Miami football senior safety Robert Knowles more focused in 2019

Redshirt senior safety Robert Knowles is finally healthy and producing for the Miami football team. Knowles made his first start on Saturday against Bethune-Cookman.

Robert Knowles was a safety net for the Miami football team in their loss to North Carolina earlier this month. Knowles was focused like a starter when he had to enter the game after junior starting safety Amari Carter was ejected for targeting against the Tar Heels He finished with a career high tying five tackles versus North Carolina.

Knowles’ performance against North Carolina earned him his first career start on Saturday against Bethune-Cookman. He finished two tackles, a half tackle for loss and a fumble recovery that was the first time Knowles got to wear the turnover chain. It is the only turnover Miami has forced in the last two games.

Knowles has become part of a strong Miami unit at safety. The safeties for the Miami football team will be bolstered further when USC transfer Bubba Bolden becomes eligible after next week’s bye on October 5 against Virginia Tech at Hard Rock Stadium. Sophomore safety Gurvan Hall leads Miami with 18 tackles in 2019.

Knowles has gotten a lot of criticism from fans this season. He has taken a mature approach and ignored the negativity and stayed focused on what he needs to do. Knowles graduated last fall. He is on his third head coach at Miami. Knowles was part of Al Golden’s last recruiting class in 2015.

Knowles spoke out last week about his dedication to staying the course in the Miami football program, doing what it takes to help the team win, his love of Miami and the great players that have played for the Hurricanes historically.

"“I just stay in my playbook, ignore the noise and stay focused…I don’t feed into no social media or none of that. I’m just focused on myself, focused on the team and help our team win any way I can…I ain’t really no quitter…I love Miami and I never wanted to leave.I had ups and downs, but that’s like every player, so I just stuck around and I stayed focused. I didn’t let none of the outside noise mess me up mentally…I enjoy the greats,…They come in, they talk to us about how they were back in the days. Greentree [Practice Fields], how hard and rough it is.Basically, it’s so hard, you don’t want to quit because of how hard it’s been. You’ve got to have the heart and the passion to love it, and once you get out there, you’ve got to do it. Last year, I wasn’t really focused like I was supposed to be,” he said. “I would try to do too much instead of doing my job.Now, I’m more focused on doing what I’ve got to do, learning other people’s positions, too. So whatever coverage we’re in, I know what I’ve got to do and where I’ve got to be.”"

Knowles and his teammates, particularly in the secondary have work to do this season. After leading the nation in pass defense in 2018, Miami has fallen off this season. The Hurricanes are 60th in the nation in pass defense. That number was helped significantly in Saturday’s victory over Bethune-Cookman.

Against Power Five opponents that number drops from 60th and 207.3 yards per game to 72nd and 273 passing yards per game against Florida, North Carolina and Power Five opponents. The Hurricanes do not play another power five opponent until Virginia Tech October 5.