2025 4-star QB Deuce Knight still eyeing an early decision

When Deuce Knight was laying out his plans a few months ago, he thought there was a real chance that he would be committed before his junior season kicked off. That didn’t happen. The 6-foot-4.5, 180-pound left-handed quarterback out of Nashville Lipscomb Academy may not be committed as early as he thought he could be, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t close to making that call.

“I still think I am not too far away,” Knight told On3. “I didn’t want to rush into a decision and I am taking it all day by day, but I am confident that is will happen at some point during this season.

“The feeling is important to me. I need to feel 100% and be fully confident in my decision. I won’t be a guy that sets a date weeks or months out to commit, but when I feel ready, I set a date and announce it a few days later.”

Late in May, the No. 59 prospect in the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings named his Top 10 schools. Auburn, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Washington made the cut.

Those schools, among others, have reached out since Aug. 1 and Knight is paying attention to that.

“Communication is very big for me, so coaches being able to hit me up shows me a lot. It lets me know who wants me, who is thinking about me and how hard they want to recruit men.

“Over 30 schools have reached out in the first couple of weeks. It has been crazy, but I have enjoyed it. Some get overwhelmed when this happened, but I like it and it really does help me with my relationships and recruiting.”

Many assistant coaches have reached out. Some head coaches have too. Among those are Hugh Freeze, Lane Kiffin, Marcus Freeman and Josh Heupel. That means just a little more.

“To have those coach call me, it says a lot to me. Those are head coaches that coach schools I am looking at and it is great every time I hear from them. It is great talking to any coach, but the head coach is a little different.”

Knight’s list still sits at 10, but Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Tennessee have become strong contenders. The Crimson Tide hadn’t offered when he released the list, but the Crimson Tide immediately became a favorite.

Knight likes Alabama because it is Alabama

Alabama offered Knight late in the spring. He visited Tuscaloosa a few days later. The Crimson Tide is high on his list because of who Alabama is.

“It is Alabama,” Knight said. “It is a hard school for any recruit to turn down. It is crazy what the program has done under Coach Nick Saban. It doesn’t matter who the offensive coordinator is or what coaches change places, Alabama still puts up big numbers and wins. They still develop players. It is Alabama.”

Knight has been in contact with new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. Knight got some work in with Rees in June and he likes where this relationship is going.

Auburn is growing on Knight

Knight has only visited Auburn once, and when he released his Top 10 a few months ago, the Tigers were likely on the back half of that list. That is not the same now.

“Auburn has really started to grow on me,” Knight said. “Coach Freeze has been by my school, I was the first recruit he called on Aug. 1 and the whole staff is now hitting me up. Coach Freeze is another offensive-minded head coach, he runs an offense that puts quarterbacks in position to make plays and players want to play for him.

“You see Perry Thompson and Demarcus Riddick flipping to Auburn and they are building something. I don’t have any plans for visits in the fall yet, but I plan on being back for an Auburn game.”

Notre Dame has the balance Knight is looking for

You see schools like Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Tennessee on Knight’s list, then you see Notre Dame. They are a little farther away and they aren’t in the SEC, but those doesn’t hurt the Irish’s chances.

“Location doesn’t matter to me and it is Notre Dame, one of the best in the country on the football and school side,” Knight said. “Notre Dame is an independent program, but they play top teams, they play big games and Notre Dame is still going to play in the college football playoffs. I like Notre Dame because of what they are as a program and because of the people up there. Coach Freeman, Coach Gino Guidugli and Chad Bowen all recruit me and they are great guys.”

Knight is very familiar with Ole Miss

Knight recently made the move from Mississippi to Tennessee for his junior year of high school, but his roots are still in Lucedale. He has visited Ole Miss (seven times) more than any other school and the head coach in Oxford is very appealing to him.

“Coach Kiffin is what attracts players, especially quarterbacks to Oxford,” Knight said. “He is a great offensive mind, he develops quarterbacks and he has shown that he can get guys at my position to the NFL. In his offense, quarterbacks put up big numbers and Coach Kiffin is a big reason Ole Miss is up there for me. Then you have Coach Charlie Weiss, Jr. and we talk almost every day. We have a great relationship too.”

Heupel’s offensive production has Tennessee high on Knight’s list

Knight is expected to attend at least one home game in Knoxville this fall. Now that he is in Nashville, it is an easy and quicker trip and he is excited about that. The head coach is leading the way for the Vols.

“Coach Heupel is a coach I like a lot,” Knight said. “He runs a fast-paced offense, he knows quarterbacks and his teams score a lot of points. Every school he has been at has put up big numbers. He is an offensive guru. I like who Coach Heupel is off the field too. He is upbeat, he has good energy and we talk a lot.

Heupel isn’t the only coach recruiting Knight.

“The whole staff is recruiting me. Tennessee shows a lot of interest in me and that means a lot. Outisde of what Coach Heupel does with offenses, the staff is probably what stands out the most about Tennessee.”

The post 2025 4-star QB Deuce Knight still eyeing an early decision appeared first on On3.