If you are a fan of running back RJ Harvey out of UCF, then you also need to be a fan of his left tackle. The Chicago Bears met with Amari Kight during the Hula Bowl, but not enough Bears fans are talking about the versatile offensive lineman who could be a draft target with one of their Day 3 picks.
Amari Kight has some serious size at 6'7" and 315 pounds. He was a four-star recruit out of high school and was recruited to play at Alabama. Kight started his collegiate career as the backup left tackle. However, he transferred to UCF in 2023 to finish out his final two years of eligibility. At UCF, he was the starting left tackle and helped the Knights develop into one of the most productive offenses in college. The UCF Knights finished 4th in rushing and 8th in total offense.
Kight was a big part of that success. You could see his impact on multiple plays, but one play in particular still stands out to me when watching his film. It was during the UCF vs Arizona game, and UCF went up 14-0 on a 17-yard rushing touchdown by Harvey. Harvey deserves some of the credit, but he would not have scored if not for Amari Kight moving down the line and then up to the second level to take on Arizona's linebacker. Kight took the linebacker out of the play by using his athleticism and strength. The block sprung Harvey for the touchdown. He showcases these skills often.
On Friday, April 18, 2025, I had the pleasure of getting an exclusive interview with Kight thanks to his agent, Daniel "DFlo" Flores of Grady Sports Agency. Kight is a versatile offensive lineman with great footwork and athleticism. He is a student of the game, and his football prowess allows him to pick up blitzes, stunts, and attack countermoves. He also prides himself on being coachable. He would make a great addition to a team like Chicago, a team looking to add depth and developmental linemen to its offensive line room.
Interview with Amari Kight: Potential OL draft target for the Bears
Here is a quick summary of that interview. Check out the full interview at Halas Huddle.
Amari, you started your college career at Alabama, one of the premier programs in the country. What did you learn from your time there, even as a backup that helped shape you as a player?
For me, just being able to kind of watch some of the guys that were ahead of me. So just getting the privilege of watching guys like Alex Leatherwood, Landon Dickerson, Jedrick Wills and Evan Neal. So just being able to see those guys play and see areas of their game that I can incorporate into my own and also just be able to see little things that they might not always do perfect and just be able to just kind of take those things that they also were struggling with and kind of talk through those issues with them and just all around become a better player just because of it. And just being able to be around those guys and all that talent was something that was really helpful for my development.
You definitely embraced the change from being a backup at Alabama to starting at UCF because in your first season at UCF, you logged 370 pass blocking snaps without giving up a single sack. You allowed only one quarterback hit over that time. And then you followed that up in 2024 with being the most reliable pass blocker on the team. What do you credit that level of consistency and protection to?
For me, it's a tribute to my teammates. It's, you know, the guys I went out there and practice against every single day. And just my coaching, just being able to really key in on pass protection and that being something that we worked on a lot. And, for me, I've kind of always been a guy who had really good feet and I've just always been able to get in a good position when it comes to pass protection. So that's kind of what I credit it to.
There's been some buzz that you had a meeting with the Chicago Bears during the Hula Bowl. Can you confirm if that meeting happened and what that conversation was like?
Yeah, I did have a meeting with the Bears. It was something that went really well. Just being able to tell them about me and get on their board a little bit. And hear what they had to say about me as a player.
What kind of feedback have you received from NFL teams during your pre-draft process? Has there been any consistent message about your strengths or areas you need to approve?
For me, scouts really like my athleticsm. That I have really good feet. That I'm able to get into the right positions and hold up in pass protection. They like my versatility - I have played four positions along the line in college.
When you think about potentially joining a team like the Chicago Bears, with a physical identity and passionate fanbase, do you feel like that’s a good fit for your personality and game?
I definitely feel like it's something I have been around, just being around UCF, being around Alabama. They are very passionate fans. For me, I don't think it would be anything out of the ordinary for me. And I kind of embrace it because you have fans that you know are going to back you up and love on you. Those are people you want to go play for.
Finally, if you're drafted by the Bears—or any team—what’s the first thing they’re getting from Amari Kight, both on the field and in the locker room?
On the field, someone who is going to come to work every day. Someone who is going to have that attention to detail. Someone who is going to be coachable. Someone who wants to learn, but isn't too big on themselves that they can't take coaching from anybody else or any pointers. A guy who is going to do what it takes to win. In the locker room, someone whose teammates are going to enjoy being around. Someone who can help pick up the mood and who is going to help push his teammates every day.