PROVO, Utah – In 1970, BYU football saw its first black American athlete join the varsity team. This player was junior college defensive back Ron Knight.

To celebrate Juneteenth, take a look back at Ron Knight’s career. An influential figure in the decorated history of BYU football.

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday and commemorates the emancipation of African American slaves.

During the 1969 season, BYU and university sports teams faced protests within the former Western Athletic Conference. Students from opposing conference schools have protested against BYU whenever the Cougars have found themselves on the ground of a league foe.

Of Wyoming’s “Black 14” to Arizona fans who spray their gasoline basketball court and igniting it before a conference tilt, BYU’s trips within the league were suddenly mired in controversy.

The protests focused on religious policy with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church had a rule in place that prevented black men from entering the temple and receiving the priesthood.

The Church, however, has never had rules prohibiting BYU from having black athletes on its sports teams.

Ron Knight: BYU’s first black football player

After the 1969 football season, BYU made a public effort on the recruiting track to bring minority athletes in all sports to the denominational institution.

Football has started. BYU head coach Tommy Hudspeth signed Ron Knight from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO).

Knight was a 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect who helped NEO win the National Junior College Athletic Association championship.

Knight, from Sand Springs, Oklahoma, joined a BYU high school that featured All-American contestant Chris “The Galloping Greek” Farasopolous and Ron Mendenhall.

Despite plenty of high school experience in 1970, Knight still found his place on the field in eight of BYU’s games that season, registering 29 tackles in his first full year with the Cougars.

Knight opened the door for minority athletes at BYU

Knight trying his luck on BYU in 1970 had a ripple effect on more minority athletes joining the program.

Before the 1970-71 academic year began, BYU added Tony Williams, a running back from Oakland, California. Williams has signed to play on BYU’s freshman roster for this season.

During Knight’s final year of 1971, he was a solid starting security in BYU high school that legendary assistant Dick Felt coached.

Knight recorded 62 tackles, five tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Knight’s interceptions took place in the first two weeks of the season, helping BYU get off to a 2-0 start in Hudspeth’s final year as a head coach.

At the end of his playing days at BYU, Knight competed in spring games as a member of the Distinguished Alumni squad.

Since Ron Knight broke the color barrier in BYU football, it has created opportunities for BYU legends Leon White, Derwin Gray, Jernaro Gilford, Kyle Van Noy, Cody Hoffman, Jamaal Williams and many more.

Knight’s arrival in Provo helped forever change BYU football and its athletic department.

Mitch Harper is a BYU insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.