Kansas State receiver Malik Knowles used an Instagram post Thursday to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft.

A senior with one year of eligibility remaining, he finished 2022 with 48 catches for 725 yards and two touchdowns. He had a year of eligibility remaining because of the COVID year granted by the NCAA.

For his career, Knowles totaled 127 catches, 1,867 yards with 14 receiving touchdowns. He added 36 carries for 440 yards and four TD’s rushing. As a special teams performer, Knowles averaged 25.26 yards per kick return.

Malik entered his senior season tied for fourth in school history in kickoff-return touchdowns (3), ranked sixth in kickoff-return average (28.2) and yards (1,099), and tied for eighth in kickoff-return attempts (39). He also tied for eighth in touchdown receptions (12) and is one of 33 players in school history with 1,000 career receiving yards (1,142).

In addition, Malik is one of 33 players with 2,000 or more career all-purpose yards (2,517)… Moving into the 2022 season he tied for second nationally among active players in career kickoff-return touchdowns, fifth in kickoff-return average and tied for fifth in non-offensive touchdowns.

MALIK SHARES A K-STATE RECORD

He is also one of just two players in school history with touchdowns of at least 70 yards on a run; once during 2020 at Baylor (75 yards), a catch in 2020 versus Texas (70 yards) and three kickoff returns in a career, joining Brandon Banks (2008-09).

Malik was born August 17, 2000, in Lynwood, California. While playing at Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas, Malik collected 40 receptions for 846 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior enroute to First Team All-District 10-5A accolades. He helped the Eagles advance to the quarterfinals of the 2017 Texas Class 5A D1 state playoffs, including a 113-yard, three-touchdown performance in his final high school game. He also participated in track and field.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Malik Knowles (@4q.leeko)

His list of career honors is extensive:
• 2022 Paul Hornung Award watch list
• 2022 Preseason All-American
• 2022 Preseason All-Big 12
• 2021 Second Team All-American (Phil Steele)
• 2021 First Team All-Big 12 (Coaches)
• 2021 Second Team All-Big 12 [all-purpose] (Associated Press)
• 2021 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches)
• 2021 Honorable Mention Big 12 Spec. Teams Player of the Year (Coaches)
• 2020 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list
• 2019 Honorable Mention Big 12 Offensive FR of the Year (Coaches)
• 2019 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week (Mississippi State)

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