Football
Trent McKnight
- Title:
- Passing Game Coordinator/Inside Wide Receivers
Trent McKnight enters his first season as the program's passing game coordinator/inside wide receivers coach.
McKnight comes to Florida fresh off a two-year stint as Georgia Tech’s wide receivers coach.
“Coach McKnight fits the bill on what we need on our offensive staff,” Sumrall said. “He has a ton of experience and is widely respected in college football for the job he does with his players. His relationship with Coach Faulkner will also benefit not only the staff, but our players.”
In 2025, McKnight helped Georgia Tech to one of its best seasons this century, finishing 9-3 and ranked top-25 in the College Football Playoff Poll for the second time in program history. The Yellow Jackets' Week 9 AP Poll Ranking (No. 7) marked their highest ranking since 2009.
Two Georgia Tech receivers – Jordan Allen (80.2) and Malik Rutherford (78.2) – finished top-10 in the ACC in PFF receiving grade for 2025. Tech’s leading receiver, Eric Rivers, holds the ACC active consecutive-games with a reception streak at 33-straight contests. Rivers recorded a team-high 42 receptions and 556 yards.
A true freshman, Allen tabbed the fourth most single-game receiving yards by an ACC rookie in 2025, with 110 yards against Boston College. He also had the longest reception of any ACC true freshman, with a 78-yard snag against Gardner-Webb.
“My family and I are extremely grateful to Coach Sumrall for the opportunity to join his staff at the University of Florida,” McKnight said. “I have a ton of respect for him as a leader and watching how his teams compete and play the game the right way. I am excited about the opportunity to work with some of the best coaches and players in the country at a place where we can compete for a national championship!”
In McKnight’s first season at Georgia Tech in 2024, two Yellow Jackets — Malik Rutherford and Eric Singleton, Jr. — earned all-ACC recognition. The duo combined for 118 receptions, 1,456 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and also added 218 rushing yards. Rutherford’s team-leading 62 receptions in 2024 ranked sixth in single-season school history and were the most by a Yellow Jacket since Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson had 76 catches in 2006.
In all, Tech wideouts combined for 177 receptions, 2,218 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns across the 2024 campaign.
McKnight came to Georgia Tech by way of nearby Georgia State, where he spent two seasons as offensive coordinator (2022-23) following five as the Panthers’ wide receivers coach (2017-21). In his time at GSU, he coached nine wideouts who earned all-Sun Belt Conference honors and three of the top-5 pass-catchers in program history, including Penny Hart, a five-year National Football League veteran, and Jamari Thrash, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
In his first year as offensive coordinator, the Panthers boasted a prolific ground attack, ranking No. 1 in the Sun Belt Conference and No. 14 in the FBS in rushing. Georgia State was one of just 18 schools in the nation to average at least 200 yards of both rushing and passing.
Following a brief stint as Georgia Military College’s receivers coach, McKnight returned to Samford. Over his five seasons as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs, McKnight held several positions, most notably passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2014 and tight ends coach from 2012-13 and 2015-16. In 2013, he helped the Bulldogs win a Southern Conference championship and earn an NCAA FCS playoff berth.
He served as run game coordinator and tight ends coach for the 2015 season, when the Bulldogs ranked No. 7 in the nation in total offense (479.7 ypg) and No. 3 in passing offense while leading the SoCon in scoring with 34.6 points per game.
McKnight coached four All-SoCon players during his tenure at Samford. A three-time, first-team All-SoCon wideout, Karel Hamilton finished an illustrious Bulldog career with 3,803 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns on 279 receptions. The Standout wide receiver earned first-team All-America honors in 2016 while leading the nation with 10.1 receptions per game.
McKnight served as a recruiting intern on Nick Saban’s inaugural Alabama Crimson Tide staff for two months in December of 2007 through January of 2008.
Prior to his coaching career, McKnight played two seasons (2006-07) at safety for Samford, earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management in 2010.
McKnight and his wife, Ashley, have three sons: Beau, Brooks and Baker.
Trent McKnight Coaching History
Trent McKnight NFL Draft Picks
McKnight comes to Florida fresh off a two-year stint as Georgia Tech’s wide receivers coach.
“Coach McKnight fits the bill on what we need on our offensive staff,” Sumrall said. “He has a ton of experience and is widely respected in college football for the job he does with his players. His relationship with Coach Faulkner will also benefit not only the staff, but our players.”
