In a matter of days, Derek Mason’s defense on The Plains has gotten more formidable.
Two days after UAB defensive lineman Tony Fair announced his transfer commitment to the Tigers, former Southeast Missouri State defensive back, FCS All American and two-time All-Conference selection Bydarrius Knighten has announced his decision to transfer to Auburn.
Following his decision to enter the transfer portal, Auburn, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Washington State, Utah, Purdue and Louisville were some of the teams to offer Knighten.
A native of Mississippi, Knighten had 262 tackles, six interceptions and 23 passes defended during his at Southeast Missouri State.
He has one season of eligibility remaining at Auburn.
Here is Knighten’s bio from the Southeast Missouri State team site (FCS football did not play this spring):
2019: Second-Team All-OVC selection…Started 13 games…Ranked third on the team with 75 tackles…Was second on the team with 53 solo stops…Had 1.5 tackles for loss and led the Redhawks with three interceptions…Also added four pass breakups…Received the team’s Ken Hargens Award, which goes to the top defensive back…Finished 23rd in the OVC in tackles and seventh in interceptions…Posted a season-high 10 tackles, including nine solo at Montana State (9/7)…Registered 10 tackles vs. Illinois State (11/30)…Tallied nine tackles vs. UT Martin (10/26) and Murray State (11/23).
2018: First-Team All-OVC selection and honorable mention HERO Sports Sophomore All-American…Started all 13 games between the strong and free safety spots…Tied for third on the team with 88 tackles and had 48 solo stops…Recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and nine pass breakups…Recovered and forced a fumble…Led the team with a season-high 11 tackles at Southern Illinois (9/15)…Registered 10 tackles vs. Austin Peay (10/13)…Returned a blocked field goal 85 yards for a touchdown vs. Jacksonville State (10/20)…It was the longest return on a blocked field goal in school history.
2017: Started 11 games at free safety…Ranked fourth on the team with 52 tackles, including 33 solo stops…Assisted on 19 other tackles…Added one interception and three pass breakups…Had his first career interception at Jacksonville State (10/28)…Posted a season-high seven tackles vs. Southern Illinois (9/16) and UT Martin (11/4).
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
