Breaking News out of Hillsborough County

[Perspective]

Luke Knight, the QB that led Tampa Jesuit to a state championship last year, has left Jesuit.  The school reportedly has confirmed that he left on good terms.  Word is his dad got a new job on the east coast (somewhere in the Space Coast area) and the family had to move.   It has been suggested that because this is a complete family move, Knight could join another team to finish up the season.   It'll be interesting to see where he lands and if he continues to play this year.   And I guess we'll also see whether he's a really good QB or an average QB that was surrounded by really good talent.   It'll also be interesting to see what effect this has on Jesuit.

[KeemD321]

21 minutes ago, Perspective said:

Luke Knight, the QB that led Tampa Jesuit to a state championship last year, has left Jesuit.  The school reportedly has confirmed that he left on good terms.  Word is his dad got a new job on the east coast (somewhere in the Space Coast area) and the family had to move.   It has been suggested that because this is a complete family move, Knight could join another team to finish up the season.   It'll be interesting to see where he lands and if he continues to play this year.   And I'll guess will also see whether he's a really good QB or an average QB that was surrounded by really good talent.   It'll also be interesting to see what effect this has on Jesuit.

Is he a senior?

[PinellasFB]

45 minutes ago, KeemD321 said:

Is he a senior?

class of 2024.  He's a very good athlete so he will find a place on any team regardless of their existing QB situation.

[KeemD321]

5 minutes ago, PinellasFB said:

class of 2024.  He's a very good athlete so he will find a place on any team regardless of their existing QB situation.

If he's able to continue playing this season then it could be any school in Brevard. But I'm guessing it's a job in central or south Brevard. If he has to wait til next season then the likely schools would be either Satellite, Holy Trinity, Melbourne, Merritt Island or Cocoa. Possibly even MCC.

[Perspective]

2 hours ago, KeemD321 said:

Is he a senior?

No, he's a junior.  Was the starting QB last year as a sophomore. 

And just to make sure we've covered all the classes, Knight likely will be replaced by a freshman (listed on the roster as 6'3", 220) who put up some decent numbers last year as an 8th grader at Northside Christian. 

[Dr. D]

When in doubt about eligibility, go to the FHSAA Bylaws:

Bylaw 9.3.2.2 Transfer after Starting a Sport.  A student may not participate in a sport if the student participated in that same sport at another school during that school year, unless the student meets one of the following criteria (§ 1006.15(9)(b), F.S.):

(a) Dependent children of active-duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders.

(b) Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone.

(c) Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent.

(d) Authorized for good cause in district, private or charter school board policy.

Don't know about the family situation, but criteria (d) seems pretty ambiguous, so perhaps there is a chance he could become eligible this year.

[KeemD321]

10 minutes ago, Dr. D said:

When in doubt about eligibility, go to the FHSAA Bylaws:

Bylaw 9.3.2.2 Transfer after Starting a Sport.  A student may not participate in a sport if the student participated in that same sport at another school during that school year, unless the student meets one of the following criteria (§ 1006.15(9)(b), F.S.):

(a) Dependent children of active-duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders.

(b) Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone.

(c) Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent.

(d) Authorized for good cause in district, private or charter school board policy.

Don't know about the family situation, but criteria (d) seems pretty ambiguous, so perhaps there is a chance he could become eligible this year.

There's a definite possibility. Or is his dad military and got orders to Patrick or Cape?

[KeemD321]

2 hours ago, Perspective said:

No, he's a junior.  Was the starting QB last year as a sophomore. 

And just to make sure we've covered all the classes, Knight likely will be replaced by a freshman (listed on the roster as 6'3", 220) who put up some decent numbers last year as an 8th grader at Northside Christian. 

What's up with these College/NFL size freshmen QBs? I remember when I came across Palmetto's QB highlights randomly on YouTube. I had to check it out because title was referring to his size on top of that it was from a well known YouTube channel that reacts and breaksdown different highlight tapes.

[Perspective]

55 minutes ago, Dr. D said:

When in doubt about eligibility, go to the FHSAA Bylaws:

Bylaw 9.3.2.2 Transfer after Starting a Sport.  A student may not participate in a sport if the student participated in that same sport at another school during that school year, unless the student meets one of the following criteria (§ 1006.15(9)(b), F.S.):

(a) Dependent children of active-duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders.

(b) Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone.

(c) Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent.

(d) Authorized for good cause in district, private or charter school board policy.

Don't know about the family situation, but criteria (d) seems pretty ambiguous, so perhaps there is a chance he could become eligible this year.

