From now till the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll scout and create profiles for as many prospects as doable, inspecting their strengths, weaknesses, and what they will carry to an NFL franchise. These gamers might be potential top-10 picks, all the way in which all the way down to Day 3 alternatives and precedence undrafted free brokers. Immediately, a scouting report on South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr.
NO. 17 DEMETRIUS KNIGHT JR., LB, SOUTH CAROLINA (R-SENIOR) – 6015, 235 POUNDS
MEASUREMENTS
| Participant | Ht/Wt | Hand Dimension | Arm Size | Wingspan |
| Demetrius Knight Jr. | 6015/235 | 10 | 32 5/8 | 80 1/2 |
| 40-Yard Sprint | 10-Yard Sprint | Brief Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 4.58 | 1.58 | 4.25 | 7.12 | |
| Broad Leap | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 9’10” | 31.5 | 22 |
THE GOOD
— Good measurement and bulk for his top
— Nice play pace and explosiveness
— Can shut on the ball provider shortly in pursuit
— Has the juice to run sideline to sideline and reduce off operating lanes
— Efficient blitzer up the center
— Sturdy tackler who wraps up his opponent
— Can lay the growth as a hitter, operating by way of his goal with managed aggression
— Has the energy to tackle blockers and shed as a run defender
— Able to dropping into protection and operating with backs and tight ends
— Has his head on a swivel in protection, possessing good spatial consciousness
— Wonderful background relating to enjoying on particular groups
THE BAD
— