Bam Knight

Zonovan Knight
Knight with the NC State Wolfpack in 2021
No. 20 – Arizona Cardinals
PositionsRunning back, kickoff returner
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2001-04-11) April 11, 2001
Bailey, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolSouthern Nash (Bailey)
CollegeNC State (2019–2021)
NFL draft2022: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Rushing yards582
Rushing average3.4
Rushing touchdowns5
Receptions36
Receiving yards268
Receiving touchdowns1
Return yards296
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Zonovan "Bam" Knight (born April 11, 2001) is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack.

Early life

Knight attended Southern Nash High School in Bailey, North Carolina.[1] During his high school career, he had a school record 5,073 rushing yards and 71 touchdowns.[2] He committed to North Carolina State University to play college football.[3][4]

College career

As a true freshman at NC State in 2019, Knight started seven games and led the team with 745 yards on 136 carries with five touchdowns.[5] In 2020, he again led the team with 788 yards on 143 carries with 10 touchdowns.[6] He returned to NC State as the starter in 2021.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wingspan 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 10+7⁄8 in
(1.80 m)		 209 lb
(95 kg)		 30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		 9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in
(1.87 m)		 4.53 s 1.68 s 2.69 s 4.07 s 6.95 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[7][8][9]

New York Jets

Knight signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2022.[10] He made the Jets' initial 53-man roster on August 30.[11] Knight was waived by New York on September 5.[12] He was re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[13] Knight was promoted to the active roster on October 25.[14] Knight made his NFL debut on November 27 against the Chicago Bears, where he set a new franchise record with 103 yards from scrimmage in his debut, including 69 rushing yards.[15]

Knight was waived by the Jets as part of final roster cuts on August 28, 2023.[16]

Detroit Lions

On August 30, 2023, Knight was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.[17] On September 19, Knight was signed to the active roster.[18] He was placed on injured reserve on October 14.[19]

On August 27, 2024, Knight was released by the Lions.[20]

New York Jets (second stint)

On November 26, 2024, Knight was signed to the New York Jets' practice squad.[21]

Arizona Cardinals

On January 7, 2025, Knight signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[22] On August 26, he made the Cardinals' initial 53-man roster as a kick returner. Following injuries to James Conner, Trey Benson, and Emari Demercado, Knight stepped in as the number one running back on the team. On December 16, Knight was placed on injured reserve due to a season-ending ankle injury suffered in Week 15 against the Houston Texans.[23] He finished the season with 269 rushing yards and four touchdowns through 12 games and eight starts.

On March 12, 2026, Knight re-signed with the Cardinals on a one-year contract.[24]

NFL career statistics

Offense

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2022 NYJ 7 4 85 300 3.5 48 1 13 100 7.7 16 0 2 1
2023 DET 2 0 3 13 1.5 8 0 1 8 8.0 8 0 0 0
2025 ARI 12 8 82 269 3.3 17 4 22 160 7.3 20 1 1 1
Career 21 12 170 582 3.4 48 5 36 268 7.4 20 1 3 2

Special teams

Year Team Games Punt returns Kick returns
GP GS Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD
2022 NYJ 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 18 18.0 18 0
2023 DET 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 22 22.0 22 0
2025 ARI 12 8 0 0 0 0 0 12 256 21.3 28 0
Career 21 12 0 0 0 0 0 14 296 21.1 28 0

References

  1. ^ Stout, Jon (January 17, 2018). "Recruitment ramping up for Southern Nash's Zonovan Knight". High School OT. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  2. ^ Thompson, David (August 5, 2021). "How did NC State football RB Zonovan 'Bam' Knight get his nickname? It's a cute story". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Smith, R. Cory (July 9, 2018). "Top NC RB Zonovan Knight commits to NC State for 2019 class". 247Sports. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Southern Nash standout RB Zonovan Knight commits to NC State". High School OT. July 9, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Durham, Paul (September 17, 2020). "Former Firebird ready for more: 'Bam' Knight takes field after breakout rookie season at NC State". Southern Nash News. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Pope IV, Jonas (July 27, 2021). "N.C. State's Bam Knight is healthy, and motivated, which is good news for the Wolfpack". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "Bam Knight Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "Zonovan Knight, North Carolina State, RB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "Official Measurements for 2022 NFL Combine Running Backs". SteelersNow.com. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
  10. ^ Robinson, Sam (May 6, 2022). "Jets Sign 5 Undrafted Free Agents". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Lange, Randy; Greenberg, Ethan (August 30, 2022). "Final Cuts: Jets Move 27 Players to Trim Roster to NFL's 53-Man Limit". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  12. ^ Butchko, John (September 5, 2022). "Jets Bring Back Conor McDermott; Waive Zonovan Knight". Gang Green Nation. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  13. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (September 6, 2022). "Jets Sign 3 Players to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (October 25, 2022). "Jets Place RB Breece Hall and OL Alijah Vera-Tucker on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  15. ^ Goodman, Max (November 27, 2022). "Jets' Rookie Helps to Revive Run Game With Historic Debut". Jets Nation. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Ehalt, Matt (August 28, 2023). "Jets cut Zonovan 'Bam' Knight in Dalvin Cook roster casualty". New York Post. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  17. ^ Raven, Benjamin (August 31, 2023). "Lions add kicker Michael Badgley, running back Zonovan Knight to practice squad". Michigan Live. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Ulrich, Logan (September 19, 2023). "Lions Promoting RB Zonovan Knight To Active Roster". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  19. ^ "Lions' Zonovan Knight: Moved to IR". CBSSports.com. October 14, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. August 27, 2024.
  21. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (November 26, 2024). "Jets Sign RB Zonovan Knight and WR Easop Winston Jr. to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com.
  22. ^ Gershman, Zach (January 7, 2025). "Cardinals Ink Futures Deal With Four More Players". AZCardinals.com.
  23. ^ Drake, Tyler (December 16, 2025). "Cardinals place RB Bam Knight on injured reserve". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  24. ^ Gershman, Zach. "Bam Knight, Starling Thomas V Agree To Return With Cardinals". Azcardinals.com. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
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