Knowshon Moreno

Knowshon Moreno
refer to caption
Moreno with the Denver Broncos in 2010
No. 27, 28
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1986-12-31) December 31, 1986
Queens, New York
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight: 218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: Middletown South
(Middletown, New Jersey)
College: Georgia
NFL Draft: 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts: 876
Rushing yards: 3,616
Rushing touchdowns: 27
Receptions: 158
Receiving yards: 1,409
Receiving touchdowns: 9
Player stats at NFL.com

Knowshon Rockwell Moreno (born July 16, 1987) is a former American football running back. He played college football at the University of Georgia and was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He also played for the Miami Dolphins.

Early years

Moreno grew up in Belford, a neighborhood in Middletown Township, New Jersey. His parents are Freddie Moreno, who is of Puerto Rican descent and a former member of the Five Percent Nation,[1] and Varashon Mcqueen-Moreno who is of African-American descent.[2] At Middletown High School South, he led his team to three Central Jersey Group III championships.[3] He rushed for 1,629 yards on 153 carries and scored 28 touchdowns in 11 games as a senior.[4] He finished his high school career with 6,268 career rushing yards, 128 touchdowns, and 768 points. His rushing yards are second all-time in New Jersey high school ranks, while he is New Jersey's all-time leading scorer. He also rushed for 420 yards and seven touchdowns in one game against the Neptune Scarlet Fliers.[5] He also rushed for six touchdowns against the Monmouth Regional Falcons.

While at Middletown South, Moreno was also a top tier sprinter and jumper during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. In fact, he holds multiple school records, including the fastest time for the 100-meter dash at 11.01 seconds. He recorded a PR of 6.73 seconds in the 55 meters at the 2005 Shore Conference Championships, where he placed 4th.[6] At the 2005 Monmouth County Championships, he captured three state titles, winning the 100 meters (11.1 s), the long jump (6.68 m) and the triple jump (13.38 m).[7]

He was the #10 running back and #73 prospect according to Rivals.com, #9 running back according to Scout.com, and was a PrepStar 200 selection. He was also an EA Sports All-American while being recruited by Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Florida.[8] Moreno eventually signed his letter of intent to Georgia.[9]

Collegiate career

Freshman season

Moreno redshirted in 2006, and entered the 2007 season as a redshirt freshman under head coach Mark Richt. After a great spring, Moreno shared time with Thomas Brown as the starting running back in the season opener against Oklahoma State. Moreno totaled 70 yards rushing on 12 carries with two receptions for 51 yards in the 35–14 win.[10] In the following game against South Carolina, Moreno saw most of the rushing duties with 14 carries for 104 yards in the 12-16 loss.[11] In the third game of the season against Western Carolina, Moreno scored his first career college touchdown in a 45-16 win over Western Carolina. His totals on the day were 94 yards on 13 rushes with one touchdown.[12]

Entering the Bulldogs' game against Vanderbilt, it was announced that Georgia's starting tailback Thomas Brown would be sidelined with a broken collarbone. Moreno was elevated to starting tailback in Brown's place and responded with 157 rushing yards in the narrow 20–17 victory.[13]

Following a bye week, he continued his impressive season with 188 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 33 carries as Georgia defeated its rival, Florida.[14] Against Troy the next game, Moreno rushed for 196 yards, joining Herschel Walker as the only player in Georgia history to rush for 1,000 yards in his freshman season.[15]

Moreno rushed for over 100 yards for the fifth straight game in leading the Georgia Bulldogs to a 24-13 victory over Kentucky while totaling 124 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.[16] Moreno is the first Georgia tailback since Herschel Walker in 1982 to rush for over 100 yards in five straight games.

Through the first ten weeks of the 2007 season, Moreno was named the SEC Freshman of the Week three times and SEC Offensive Player of the Week once.[17] He was named onto the all-SEC first team and was the unanimous SEC Freshman of the Year. He was the featured tailback on the Freshman All-American first team and was named to the All-Freshman SEC team. Sporting News named him Freshman Offensive Player of the Year.

Moreno finished the season with 1,334 yards on 248 carries for 14 touchdowns. He also added 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions.[18]

Knowshon Moreno during his tenure at Georgia.

