An Arizona defensive tackle who led the Wildcats in tackles for loss in 2025 and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention before signing with Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie.
Deshawn McKnight joins the Buccaneers' defensive line as an undrafted rookie after a disruptive senior season at Arizona. At 6-foot-3 and 288 pounds, McKnight profiles as an interior lineman built to push the pocket and clog running lanes, and he did plenty of both in his final college season.
Path to the league
McKnight played his entire college career at Arizona, developing into a full-time starter on the Wildcats' defensive line by 2025. He went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent, where he will compete for a depth role along the defensive line.
Career highlights
McKnight's best season came as a senior in 2025, when he started 10 of Arizona's 13 games and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition for his interior disruption. He finished tied for seventh in the Big 12 in tackles for loss, a mark that led his own team.
2025 season recap
In 2025, McKnight totaled 26 tackles (9 solo, 17 assisted), including a team-leading 11 tackles for loss, two sacks and two quarterback hurries. He posted a tackle for loss in nine of Arizona's 13 games, with a season-high 2.5 tackles for loss against Kansas State and a standout four-tackle, one-sack effort in a road win over then-No. 22 Cincinnati.
Sources
- ESPN: Deshawn McKnight
- Arizona Wildcats Athletics: Deshawn McKnight
- Buccaneers.com: Deshawn McKnight
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Arizona
- Hometown
- Sumter, SC, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