In 2025, McKnight helped Georgia Tech to one of its best seasons this century, finishing 9-3 and ranked top-25 in the College Football Playoff Poll for the second time in program history. The Yellow Jackets' Week 9 AP Poll Ranking (No. 7) marked their highest ranking since 2009.
Two Georgia Tech receivers – Jordan Allen (80.2) and Malik Rutherford (78.2) – finished top-10 in the ACC in PFF receiving grade for 2025. Tech’s leading receiver, Eric Rivers, holds the ACC active consecutive-games with a reception streak at 33-straight contests. Rivers recorded a team-high 42 receptions and 556 yards.
A true freshman, Allen tabbed the fourth most single-game receiving yards by an ACC rookie in 2025, with 110 yards against Boston College. He also had the longest reception of any ACC true freshman, with a 78-yard snag against Gardner-Webb.
“My family and I are extremely grateful to Coach Sumrall for the opportunity to join his staff at the University of Florida,” McKnight said. “I have a ton of respect for him as a leader and watching how his teams compete and play the game the right way. I am excited about the opportunity to work with some of the best coaches and players in the country at a place where we can compete for a national championship!”
In McKnight’s first season at Georgia Tech in 2024, two Yellow Jackets — Malik Rutherford and Eric Singleton, Jr. — earned all-ACC recognition. The duo combined for 118 receptions, 1,456 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and also added 218 rushing yards. Rutherford’s team-leading 62 receptions in 2024 ranked sixth in single-season school history and were the most by a Yellow Jacket since Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson had 76 catches in 2006.
In all, Tech wideouts combined for 177 receptions, 2,218 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns across the 2024 campaign.
McKnight came to Georgia Tech by way of nearby Georgia State, where he spent two seasons as offensive coordinator (2022-23) following five as the Panthers’ wide receivers coach (2017-21). In his time at GSU, he coached nine wideouts who earned all-Sun Belt Conference honors and three of the top-5 pass-catchers in program history, including Penny Hart, a five-year National Football League veteran, and Jamari Thrash, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
In his first year as offensive coordinator, the Panthers boasted a prolific ground attack, ranking No. 1 in the Sun Belt Conference and No. 14 in the FBS in rushing. Georgia State was one of just 18 schools in the nation to average at least 200 yards of both rushing and passing.
Following a brief stint as Georgia Military College’s receivers coach, McKnight returned to Samford. Over his five seasons as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs, McKnight held several positions, most notably passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2014 and tight ends coach from 2012-13 and 2015-16. In 2013, he helped the Bulldogs win a Southern Conference championship and earn an NCAA FCS playoff berth.
He served as run game coordinator and tight ends coach for the 2015 season, when the Bulldogs ranked No. 7 in the nation in total offense (479.7 ypg) and No. 3 in passing offense while leading the SoCon in scoring with 34.6 points per game.
McKnight coached four All-SoCon players during his tenure at Samford. A three-time, first-team All-SoCon wideout, Karel Hamilton finished an illustrious Bulldog career with 3,803 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns on 279 receptions. The Standout wide receiver earned first-team All-America honors in 2016 while leading the nation with 10.1 receptions per game.
McKnight served as a recruiting intern on Nick Saban’s inaugural Alabama Crimson Tide staff for two months in December of 2007 through January of 2008.
Prior to his coaching career, McKnight played two seasons (2006-07) at safety for Samford, earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management in 2010.
McKnight and his wife, Ashley, have three sons: Beau, Brooks and Baker.
Trent McKnight Coaching History
| Year | Position, School |
|---|---|
| 2026-pres. | Inside Wide Receivers, Florida |
| 2024-25 | Wide Receivers, Georgia Tech |
| 2022-23 | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, Georgia State |
| 2017-21 | Wide Receivers, Georgia State |
| 2015-16 | Run Game Coordinator/Tight Ends, Samford |
| 2014 | Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers, Samford |
| 2012-13 | Tight Ends/Inside Receivers, Samford |
| 2011 | Wide Receivers, Georgia Military College |
| 2009-10 | Student Assistant, Samford |
| 2008 | Assistant Coach, Oak Mountain (Ala.) H.S. |
| 2007-08 | Recruiting Intern, Alabama |
Trent McKnight NFL Draft Picks
| Year | Round | Player | Position | Team | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | Jamari Thrash | WR | Cleveland Browns | Georgia State |
| 2024 | 6 | Travis Glover | OL | Green Bay Packers | Georgia State |
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