20 Days to Miami football: S Robert Knowles 2018 Preview

Redshirt Junior Robert Knowles is entering his fourth season as part of the Miami football program. He has played in 25 of the Hurricanes 26 games during his two seasons on the active roster. Knowles is currently listed as the backup to Sheldrick Redwine.

Robert Knowles signed with the Miami football program in 2015 as part of Al Golden’s last recruiting class. He was a consensus three-star signee according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Knowles was the 106th ranked safety in the country and the 222nd ranked player in Florida out of Edison High School in Miami.

Knowles played in all 13 games as a Redshirt Freshman in 2016. He tallied six tackles, mostly on special teams. Knowles finished with 18 tackles and one forced fumble in 12 games last season including one start.

Knowles will have a challenge to keeping his spot on the depth chart during training camp. Freshman Gurvan Hall is highly regarded. Hall is the 15th ranked safety and 32nd best player in the Class of 2018 per this season’s 247 composite.

Amari Carter is currently listed as the backup to Free Safety Jaquan Johnson. Safeties coach Ephraim Banda told the Miami’s Herald’s Barry Jackson last month that Knowles is currently the number three safety.

"“Couple games we had to put Rob in the game where Red(wine) got hurt last year,…At the time, he hadn’t played a lot on defense. We went with Rob in those situations, and he struggled a little but anyone would struggle.But he fought and tackled. You are going to make mistakes, but if you tackle, to coach [Manny] Diaz and I, that’s all that matters. Rob has always been a good tackler."

"“The biggest thing I wanted Rob to improve on was confidence and being calm and not being so wound up that he can’t function the way he functions in practice. If you saw him in practice and games, you wouldn’t see the same guy. Rob Knowles in practice is elite. Rob got the first high score of the spring.“Rob has to take what he does on Greentree to Hard Rock. Right now, I put Rob ahead ahead of Amari. I told Amari that. Right now, Rob has done a better job.”"

Redwine missed the Georgia Tech game last season. Knowles had a career-high five tackles and the lone forced fumble of his career in the victory over the Yellow Jackets.

With another year of experience, Knowles should become a reliable backup for the Miami football team in 2018. He will likely see time on special teams as well. Richt, Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz and the Miami staff have done a good job upgrading the talent and developing the players on the roster.

This will be a critical year for Knowles. Johnson and Redwine are both Seniors. That will leave both safety positions open in 2019. Knowles will have one last season with a chance to become a starter.

It will likely be between Knowles, Carter, Hall, Derrick Smith and Romeo Finley who starts in 2019. How well they play this season will go a long way towards determining who succeeds Johnson and Redwine.