Trevor Knight stood up after a 90-minute interview session at Big 12 Media Days and chuckled at how much he’s changed.
“I used to hate public speaking,” Knight said.
Oklahoma’s sophomore quarterback spent the better part of five grueling hours Tuesday answering hundreds of questions, many repetitive — “What was the Sugar Bowl like?” — and some uncomfortable — “Were the Alabama players really motivated to play that game?” — but through it all, the new face of Sooner football maintained a remarkably consistent, sunny disposition.
“I’m just being me,” Knight said. “I’m having fun with it, enjoying the opportunity.”
Fall camp begins in less than two weeks for the Sooners, heavy favorites to win the Big 12 Conference and a trendy pick for inclusion in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Much of the excitement surrounding Oklahoma stems from Knight’s Sugar Bowl MVP performance six months ago, although legitimate questions remain about his ability to regularly replicate that showing.
But Knight has also captivated Sooner Nation with his warm, friendly demeanor, and in that department, the Sooner quarterback is already as good as they come.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way he composes himself,” said Adam Barnett, Knight’s pastor and close confidant. “You give him an MVP award, and he’s still the same Trevor Knight as he was before the Sugar Bowl. I’m around town with him a lot, and I’m so impressed with the way that he interacts with the people of Norman.”