High School Sports Yearbook: Class of 2026 standout Knight Wilson reflects on 4-year journey

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Five years ago, Knight Wilson remembers sitting in the stands at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga and watching Page (TN) play Powell in the Patriots' first state championship appearance.

Page lost that game by eight, but it was the first of what would be five consecutive championship game appearances for the Patriots. Wilson ultimately found himself in the next four as a player himself.

Those next four years flew by for Wilson, and they were full of failures and successes.

There would be a lot of wins during Wilson's time at Page as the Patriots posted a record of 53-6. However, half of those losses came in state championship games.

Finally on December 5, 2025, Wilson and the Patriots achieved what had been eluding them for half a decade. With a 21-14 win over Sevier County, Wilson capped his high school career with the program's first championship and ending the year unbeaten.

"We had no idea what was in store for us back when I was in middle school," Wilson said. "I remember going to the state championship game when I was in eighth grade and we were all just super excited to be there and to see the team. No one thought we could do something like this, but when I got here, though, I realized it was possible. Everyone bought into the culture and that happened every single year. A whole group of guys who bought into one goal."

Reflecting on a successful four-year run in Rudderville

The moment the clock struck zero in that game, Wilson noted that the moment still replays over and over in his head. Even with the game won, it was hard to comprehend that it was actually over. There was the joyous jubilation of finally winning a state championship.

However, it was also the last time he'd get to play with guys he had been playing with for nearly a decade.

For Wilson, his whole high school experience was one that he took in stride. He was never one to take anything for granted and tried to soak in every moment.

In the rare cases Page lost, Wilson took those losses as hard or harder than anyone. He also realized that they were good opportunities to learn and grow.

As a player,, Wilson stated that there was significant growth in his game from freshman to senior, culminating in a key goal-line tackle in Page's first-everfirst-ever championship.

That growth is something he'll be the first to give credit to his coaches for.

"Coach (Sean) Temple, Coach (Charles) Rathbone, Coach (Jason) Hoath, they taught me so much about the game," Wilson noted. "When I came in as a freshman, I had some talent but was just playing like everybody else. I really got to change my game the last two years and began to understand certain parts of the game, the film room, alignment, things you don’t understand when you’re younger. It’s definitely helped me take that next step."

Off the field, Wilson said there's not a lot in his life that's changed a whole lot over the four years. What he liked then, he still likes now, and he remains friends with several of the friends he knew four years ago.

He's recognized that his game has changed as he's grown as a player, but something that's just as big of a change in the right direction: his fashion sense.

"The biggest difference between my freshman year and now is what I wore," Wilson joked. "I look back at the stuff I used to wear in games and had no idea what I was doing. I would wear long socks up to my knees and these massive, baggy shirts and now it’s nothing. Now it’s just pants and sometimes an arm sleeve. I’m not sure how I didn’t overheat back then." 

Advice for the next generation of high school athletes

Wilson's next step in life will be heading west to Colorado, where he'll play college football at the Air Force Academy. He's set to leave at the end of the month for basic training and, after that, hopes to have a successful college playing career as he tries to achieve his goal of becoming a pilot one day.

The decision to commit to Air Force was an easy one. Wilson knows it's a harder path than some of his teammates will take, but the feeling he got while there on a visit was similar to how he felt back at Page.

"The culture we have here is something I really saw when I went up to the Air Force Academy," Wilson said. "Sometimes you go to these colleges now and it’s a lot different than it used to be. Everyone is kind of moving and jumping around, but the Air Force Academy is a place where our coach has been there for the last 18 years, and almost 90% of the staff played for the academy. It’s a tight bond that I feel is a lot similar to here and it’s something I love about the game and want to be around."

Even when he's at the Air Force Academy, Page is something that Wilson knows will be on his mind constantly. Rudderville is a place he grew to love for many years and the experiences he had as a player and student were too good for him not to remember fondly.

As he goes, Wilson knows that a new generation is set to walk the halls he once roamed and play on the field he became a star on. His advice to those incoming freshmen who may be scared about playing football in high school?

"Take it all in," Wilson said. "There’s going to be highs and there’s going to be lows, but it’s probably the best four years of your life. I’m looking forward to college football but at the same time, I don’t think I’ll have an experience like the one I had here. The bond we had and the brotherhood, after every practice we were all going somewhere and hanging out together. Enjoy the time with your brothers because you’re never going to get it back."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High School Sports Yearbook: Class of 2026 standout Knight Wilson reflects on 4-year journey

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