Sophomore season

Moreno began his sophomore campaign as a Heisman Trophy favorite. He opened the season with 59 yards on eight carries for three touchdowns and 53 yards on two receptions for a total of 112 yards and three touchdowns in the 45–21 win over Georgia Southern.[19] He also had a tackle on a kickoff. In the following 56-17 win over Central Michigan, Moreno rushed 18 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns.[20] He also had three receptions for 30 yards, totaling 198 yards of total offense in the win. The game also provided Moreno with his highlight reel's iconic moment: a hurdle over an upright CMU defender.[21] In the SEC opener for the Bulldogs against South Carolina, Moreno had 20 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown in the 14–7 win. Next, Moreno and the Bulldogs traveled to Arizona to defeat Arizona State 27-10, led by his 149 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.[22]

However, the Bulldogs' undefeated record was broken in a 41-30 loss to Alabama.[23] In the loss, Moreno was held to 34 yards and a score on 9 carries. It was the only game on the season in which he was held under 50 yards rushing and 50 yards of total offense. However, Moreno bounced back in the 26-14 win over Tennessee with 101 yards. However, he was held out of the endzone for the first time on the season.[24]

Georgia defeated Vanderbilt 24-14 to improve their record to 6-1, with Moreno rushing 23 times for a season-high 172 yards and a touchdown.[25] Moreno added onto his season totals in the 52-38 victory against LSU with 163 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Moreno's totals in the two-week effort was 335 yards and two touchdowns on only 44 carries.[26]

However, Georgia was handed their second conference loss in a 49-10 rout against eventual national champion Florida, in which Moreno was held to 65 yards on 17 carries.[27] Moreno closed out the season strong with 410 yards rushing, 235 receiving and accounted for six touchdowns in the games against Kentucky, Auburn, Georgia Tech and Michigan State.[28]

He finished the 2008 season with 1,792 yards of total offense (1,400 rushing on 250 carries and 392 yards on 33 receptions) and scored 18 touchdowns (16 rushing, 2 receiving). He was named the team's offensive MVP. He finished second in Doak Walker award voting, behind Shonn Greene. He was named first-team All-SEC for the second consecutive year, and was a second-team All-American selection. On January 7, 2009, Moreno announced that he would enter the 2009 NFL Draft. Just after being drafted Moreno signed an endorsement deal with McDavidUSA and Hexpad equipment.[29]

Statistics

Rushing Receiving
YEAR ATT YDS AVG LNG TD NO. YDS AVG LNG TD
2006Redshirt
20072481,3345.480142025312.7350
20082501,4005.668163339211.9372
Totals4982,7345.580305364512.2372

[30]

Professional career

Moreno was considered the best running back available in the 2009 NFL Draft.[31]

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP
5 ft 11 in
(1.80 m)		 217 lb
(98 kg)		 4.45 s 1.48 s 2.64 s 4.22 s 6.79 s 35.5 in
(0.90 m)		 9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		 25 reps
All values from NFL Combine[32]

Denver Broncos

Moreno was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round with the 12th overall pick, which was their first of two first-round picks in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was the first running back and the first of six Georgia Bulldogs to be selected that year.[33][34] Moreno chose to wear the number 27 on his jersey, the same number used by the late Darrent Williams. He received permission from Williams's mother Rosalind. Moreno said he would honor the number, and volunteer at the Darrent Williams Teen Center.[35]

On August 7, 2009, after an eight-day holdout, Moreno signed a five-year, $18.084 million contract with a $2.094 million club option for 2014. The deal includes $14.2 million guaranteed and Moreno can earn an additional $6.3 million through incentives.[36] On September 27, 2009, Moreno scored his first career NFL touchdown with a 7-yard run against the Oakland Raiders.[37] Overall, in the 2009 season, he had 1,071 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 213 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.[38]

In the 2010 season, Moreno had 1,002 rushing yards, Seven rushing touchdowns, 372 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns in 13 games.[39]

During the 2011 season, Moreno split playing time with Willis McGahee. Moreno averaged a career-high 5.3 yards per carry. His season was cut short on November 15, 2011 when the Broncos placed Moreno on the IR after he tore his ACL against the Kansas City Chiefs finishing the season with 731 Rushing yards and 2 Touchdowns [40]

