Former USC star Joe McKnight killed in shooting

Former USC star Joe McKnight was shot and killed at age 28 on Thursday afternoon during an altercation at a traffic light in Terrytown, La.

The school confirmed the news late in the afternoon.

McKnight was one of the most heavily-recruited high school players of all-time, listed as the top-rated player in the country by ESPN for the 2007 recruiting class.

Most assumed McKnight would sign with local powerhouse LSU and play for head coach Les Miles, but he decided on National Signing Day to join USC and play for Pete Carroll.

The 6-foot, 200-pounder saw action in 13 games during his freshman season, rushing for 540 yards and three touchdowns on just 94 carriers, while also adding a touchdown and 203 yards in the passing game.

While McKnight would never quite live up to the massive hype he brought with him to the USC campus, he would finish his three-year run with the Trojans with 2,213 yards rushing, 542 yards receiving, and 15 total touchdowns.

McKnight was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He would fail to replicate his collegiate success at the professional level, rushing for 505 yards in four seasons with both the Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs.

After being cut by the Chiefs, McKnight signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, carrying the ball 38 times for 228 yards this past season.