Miami Hurricanes' Hunter Knighton Wins Brian Piccolo Award

It was recently released by the ACC that the Miami Hurricanes’ Hunter Knighton wins the Brian Piccolo Award.

This makes Knighton a consecutive Hurricane player to receive the honor. Last year, in 2014, Duke Johnson was the recipient of the Brian Piccolo Award due to overcoming a serious “fractured fibula and dislocated ankle” he suffered against Florida State in his sophomore season.

This year the ‘Canes overcame a lot of adversity, but nothing compares to what ‘Canes offensive lineman Knighton went through.

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Considered by many as a “medical miracle,” Knighton nearly died after suffering a serious heat stroke last year during a spring practice. According to multiple sources, his body temperature rose to 109 degrees, brain swelled, organs shut down and his body went into seizures. He fell into a coma and nearly passed away.

Not only did Knighton overcome such a drastic, life-threatening incident, he persevered and worked his way to continue to play the game he loves, football.

He even started in Miami’s 2015 season-opener against Bethune-Cookman University.

This is what former ‘Canes head coach Al Golden had to say after that game in a post-game presser:

“He (Hunter Knighton) started for us on our punt team, and then obviously played a lot of football for us, so he’s part of the rotation and he’s had a good camp. Obviously, incredibly pleased for him and his family. What an incredible journey, an incredible young man and just blessed … absolutely blessed.”

Knighton is currently a redshirt junior and listed at 6’6″ and 300 pounds.

Here’s a copy of the ACC Announcement:

Against all odds, Hurricanes’ sophomore continues college football career

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Miami offensive lineman Hunter Knighton has been named the recipient of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2015 Brian Piccolo Award, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced Thursday.

The Piccolo Award has been given annually since 1970 in memory of the late Brian Piccolo to the “most courageous” football player in the ACC. Piccolo was the ACC Athlete of the Year in 1965 and played for the Chicago Bears before his career was cut short when he was stricken with cancer. His courageous fight against that disease was an inspiration to the Bears and the entire football community.

The 2015 Piccolo Award will be presented at the ACC’s Night of Legends event, which will be held Friday (5:30 p.m.) at the Charlotte Convention Center as part of the festivities held around the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game.

Knighton returned to the playing field for Miami this season less than 19 months after he suffered a heat stroke in spring practice and spent 12 days in a coma after his body temperature rose to 109 degrees. He underwent surgery to repair his paralyzed vocal chords, and the prognosis for his return to the football field initially appeared all but hopeless.

But through hard work and perseverance, Knighton battled his way back to good health and received medical clearance to return to the field this fall. Back at his normal playing weight after dropping 55 pounds during his illness, he has appeared in every game for the bowl-bound Hurricanes. The Pottstown, Pennsylvania, native has been a major contributor on special teams, and has also seen action on the offensive line.

“Hunter Knighton is truly deserving of this prestigious award,” said Miami interim head coach Larry Scott. “No one has worked harder than Hunter to get back on the field and play the game he truly loves. His sacrifice and determination over the past year is truly inspiring. He has defied the odds to return to the field and play a major role on our team. We could not be happier for Hunter and his family.”

Knighton becomes the fifth Miami student-athlete to receive the Brian Piccolo Award and the third in four seasons. Running back Duke Johnson was honored last season, and defensive end Shayon Green earned the award in 2012.

ACC Brian Piccolo Award Winners
1970 – Paul Miller, QB, North Carolina
1971 – Jim Webster, LB, North Carolina
1972 – Mark Johnson, QB, Duke
1973 – Al Neville, QB, Maryland
1974 – David Visaggio, DG, Maryland
1975 – Scott Gardner, QB, Virginia
1976 – Jeff Green, DE, Duke
1977 – Ralph Stringer, DB, NC State
1978 – Rex Varn, DB, Clemson
1979 – not available
1980 – Jack Cain, DB,Clemson
1981 – Aaron Stewart, DB, Duke
1982 – Kenny Duckett, WR, Wake Forest
1983 – John Piedmonte, OLB,Wake Forest
1984 – J.D. Maarleveld, T, Maryland
1985 – Danny Burmeister, DB, N. Carolina
1986 – Ray Williams, WR, Clemson
1987 – no recipient
1988 – Jerry Mays, TB, Georgia Tech
1989 – Michael Anderson, RB, Maryland
1990 – Marc Mays, WR, Duke
1991 – Scott Adell, T, NC State
1992 – Dan Footman, DE, Florida State and Randy Cuthbert, TB, Duke
1993 – Scott Youmans, DL, Duke
1994 – Chris Harrison, T, Virginia
1995 – Warren Forney, DT, Clemson
1996 – John Lewis, RB, Wake Forest
1997 – Sam Cowart, LB, Florida State
1998 – Anthony Poindexter, DB, Virginia and Corey Simon, DT, Florida State
1999 – Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State
2000 – Ed Wilder, FB, Georgia Tech
2001 – Matt Crawford, T, Maryland
2002 – Anquan Boldin, WR, Florida State
2003 – Kevin Bailey, OL, Virginia
2004 – Frank Gore, RB, Miami
2005 – Ryan Best, S, Virginia
2006 – Glenn Sharpe, Miami
2007 – Matt Robinson, DE, Wake Forest
2008 – Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
2009 – Toney Baker, RB, NC State
2010 – Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College and Nate Irving, LB, NC State
2011 – Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina
2012 – Shayon Green, DE, Miami and Chris Thompson, RB, Florida State
2013 – Robert Godhigh, RB, Georgia Tech
2014 – Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
2015 – Hunter Knighton, OL, Miami

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Miami Hurricanes’ Hunter Knighton Wins Brian Piccolo Award

By Shanon Culiner | Dec 3, 2015