I really feel like he was getting more comfortable each game, he was starting to get a few more minutes, and I believe he was poised to start contributing more and more during the last part of the season. With all the seniors on the team Knell was never going to get a ton of minutes this past season, but he had begun to carve out a consistent role which was slowly expanding, and then he got hurt.
I think he'll be a major contributor in the years to come.