Hmmm, this post looks somewhat familiar . . .  

But, you're right on point.   The rule looks pretty clear on its face, but the exceptions are a little vague.   This same question came up a few weeks ago regarding a QB that practiced with one team all pre-season, got beat out for the starting job, and then transferred to another school with everyone thinking he'd be able to play.   How'd that work out (serious question)? 

[Ray Icaza]

33 minutes ago, Perspective said:

Hmmm, this post looks somewhat familiar . . .  

But, you're right on point.   The rule looks pretty clear on its face, but the exceptions are a little vague.   This same question came up a few weeks ago regarding a QB that practiced with one team all pre-season, got beat out for the starting job, and then transferred to another school with everyone thinking he'd be able to play.   How'd that work out (serious question)? 

Exceptions are very vague.  The press here wrote a featured article about a top RB (1800 yds. last year) from Celebration that transferred to our school at the start of preseason practice so was actually enrolled at OHS. Let me just say, things didn't go as he anticipated so just before school started he transferred back to Celebration.  All within a 2-3 week period and he is playing for them now.   Seems crazy to me but I assume technically he hadn't attended class although had been practicing with the team officially and that was the reasoning I heard.

[ExplorerHomer2]

1 hour ago, Perspective said:

Hmmm, this post looks somewhat familiar . . .  

But, you're right on point.   The rule looks pretty clear on its face, but the exceptions are a little vague.   This same question came up a few weeks ago regarding a QB that practiced with one team all pre-season, got beat out for the starting job, and then transferred to another school with everyone thinking he'd be able to play.   How'd that work out (serious question)? 

From what I heard, it didn't. 

He transferred to Edison on a hardship case (based on private school tuition costs). I know our coaches went to bat for him too. FHSAA apparently didn't buy it. Poor kid.

[KeemD321]

1 hour ago, Ray Icaza said:

Exceptions are very vague.  The press here wrote a featured article about a top RB (1800 yds. last year) from Celebration that transferred to our school at the start of preseason practice so was actually enrolled at OHS. Let me just say, things didn't go as he anticipated so just before school started he transferred back to Celebration.  All within a 2-3 week period and he is playing for them now.   Seems crazy to me but I assume technically he hadn't attended class although had been practicing with the team officially and that was the reasoning I heard.

That's definitely crazy. I'm assuming he wasn't officially enrolled when practice started since it was before the first day of school?

[Ray Icaza]

My understanding is you have to be fully and legally enrolled to participate in official team practices, which he did.  Our staff would have never allowed him to practice had this not been the case.  You guys have called it, the FHSAA with no rhyme or reason how they decide things.  In his case, they claimed he hadn't attended class so it was okay to immediately transfer back from whence he came. 

[skyway]

30+ years ago, you'd figure this was just odd timing, and maybe bad luck for Jesuit. Now, with the increased specialization, traveling 7v7 teams, and building of super teams through unchecked transfers, the timing is highly suspicious. It's been a rough few games for the Jesuit offense, and they just were beaten soundly a few days ago. I have a hunch the Knight family was unhappy, perhaps because some on the team were unhappy with Knight. Just a guess...

[KeemD321]

3 hours ago, Ray Icaza said:

My understanding is you have to be fully and legally enrolled to participate in official team practices, which he did.  Our staff would have never allowed him to practice had this not been the case.  You guys have called it, the FHSAA with no rhyme or reason how they decide things.  In his case, they claimed he hadn't attended class so it was okay to immediately transfer back from whence he came. 

I get them being ok with the transfer I'm just lost on how he's able to continue playing when he already participated in official practices 

[Perspective]

11 hours ago, skyway said:

30+ years ago, you'd figure this was just odd timing, and maybe bad luck for Jesuit. Now, with the increased specialization, traveling 7v7 teams, and building of super teams through unchecked transfers, the timing is highly suspicious. It's been a rough few games for the Jesuit offense, and they just were beaten soundly a few days ago. I have a hunch the Knight family was unhappy, perhaps because some on the team were unhappy with Knight. Just a guess...

I understand your thinking, but that doesn't seem to be the vibe in Tampa right now.  That said, I'm a little surprised the family didn't make arrangements for the kid to finish out the school semester and the football season - living with another family, if necessary (which I believe would be OK since Jesuit is a private school and what district he lives in is irrelevant). 

Yes, there are some rumors that he was about to lose his starting job (cannot confirm or deny those rumors), but there are several teams in the Tampa Bay area that could use a good QB.  It seems a little odd that the family would just pick up and move across the state, taking the kid with them, in the middle of the season, even if the kid had been told he was being benched.  Seriously, think of the costs associated with that decision -- selling a house, buying a new house, moving across the state, forfeiting any tuition they paid for Jesuit, etc. 

