The Dudes Strike Back 2016: #98 K/P Mike Knoll

Name: Mike Knoll

Position: Kicker/Punter

Number: #98

Year: Junior

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 207 lbs.

Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls

High School: Walsh Jesuit

2016 Projections: After being benched in favor of Colton Lichtenberg, it appears that Knoll might have found his calling on this team as the punter going into this season. During the spring game he was primarily the punter, with mixed results. Field position is always a big deal for Addazio (or most coaches for that matter), so it'll be interesting to see if Knoll can give the same kind of consistent production that Alex Howell gave in 2015.

High School Stats: Earned second-team All-Ohio and first-team AP All-District honors in 2013...tallied Beacon Journal All-Star honors as a senior...converted all 27 extra-point attempts...made 9-of-11 field goals with a long of 45 yards...recorded an average of 40 yards on 34 punts...35-of-50 kickoffs were touchbacks...Ranked as the top (247Composite), second (247 Sports) or third (Rivals)-best kickers in the nation. (via BCEagles.com)

2014 Stats: Went 3/5 on field goals last seasons, and *gulp* 13/15 on extra point, while sharing kicking duties with punter Alex Howell and senior Joey Launceford

2015 Stats: Started the year off as the team's primary place kicker, going 2/3 on field goals, and 9/9 on extra points, but lost the job to Colton Lichtenberg before the Northern Illinois game.

How'd He Get Here: A three star recruit, Rivals ranked him the 2nd best place kicker in the country out of the 2014 recruiting class. He had offers from Air Force, Miami of Ohio, Purdue and Toledo.

Twitter Feed: You can follow Mike on Twitter at @mikeknoll7

Tweetable: Mike's tweets are private

Addazio after the Pinstripe Bowl: "Mike received so much...there was so much negativity. It's like, ‘Come on, man.' A game is not dictated by one play. But it's the nature of the beast. Too much blame, too much credit."

Uniform History: The number 98 has only had seven varsity players where it during their times with the Eagles. Mike Willetts, a defensive lineman in the 90's, wore it; he started with the Eagles almost every game his senior year. Mike Degnan, a defensive tackle, wore it and received the first team Academic All American. Alex Albright, a defensive end who has played with the Cowboys, among other teams, wore it, and Max Ricci, another defensive tackle that left the program, wore it as well.

Linkage:

Boston College Looking To Improve Kicking Game (Boston Globe)

Knoll Not Kicking Back At BC Camp (Boston Herald)

Walsh Jesuit Mike Knoll's Recruiting Snapshot (High School Sports Cleveland)

National Signing Day Mike Knoll Commits To Boston College (BC Interruption)

Highlights:

Highlight Reel:

Pinstripe Bowl

Here are some highlights of Mike in high school