Temple who went on to a successful NFL career. In college, Knighton was a four-year letterwinner from 2005 to 2008 who was Temple’s Defensive MVP in both 2007 and 2008.  He played in 46 games as an Owl with 34 starts.

Knighton recorded 184 tackles at Temple with 26.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 12 passes defended, four blocked kicks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery that he returned 66 yards for a touchdown. He was the first Owl to earn first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors in 2008.

In the NFL, Knighton played seven seasons, appearing in 108 games with 96 starts for Jacksonville, Denver and Washington from 2009 to 2015. He was a third-round draft pick of the Jaguars in 2009 and played in 61 games over four seasons with the franchise, totaling 140 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.  Knighton then spent two seasons with the Denver Broncos – playing in Super Bowl XLVIII – before ending his career as the starting nose tackle for Washington in 2015.

An NFL All-Rookie team selection in 2009, Knighton posted 231 career tackles with 34 TFLs and 14.0 sacks. He also forced three fumbles, had two fumble recoveries and 11 passes defended with one interception. His 231 tackles ranked among the top 15 of all NFL defensive tackles during his seven seasons in the league.

 

PERSONAL
A Connecticut native, Knighton earned his degree in criminal justice from Temple in 2009.
 
COACHING CAREER
2023-24: Nebraska (Defensive Line)

2021-22: Carolina Panthers (Coaching Assistant)
2019-20: Wagner (Defensive Line)