Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina
Size:
Height: 6015
Weight: 235
Arm: 32 ⅝”
Hand: 10”
Accomplishments:
First-Team All-AAC (2023)
“Demetrius Knight Jr. is an instinctive three-down defender who is as nuanced against the run as he is in space.”
Strengths:
Athleticism
Lateral agility
Trigger
Coverage
Length
Concerns:
Disengaging from blocks
Tackling technique
One-on-one tackling in space
Film Analysis:
A sixth-year player, Demetrius Knight Jr. enters the draft process after four years at Georgia Tech, one at UNC-Charlotte, and one in the SEC at South Carolina. He represents one of the more experienced LBs in the entire class, and his maturity has showcased itself on tape specifically in 2024.
The anchor of the Gamecocks defense, Knight is good, not great, as a run defender. He attacks creases well but has moments where he will sit at depth and allow blocks to develop instead of executing his run fit early in a rep. Also needs work in stacking/shedding opponents. Does well to half-man opposing linemen due to his quickness, but Knight has the length and requisite strength to meet blockers in the hole, peek, and pursue the football.
His athletic profile is outstanding which allows him to scrape and shuffle from gap to gap. Also has zero issues accelerating to the fringe areas on runs to the perimeter where he can really get up and go. Has shown success against the ground game with a running mate beside him or as the lone defender on the field in dime packages. He’s a long and physical player whose wingspan can reel in opponents, but Knight has room to grow as a tackler. It’s not a concern at this point in time, but diving at ankles, attempting to punch the ball out (Wofford), or ducking his head at contact (Alabama) has led to opponents’ gaining chunk yardage far beyond where the play initially should have been stopped.
In coverage, Knight has excellent tape week to week. Man or zone, he’s instinctive and smart in the middle of a defense with as much range at the position as any LB in the class. Had a rep against Vanderbilt where he reached depth up the seam, flipped his hips, and carried the wideout 25 yards across the field before closing on the football for a PBU. Long arms show up in his ability to wreak havoc in passing lanes, as well as at the catch point. Knight operates with an aggressive nature at the position with a hunger for the football (four INTs/six PBUs in his career). Outstanding downhill trigger in zone coverage where Knight can close distance in a hurry. Smooth and fluid mover at his mass and is always pursuing the football.
Overall, Knight projects as an immediate contributor for a defense due to his three-down projectability and elite athletic profile. With his length, instincts, and closing speed, as well as his comfortability in space and evident ball production, Knight has the potential to evolve into a foundational defensive addition with green-dot potential for an NFL defense should he continue to fine-tune his game as a run defender.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Ryan Fowler
Exposures: Illinois (2024), Alabama (2024), Vanderbilt (2024), Oklahoma (2024), Wofford (2024)
