Nebraska

Why FSU football’s new D-line coach Terrance Knighton is called ‘Pot Roast’

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2024

Press Room

Why FSU football’s new D-line coach Terrance Knighton is called ‘Pot Roast’

Did somebody order a pot roast?

That would be Mike Norvell.

With Norvell’s hunger to fix Florida State football’s defense, Terrance ‘Pot Roast’ Knighton was on the menu.

After FSU officially hires Tony White as the next defensive coordinator, Knighton, who was White’s assistant in Nebraska, will become the next defensive line coach.

Before it was official, Knighton was not hiding from his departure from Nebraska.

On Wednesday, he posted on his X page showing gratitude from the Cornhuskers with the caption ‘Thank you Nebraska. All love!’

His last tweet was Thursday morning, with an airplane emoji. He is most likely flying to Tallahassee.

Here’s what we know about FSU’s next defensive line coach:

Who gave Terrance Knighton the nickname ‘Pot Roast’?

Some people might be wondering where Knighton got the nickname ‘Pot Roast.

The famous nickname was discovered during his NFL rookie season when he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He explained it in an article he wrote for the Players’ Tribune on Sept. 16, 2015.

According to the article, Knighton was hungry and flew back to Jacksonville after a game. The flight attendant gave him a choice between Shrimp Alfredo or pot roast. Guess what he took.

“It was pitch dark on the plane because everyone was asleep, so the flight attendants couldn’t really see us,” he explained in the Tribune.

“You had to either raise your hand or press the little overhead light button to get them to notice you. So when the flight attendant came down the aisle saying, “Pot roast, pot roast,” I waved my hand out into the aisle and said, “Right here!”

His teammate, Clint Ingram, jokingly called him pot roast afterward. The rest was history.

What NFL teams did Terrance Knighton play for?

Knighton has played in the NFL for seven seasons after being selected in the third round out of Temple in the 2009 NFL Draft. Current Nebraska coach Matt Rhule coached him while he was at Temple from 2005 to 2008.

Knighton played for three different teams. He started 96 of the 108 games for the Jaguars (2009-12), Denver Broncos (2013-14), and the Washington Commanders (2015). His last NFL was the New England Patriots, where he was a practice squad player in 2016.

Knighton made the NFL All-Rookie team with the Jaguars and played in Super Bowl XLVIII for the Broncos.

In his career, he recorded 231 career tackles with 34 tackles for loss and 14.0 sacks. He also forced three fumbles, had two fumble recoveries and 11 passes defended with one interception.

His 231 tackles are the 15th most tackles among NFL defensive tackles.

Terrance Knighton: The coach and father figure

Knighton was missed in Nebraska. The Huskers have spoken dearly about the defensive line coach.

A resurfaced video from Oct. 5 of edge rusher James Williams spoke deeply about Knighton and how much he meant to him as a coach and a father figure.

“He taught me so much about life,” Williams told the Nebraska media.

“I say he is a father figure, but he is really my father. I learned so much about him about life. He helped me through everything. That man means everything to me.”

Knighton has been coaching for six years in both college and the NFL. In his first two years, he coached at Wagner and then joined Rhule’s coaching staff for the Carolina Panthers.

He followed Rhule to Nebraska, as he has been a defensive line coach since 2023. Last season, the Huskers have allowed a rushing touchdown all year. It starts up front in a 3-3-5 defensive scheme.

He was asked about his philosophy in coaching his defensive line in a video clip.

“Gritty playmakers,” Knighton answered.

“We’re gonna do everything the tough way, we’re gonna make plays, but at the same time we’re gonna be tough, we’re gonna be in our gap, we’re gonna play with our hands, and we’re gonna get after people.”

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

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Nebraska

Oregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska

Published

4 minutes ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Oregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska

Nebraska has picked up a third linebacker commitment from Oregon State transfer Dexter Foster, a sophomore with three seasons of eligibility remaining, including a redshirt year.