Moreno returned to the playing field for the 2012 season and ran for a seven-yard touchdown in the opening game win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.[41] After he fumbled in the second game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, Moreno was benched and was ruled inactive for 8 straight weeks. After Willis McGahee was placed on injured reserve with a leg and knee injury, Moreno was reactivated. Despite speculation that rookie Ronnie Hillman, McGahee's backup, would assume the starting role, Moreno was named the starting running back in the next game against the Kansas City Chiefs. In his first game back, Moreno put up solid numbers, rushing for 97 yards on 20 carries and recorded 1 Touchdown while still catching four passes for 26 yards. Two games later in an away game against the Oakland Raiders, Moreno rushed for 135 yards on a career-high 32 carries and recorded a touchdown. He also had 4 catches for 48 yards in the game. In the following game against the Baltimore Ravens, Moreno rushed for 125 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. In the game, he hurdled over an upright Ed Reed on a 20-yard rush. For that game against the Ravens, Moreno was named "AFC Offensive Player of the Week" and was named the "Fedex Ground Player of the Week."

Moreno continued his comeback into the 2013 season winning the starting running back job over frontrunners Ronnie Hillman and rookie Montee Ball. Through week 13 of the season, Moreno has rushed for 942 yards (4.7 ypc) and has also run for 10 touchdowns. He has also caught 42 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns. Moreno had a career-high 37 rushes for 224 yards against the New England Patriots in week 12.

During the Broncos' Week 16 win over the Houston Texans, Moreno became the first Bronco in franchise history to rush for over 1,000 yards and receive for over 500 yards in the same season.[42]

Moreno and the Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII, but lost 43-8 to the Seattle Seahawks. Moreno had 5 carries for 17 yards in the loss.

Miami Dolphins

On March 27, 2014, Moreno signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins worth $6 million. In his debut with the Dolphins, despite not starting, he led the Dolphins to a 33-20 win over the New England Patriots, rushing for 146 yards on 24 carries. [43] On September 14, 2014, Moreno sustained a dislocated left elbow in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.[44] In Moreno's return in week 5 against the Green Bay Packers he put up 70 yards on 15 carries with 2 receptions for 22 yards. Moreno would finish the 2014 season with 216 carries for 1,139 yd and 5 touchdowns. In October 2014, Moreno tore his ACL and was unable to play for the remainder of the 2014 season.

As of April 2018 he has not been signed by any team despite a stated desire to make a comeback.[45]

Career statistics

SeasonTeamGamesRushingReceiving Fumbles
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTDFUMLost
2014Miami Dolphins 1482161,1395.2455211878.932100
2013Denver Broncos 16152871,3794.86212605489.935T310
2012Denver Broncos 861385944.3405211678.026011
2011Denver Broncos 961036306.1483111019.228T111
2010Denver Broncos 13132361,1354.87073737210.145332
2009Denver Broncos 16122479474.57210282137.627244
Total 76601,2426,0654.836421581,4098.9459108

[46]

Personal Life

Knowshon's first name is a portmanteau of his father's nickname, Knowledge, and his mother's name, Varashon.[47]

