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State College DB Sammy Knipe pulling up anchor, commits to Navy. @sammyknipe @SCoachLintal

Tagged under: District 6, News, Recruiting

| August 9, 2020

Last year, State College DB Sammy Knipe went down with an injury early in the season. I cost him 4 games of the 2019 season but he came back strong mid season, and expectations are high if the 6’1″, 220 pound DB gets to see the field.  Off the field, and on the recruiting trail, things have been just fine for Knipe.  Fordham, Army, Columbia, Villanova, JMU, Duquesne, LIU Post, Akron and Holy Cross have all thrown offers his way, but he ended that part of his senior season by committing to The Navy Football program and Academy.

Make no mistake, they’re getting one heck of a player for that Midshipman defensive backfield, as well as a tremendous young man off the field. In his freshman year, Knipe had 40 Tackles, 2 INT, 6 Passes Deflected, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 Defensive TD, 18.8 Avg Kickoff Return Yards. In his Sophomore Year he had 100 Tackles, 1 INT, 8 Passes Deflected, 1 Fumble Recovery, 3 TFL

He announced his decision on twitter Saturday Night:

 

We caught up with Sammy to ask him about his choice:

PFN: How long have you played football? *
Sammy: 9 Years
PFN: Why did you choose to commit to the Midshipmen
Sammy: I wanted to do something bigger than myself & what better place to do that than The Naval Academy!
PFN: Why commit early/commit to them? *
Sammy: I knew it was where my heart was & I had nothing to hide.
PFN: Who was your biggest influence at Naval Academy, who recruited you? *
Sammy: Coach Yokitis was my man, he kept it real & I gained a lot of trust & respect for him.
PFN: What are they getting in player like you? *
Sammy: The Naval Academy is getting a versatile defender that has the speed to cover a lot of space but also the size to play in the box & rumble with the big boys in the trenches.
PFN: What was the recruiting process like for you? *
Sammy: The Naval Academy offered me way back, they were actually the 3rd school to offer me. I didn’t think much of it when I got the offer, but later on when it came to decision time it really stood out to me. I went down to Annapolis to check it out & fell in love. One thing led to another & now I’m a Midshipman!
PFN: How did the Covid 19 pandemic affect your decision? *
Sammy: Not much at all. It would’ve made the recruiting process with visiting a lot easier & more convenient but other than that it didn’t play much of a role.
PFN: What position were you recruited for? *
Sammy: I was told my position is to be determined & they don’t know what they’ll do with me & all they know is that they want me! It’ll likely be safety or linebacker.
PFN: Do you know what you’d like to study? *
Sammy: Quantitative Economics is a possibility. The USNA is in the early stages of starting up a Cyber Security Major which I may be interested in as well.
PFN: What role did your parents play in your decision? *
Sammy: They let the decision up to me but it’s a different type of decision when you’re committing to an academy. It’s a life decision. I made sure they were by my side & understood the whole process but ultimately they were proud & supportive of my decision.
PFN: What do you think is the most exciting thing about the Naval Academyprogram? *
Sammy: Army Navy game baby let’s get it #BeatArmy
PFN: What are you most looking forward to while playing for the Midshipmen*
Sammy: Just being apart of a tight brotherhood & being apart of something bigger than myself & bigger than football.
PFN: Tell everyone out there in the football world something they’d never know about you until you told them: *
Sammy: I love playing defense but honestly I have the most fun punting!
PFN: Who is the person who most influenced you in your football career? *
Sammy: Coach Lintal, he recoginized my ability early on & brought me up to play varisty as a freshman. That decision he made will stick with me for the rest of my life. He’s always been there for me as a player, but more importantly as a person. I know if I’m struggling or need help with anything that his door will always be open & he cares about me, as he does all his players. I can’t thank him enough for all he has done for me.
PFN: What is it you’d like all your high school teammates and fans to know about your decision that you might have a hard time saying in person? *
Sammy: BEAT ARMY… AND I’LL SAY IT IN PERSON LOUD AND CLEAR !!!

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