McKnight played college football for the Montana Grizzlies where there as team captain he shared the team most valuable player award in 2010 with Chase Reynolds and in 2011 with Caleb McSurdy. In his senior year he was named team captain. He was arguably the best rugby punter in Montana history and within the nation in 2011. His rollout style continually pinned teams. His career long punt was 75 yards. He had three game-winning field goals in tense situations, one coming from 32 yards out to clinch the Big Sky Championship vs. Idaho State with his team down by two points with a few seconds left on the clock. He Arguably the most winningest kicker/punter in Montana history, playing in two national championships and making a semi-final appearance his senior year in the playoff run. McKnight has played in five championships in his career, losing all five, but has won three Big Championship rings. He holds the school record for the most field goals in a game, with six. He was 8 for 8 on his Montana Pro Day completing kicks from 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 yards. He punted for 45.3 yards while successfully completing 24 repetitions of 225 lbs. on the bench press. He is ranked #11 as a kicker for the NFL 2012 draft. McKnight is 3rd of all time FCS career leading scorer for kickers.
Professional career
McKnight attended mini-camp with the New-York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. He successfully converted 12 of 15 field goals with a long of 53 yards in New York while completing 11 of 12 field goals with a long of 51 in Arizona. He was drafted eighth overall by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2011 CFL Draft and signed with them on July 8, 2012 after completing his college eligibility. He was later traded to the Eskimos a placekicker, a first and a fourth round pick in the 2013 CFL Draft on September 12, 2012. In the following off-season, he was again traded on March 1, 2013, this time to the Saskatchewan Roughriders along with a sixth round draft pick for two fifth round picks in the 2013 draft. Following his play in two pre-season games where he made two of three field goal attempts and punted six times for an average of 44.7 yards, McKnight was part of the team's final cuts on June 22, 2013. He was later signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 3, 2013. On August 27, 2013, McKnight was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He returned to the University of Montana in 2014 to complete his B.A. in sociology and criminology. McKnight currently resides in Kitsilano, British Columbia. He completed his degree and returned to Mosaic stadium in August for a tryout with the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he completed 12 of 14 field goals with a long of 60 yards while kicking off for a 68 yard average and a long of 74. McKnight battled into the wind for a 40 yard average punting the ball. He continues to kick as a free agent in the Top Flight Football League while working out with Don Sweet in Langley B.C.