Moreno is a Christian. Moreno has spoken about his faith after he was seen crying after "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a game saying, "During the anthem it's always quiet and still, so I take in the moment and say a little prayer... I thank the Lord for letting me play the game. I thank Him for everything. I run through my whole life right there at that moment. Even the bad stuff."[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "There's a story behind Knowshon Moreno's tears".
  2. ↑ Strickland, Carter (September 25, 2007), "Dogs offensive line good, but not great", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, retrieved October 17, 2007, Moreno, a 5-foot-11, 173-pound native of Belford, New jersey [...] tied senior Thomas Brown with a team-leading 74 rushing yards during the Bulldogs' 26-23 overtime win.
  3. ↑ Wilno, Don (September 29, 2007), "Jump gets jump on Wesley College; Sanderson helps bowl over Temple", Asbury Park Press, retrieved October 17, 2007, Redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno, a graduate of Middletown High School South, tied senior starting kicker Thomas Brown with a 46 yard field-goal in the University of Georgia's 3-2 overtime victory over Alabama at Bryan-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
  4. ↑ "Knowshon Moreno's High School Football Stats". MaxPreps.com.
  5. ↑ "Atlanticville Sports – Page 272". GMNews Archive. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  6. ↑ "Shore Conference Championships - Boys (Raw)". milesplit.com.
  7. ↑ http://ind.gmnews.com/news/2005-05-17/Sports/045.html
  8. ↑ "Football coach and players of the year: Thompson, Moreno, Macaluso", Asbury Park Press, December 10, 2005, retrieved October 1, 2008, ...and has schools such as Georgia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Florida and Oklahoma pursuing him.
  9. ↑ "Knowshon Moreno, Middletown South , Running Back". 24/7 Sports. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  10. ↑ "Oklahoma State at Georgia Box Score, September 1, 2007". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  11. ↑ "The Last Time: Georgia vs. South Carolina". AccessWDUN. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  12. ↑ Weiszer, Marc. "Georgia hammers Western Carolina". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  13. ↑ "Brandon Coutu Kicks No. 24 Georgia Past Vanderbilt 20-17 :: Georgia overcame a 10-point halftime deficit in the win". CSTV. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  14. ↑ Thamel, Pete. "End Zone Incident Intensifies Georgia-Florida Rivalry". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  15. ↑ "Moreno scores 3 TDs as Georgia stops Troy". NewsOK.com. 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  16. ↑ "Georgia Overcomes TOs to Beat Kentucky". NewsOK.com. 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  17. ↑ "Moreno named top SEC freshman for third time this season". accessnorthga.com.
  18. ↑ "Knowshon Moreno 2007 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  19. ↑ "Moreno, No. 1 Georgia beat Georgia Southern 45-21". NewsOK.com. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  20. ↑ "COL FB: Georgia 56, Central Michigan 17". UPI. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  21. ↑ Video on YouTube
  22. ↑ Thamel, Pete. "Georgia Sheds Its Conservative Image in Victory Against Arizona State". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  23. ↑ Glier, Ray. "Against Georgia, Rebuilt Alabama Unveils Its Power". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  24. ↑ "No. 10 Georgia tops Tennessee | HeraldNet.com". HeraldNet.com. 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  25. ↑ "COL FB: Georgia 24, Vanderbilt 14". UPI. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  26. ↑ Press, Associated (2008-10-26). "Georgia silences crowd and LSU, 52-38". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  27. ↑ Thamel, Pete. "Florida Gets Best Revenge by Routing Georgia". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  28. ↑ "Knowshon Moreno 2008 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  29. ↑ Report: Georgia's Stafford, Moreno going pro. Retrieved on 2009-01-07. Archived January 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  30. ↑ "Georgia Football Statistics". GeorgiaDogs.com. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  31. ↑ Brooks, Bucky (February 13, 2009), "LeSean McCoy, Knowshon Moreno lead 2009 NFL Draft RB prospects", Sports Illustrated
  32. ↑ "Knowshon Moreno Draft Profile", NFLDraftScout.com, retrieved December 18, 2009
  33. ↑ "Total Of Six Georgia Players Chosen In Annual NFL Draft - University of Georgia". georgiadogs.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  34. ↑ "2009 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  35. ↑ Williamson, Bill (May 2, 2009). "Williams family OK's Moreno's request". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
  36. ↑ "Broncos, first-round draft pick Moreno agree to five-year, $23 million deal". nfl.com.
  37. ↑ "NFL: Broncos beat Raiders 23-3 for 3-0 start". DeseretNews.com. 2009-09-27. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  38. ↑ "Knowshon Moreno 2009 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  39. ↑ "Knowshon Moreno 2010 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  40. ↑ "Broncos' Moreno out for year with torn ACL". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  41. ↑ "Peyton Manning leads Denver Broncos to strong first win over Steelers". The Denver Post. 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  42. ↑ Bronco Mike (December 22, 2013). "Knowshon Moreno surpasses 1K yards rushing for 1st time in career". Mile High Report. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  43. ↑ Salguero, Armando (September 7, 2014). "Dolphins beat Patriots, 33-20 to take opener". The Miami Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  44. ↑ Abramson, Andrew (September 15, 2014). "With RB Knowshon Moreno hurt, Miami Dolphins re-sign Daniel Thomas". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  45. ↑ Wesseling, Chris (May 28, 2016). "Knowshon Moreno eyeing NFL comeback". NFL.com. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Knowshon Moreno Stats". NFL Enterprises. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  47. ↑ Kensler, Tom (April 26, 2009). "Broncs introduce 1st-rounders". Denver Post.
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