MJ Knighten

Classroom

As broadcasting major, MJ Knighten was a 2015 academic All-Big Ten selection for posting a grade-point average above 3.0. She also has been named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and has earned a Nebraska Bronze Academic Medallion.

Character

Knighten is serving as a team captain in 2017 after helping the Huskers to three NCAA Tournament appearances and one NCAA Regional title in her first three seasons. Head Coach Rhonda Revelle has praised Knighten for her leadership abilities in leading a 2017 Husker roster that features seven freshmen, the most in Revelle’s 25 seasons as Nebraska’s head softball coach. Knighten has always put her team first and has missed only one start in the Huskers’ 176 games the past three seasons. In addition to leading her softball teammates, Knighten also serves as a member of the Inner Circle Leadership Group and has volunteered her time as a coach for the Lincoln Rockets Softball Team, serving as a mentor to team members.

Community

Knighten has been a star on the field and a champion in the community during her time at Nebraska. She has volunteered her time at more than 20 community service events, and her efforts earned her a spot on Nebraska’s Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2015. She has been especially active in motivating and mentoring local children, serving as a speaker at several elementary school rallies while working nearly a dozen youth-oriented events. In addition to working to motivate and improve the lives of children, Knighten also has volunteered her time in more broad-based community outreach activities such as a Bone Marrow Drive and various food drives.

Competition

Knighten is one of the top softball players in the country. She earned first-team All-America honors in 2016 and entered the 2017 season as one of only eight returning first-team All-Americans. In 2016, Knighten ranked fifth nationally in home runs, 13th in runs scored, 19th in RBIs and 23rd in slugging percentage. She was one of only eight Division I players who averaged 1.0 hit, 1.0 run and 1.0 RBI per game in 2016 and was one of only nine players who totaled 60 hits, 60 runs and 60 RBIs. Knighten ranked second on Nebraska’s home run chart with 21 homers as a junior en route to becoming the Huskers’ seventh first-team All-American. Knighten is also a two-time first-team all-region honoree and a three-time All-Big Ten selection. A career .368 hitter, Knighten ranks among Nebraska’s all-time top 10 in batting average, runs, home runs, extra-base hits, RBIs, total bases and slugging percentage. She is on pace to challenge the Husker all-time record in runs, home runs and RBIs in her senior season.