Trevor Knight 'excited' to see Weigman operate in Petrino's offense

Like everyone else among the 12th Man, former Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight has watched the Ags' offseason moves very closely. On Monday, Knight shared why he is excited to see Bobby Petrino's offense in Aggieland and also touched on some other CFB storylines.

Key notes from Trevor Knight interview

• I’m doing well. Life is well. We’re having a blast in Dallas and raising a little guy. No complaints! My son is now 15 months old. He’s a little Tasmanian Devil that is running around like crazy. We’re having a blast.
   
• Last year was tough for me. Not many times do both Oklahoma and Texas A&M both lose on multiple weekends. I took some heartburn medication.
   
• For the Aggies, there are a lot of places they can improve. Some of the additions this offseason are exciting, and obviously, Bobby Petrino is a big one. There are some guys that are already on the roster that are set to step into their own. With the quarterback position, Conner Weigman and having another offseason to build that confidence and timing with your receivers and stepping up as a leader can help. I’m looking at Weigman, as well as others, to have a huge breakout season.
   
• I believe Weigman can be the guy. You’ve seen his highlights from high school, but that has come and gone. He’s a college football player now. The tools he possesses and the way he carries himself are special. He can be a magnet for the offense and the team. He showed some timidity as a young guy, but if he develops that confidence, he’s going to be the magnet for the entire program. They can go a long way with Weigman.
   
• In today’s game, we look at the quarterback to be a superhero too often. I understand that a lot does run through your quarterback, but at the end of the day, the quarterbacks that play the best distribute the ball to the playmakers. A&M has plenty of playmakers on the outside and in the backfield. If Weigman can just manage the game and make the big plays when they’re called upon but consistently put the ball in the playmakers’ hands, we can put up some serious points.
   
• I think I shared the same initial sentiment with the rest of the fanbase around the Petrino hire. I was wondering if it fit culturally. Yes, there are some blemishes in his past, but look at his track record and what he has been able to do on the offensive side of the football. I don’t think there could’ve been a better home-run hire at this time. Sure, you could’ve gone for one of these younger guys that are putting up a bunch of points in different conferences. If anyone can get a struggling offense to put up points this year, Petrino is the man for the job. As I’ve continued to read about it and think about it, I’m really excited to see his offense.
   
• Oklahoma has different but similar issues compared to Texas A&M. They had a new head coach come in, and he has to develop his culture. You had a coach that left in the middle of the night in Lincoln Riley that took Caleb Williams and others to USC. I still believe in Brent Venables as a defensive play-caller and a defensive mind. The track record he had at Oklahoma and Clemson, he definitely knows what he’s doing. Another year in the system is going to prove big for the Sooners in their last year in the Big 12 before they step up with the big boys in the SEC.
   
• I have a unique perspective in that I’ve played in the Big 12 and the SEC. The top of the Big 12, Oklahoma, Texas and maybe a team each year like Oklahoma State or Baylor or TCU, can compete in any conference. Week by week in the SEC, you’re not going to Kansas or a down West Virginia. You’re going to big-time venues to play big-time players. It’s a gauntlet. Where they’re going to feel it the most in the beginning won’t be from a competitive standpoint. It’ll be an attrition standpoint and keeping guys healthy. They’ll have to play four quarters each week. You’re going to have a roster that is more banged up in the second half of the year, and they’ll have to manage that. I’m excited to see how they compete in the SEC. There might be some success and some failure, but overall, I think it’s a great move for college football. I’ll also get to see my alma maters square off in the coming years.
   
• Looking at Oklahoma’s 2024 SEC schedule, hopefully, Venables can get those guys back on track this year so they can come in and compete. You’ll have a quarterback change because Dillon Gabriel is going to be out. They have some promising guys on the roster, but they’ll have to strap on their big-boy shoes in the SEC.
   
• I never buy the hype around the University of Texas. They have good players, but they always do. I like Steve Sarkisian, and I got to play for him with the Atlanta Falcons. He’s a phenomenal football mind, but I think the problems in Austin permeate so much deeper than that locker room and that coaching staff. It’s a systemic issue. I’m still not a huge believer in Quinn Ewers. I think he’s a good player, and you can win football games with him. I don’t see the hype surrounding him being a Heisman contender.
   
• I think the SEC West is wide open. Last year, Alabama was held together by Bryce Young, and he was possibly the best quarterback to come through there. Their defense wasn’t as daunting. Their run game wasn’t as powerful. It was all held together by the glue of Young. Remove him from the equation, and they will have guys step up. They’ll still be very good, but if a team can get on track and build the culture of winning in the second half of football games, there could be new logos fighting for position in the SEC Championship Game from the SEC West.
   
• Lincoln Riley is a phenomenal play-caller. I watched several USC games last year. It is arguably the best offense in college football coming into this year. Their defense was abysmal. They couldn’t tackle anybody. I expect them to put up huge points. If they could be marginally better on defense, they could win the Pac-12 and make a splash.
   
• I have opinions on the transfer portal. There are some really good and really bad. You also have to consider NIL. I’m a fan of some of the stories and some of the opportunities student-athletes are getting, but holistically, I’m not a fan of how it’s run. It could ruin the college experience of many athletes.