He also played for the Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins and spent time with the New England Patriots prior to the 2016 NFL season.

Knighton attended Windsor High School in Connecticut, where he played both tight end and defensive line, and was teammates with Chris Baker.

Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Knighton chose Temple University after being denied admission to UCF, the only two scholarship offers he received.

[1] As a true freshman at Temple, Knighton played in 10 games as a reserve before earning a start in the season finale at Navy.

Knighton became a regular starter as a sophomore, and made 57 tackles (32 solo), 6.5 TFLs, three sacks, two FFs, two QBHs and four PBUs over the season.

A team captain as a senior in 2008, Knighton finished the season with 54 tackles, including 35 solos, five break-ups, a team-best three fumble recoveries, a hurry, and blocked kick, and a sack.

[5][4][6] Sports Illustrated's Tony Pauline described Knighton as "an athletic defensive tackle who struggles with weight issue", and who "has too much downside for a mid-third-round choice".

[8] At the end of the 2009 season, Coach Jack Del Rio said, "Terrance Knighton is going to be a real good player.

On March 13, 2013, Knighton was signed to two-year contract by the Denver Broncos,[12] where his former Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio was the defensive coordinator at that time.

[28] In 2009, he visited the NFL-YET center in Jacksonville with teammates Cecil Newton and Julius Williams to sign autographs and provide Thanksgiving dinner for 30 families.