UCLA star Wayne Knight never lost faith in himself amid a long journey to Westwood
As the kids of Smyrna, Del., bickered about who got to play the role of 5-foot-7 high school star tailback Wayne Knight during their pickup football games, Knight was blazing a trail under Friday night lights.
During Knight’s senior season, he ran for 1,406 yards and 30 touchdowns. He dominated state competition with the ardent support of the Smyrna community — a rural town centered around fishing, crabbing and waterfowl, with no more than 15,000 people.
All of Smyrna shut down when it was game day — supporting William Knight, Wayne’s older brother, who won three consecutive state titles and finished his career as the state’s all-time leading rusher.