For what it's worth, if I were ever in that position, I'd want to know that I'd be transferring into a good situation where I had assurances that I'd be able to play right away.   That means I'd need to know the new school's situation, the new school's coach and be reasonably confident that I'd be able to play this season at the new school.  I don't think that last item is something that you can get cleared/approved in advance by the FHSAA or whoever else has a say in that determination. 

[badbird]

He will have to sit out 6 days after enrolling in his new school and he will be able to play if the family made a full and complete move.

[Perspective]

1 hour ago, badbird said:

He will have to sit out 6 days after enrolling in his new school and he will be able to play if the family made a full and complete move.

Badbird, do you have a source for this?   Is it in the FHSAA rules/policy manual somewhere?  I'm not doubting you, but it's inconsistent with the rule that I found a month or so ago and that Dr. D posted above.   Just trying to understand. 

[Ray Icaza]

11 hours ago, KeemD321 said:

I get them being ok with the transfer I'm just lost on how he's able to continue playing when he already participated in official practices 

Good question as we were also surprised by the decision but had no animosity towards the kid moving back and playing for his old school.  We have seen situations like this in the past when a quality transfer from another local school expects because of what he did there it will determine his status with us.  It doesn't and you have to earn the starting position which in that particular case a few years back didn't happen.  The two starting RB's we already had were Laderrien Wilson (Univ. of MD then BCC) and Malcolm Davidson (FAU) an inside power back and a speed back.  The transfer would only get cleanup duty although he was the featured back at his old school.  We were happy to get him, but his expectations I am sure were different. 

[Ray Icaza]

20 minutes ago, Ray Icaza said:

Good question as we were also surprised by the decision but had no animosity towards the kid moving back and playing for his old school.  We have seen situations like this in the past when a quality transfer from another local school expects because of what he did there it will determine his status with us.  It doesn't and you have to earn the starting position which in that particular case a few years back didn't happen.  The two starting RB's we already had were Laderrien Wilson (Univ. of MD then BCC) and Malcolm Davidson (FAU) an inside power back and a speed back.  The transfer would only get cleanup duty although he was the featured back at his old school.  We were happy to get him, but his expectations I am sure were different. 

Just to be clear, he has participated in Celebration's first 2 games and is their leading rusher based on the stats they posted on MaxPreps.

[badbird]

44 minutes ago, Perspective said:

Badbird, do you have a source for this?   Is it in the FHSAA rules/policy manual somewhere?  I'm not doubting you, but it's inconsistent with the rule that I found a month or so ago and that Dr. D posted above.   Just trying to understand. 

 Authorized for good cause in district, private or charter school board policy.

Here is the key.  If a kid makes a full and complete move the county will give him good cause.   

 

Dr D said the kid was at a private school so he probably didn't move trying to move back to the public school.  

 

[Perspective]

46 minutes ago, badbird said:

 Authorized for good cause in district, private or charter school board policy.

Here is the key.  If a kid makes a full and complete move the county will give him good cause.   

 

Dr D said the kid was at a private school so he probably didn't move trying to move back to the public school.  

 

Thanks. 

It's interesting:  in some of the cases referred to in this thread, it appears the FHSAA is making the determination whether a kid is eligible at his new school and in other cases, it appears the County in which the new school is located is making that determination.  The language in the FHSAA policy seems to suggest, at least for public schools, that each school district should have a "when can a kid move into a school in our district and immediately be able to play" policy in place.  Without one, how can the exception be met?  

[KeemD321]

He's officially a Mustang 

 

Should step in as QB1 and will have an easier slate of games to get acclimated to the playbook and team. Their next 2 games are against Holy Trinity and Heritage. After that they go into district play starting with Eau Gallie. 

[skyway]

57 minutes ago, KeemD321 said:

He's officially a Mustang 

 

Should step in as QB1 and will have an easier slate of games to get acclimated to the playbook and team. Their next 2 games are against Holy Trinity and Heritage. After that they go into district play starting with Eau Gallie. 

With the spineless pansies we have "managing" college and prep football now, look for this kind of thing to be the next big trend. We're going to see more of this.

[KeemD321]

11 minutes ago, skyway said:

With the spineless pansies we have "managing" college and prep football now, look for this kind of thing to be the next big trend. We're going to see more of this.

I find this post funny little conspiracy for the move. But we got insight that it was for a new job assignment which would make sense especially if either parent is military since its basically PCS season.