KCSS football player signs with University of Windsor

June 10, 2015 · 0 Comments

Slotback Cody Knights will be leaving the KCSS Lions this fall for the University of Windsor Lancers.

By Jake Courtepatte
For King City Secondary School slotback Cody Knights, football is about more than just what happens on the field.
He has chosen to suit up for the University of Windsor Lancers in September, not only for the up-and-coming football program, but for the personable people that represent it.
Knights recalls the positive experience he had with Donnavan Carter, the Lancers’ defensive coordinator, back at the top recruit camp.
“He talked to me and remembered my name, which was nice. Sometimes coaches just see you as players, they don’t really see you as a person as well.”
Upon visiting the campus, Knights knew Windsor was the school for him when he and Lancers head coach Joe D’Amore hit it off immediately.
“He treated me like more than just a piece of their puzzle; he actually wanted to get to know me.”
Knights is fresh off a five-year stint with the KCSS Lions, where his size and speed was utilized not only in the slot position but as a kick returner, punt returner, and backup quarterback as well.
In Windsor, Knights said the Lancers are talking about moving him out to a receiver position. He played receiver in his junior years in high school, but said the skill level difference makes the experience incomparable.
“Junior is junior, it’s just not the same level of football. But I’m comfortable doing it, I’ve always been bigger for high school players so they just put me out where they need me.”
As a “victory lap” player in his fifth year of high school eligibility, Knights played a key role as the experienced journeyman in the 2014 YRAA season. In the tier-one playoffs, the Lions fell to Bill Crothers 28-9 in the semifinals.
While waiting for his chance at a starting position in grade nine, Knights helped the Lions to a YRAA championship. He started in his Grade 10 year, helping the junior team to another divisional championship win. Grade 11 was a loss to Huron Heights in the finals of his first year on the senior squad, while his grade twelve year he described as “a little rough” in which the Lions lost in the semis in double overtime.
For the Lancers, they are in the midst of recruiting young talent to bring their football program back to a prestigious level. Last year was the Lancers’ first winning season since 2011, bowing out to the Ottawa Gee-Gees in a closely-contested game on home turf.
Knights picked Windsor out of a list of four schools, crossing Wilfrid Laurier University, York University, and the University of Toronto off the list along the way.
But it wasn’t just the program that brought Knights to Windsor. In Carter and D’Amore, he could see shades of his KCSS coaches, who over the years had become somewhat of a “father figure” to Knights.
“My coaches are probably one of the most memorable parts of my high school team,” said Knights. “They’re there if I need anything, and knowing that they are is a big help to me.”
Jeff Masterson and Brad Matwijec have been co-coaching the Lions for the past nine years, while Matwijec has been a part of the program since 2001.
“He’s a great kid,” said Matwijec. “We’re proud of him.”
In the classroom, he’ll be earning his degree in Windsor’s Human Kinetics program, which is similar to kinesiology.