The 6-foot-3, 236lb linebacker started in seven games this fall for the Beavers, totaling 52 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. As a true freshman in 2024, he appeared in 12 games, totaling 43 tackles with two tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries.

Foster held just two offers coming out of high school prior to committing to Oregon State, but was at one point a target for new Nebraska defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, when Aurich was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Idaho in 2022-2023.

The sophomore joins a linebacker room that has seen a bit of a facelift through transfer portal additions. San Diego State linebacker Owen Chambliss led the Aztecs in tackles this season and has now signed with the Huskers, following Rob Aurich to Lincoln. Iowa State freshman linebacker Will Hawthorne committed to the Huskers on Tuesday. Nebraska fell just short of Iowa State when Hawthorne was coming out of Gilbert (Ia.) in the 2025 cycle.

Foster is the seventh transfer portal addition for the Huskers this cycle and the fourth defensive addition. The Huskers are expected to be done with linebacker portal recruiting at this point and will turn attention to needs up front, both at defensive tackle and edge rusher.

Quick look at what Nebraska is getting in Foster

Standing 6-foot-3, and north of 235lbs, Foster is rangy and athletic in space. Has the versatility to play true strong-side or weak-side linebacker and could even spin down to edge rusher if needed. Possesses the athletic and physical range to track down ball-carriers in space, arm length to keep would-be-blockers at bay. Shows good eye discipline working through traffic, quick to react and trigger downhill, with the fluidity to change directions quickly. Still more read-and-react than anticipatory at this point in his development, but gets to his spots quickly. Has the athleticism to stick in coverage against running backs, tight ends and even slot receivers.

Has the experience, size and play-style to factor into Nebraska’s linebacker rotation immediately, and could even push to start alongside San Diego State linebacker transfer Owen Chambliss. Has the versatility to be a chess piece of sorts for Aurich and stick on the field regardless of personnel.

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Nebraska

Nebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek

Published

12 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek

QUEEN CREEK, AZ — A slice of the Midwest is coming to the East Valley! Godfather’s Pizza from Omaha, Nebraska, is set to open a new location this month in Queen Creek.

Bruce Cannon, who owns and operates two Godfather’s Pizza locations in Lincoln and Norfolk, Nebraska, will also own and operate the new Queen Creek restaurant.

“This marks the brand’s first traditional Godfather’s Pizza restaurant in Arizona since 2009, signaling an exciting return to the Phoenix metro area,” read the news release sent to ABC15.

The restaurant will open near Queen Creek Rd and Signal Butte Rd.

The restaurant will provide dine-in, carryout, and third-party delivery options, featuring its classic pizza lineup alongside favorites like breadsticks, streusels, and specialty pies.

IF YOU GO

Opening date: January 19, 2026.
Address: 22485 Queen Creek Road, Suite 101

Nebraska

Notre Dame Transfer QB Kenny Minchey Flips Commitment From Nebraska After One Day

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Notre Dame Transfer QB Kenny Minchey Flips Commitment From Nebraska After One Day

The quarterback position has been one of the most intriguing to follow early on into the transfer portal period, as schools across the country make offers to some of the best available arms. Nebraska thought they managed to bring aboard one of the best quarterbacks in the portal on Sunday when they received a commitment from Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey.

That commitment ended up being rather short lived, however.

On Monday, reports emerged saying that Minchey was flipping his commitment from Nebraska to Kentucky just one day after declaring he’d be joining the Cornhuskers for the 2026 season.

Instead, Minchey now appears set to join the Wildcats under new head coach Will Stein, who is finishing up his duties as the offensive coordinator for Oregon.

Minchey is entering his redshirt junior season and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He’s spent the last three years as a backup at Notre Dame. He completed 20 of 26 passes this season for 196 yards, but did not have a passing touchdown or interception.

Now, he’ll get the chance to start for Kentucky, replacing former Wildcats quarterback Cutter Boley, who transferred to Arizona State.

As for Nebraska, this is a big blow for the program. It’s not yet clear what direction they’ll turn as the program hunts down its next quarterback after Dylan Raiola entered the transfer portal at the end of the season.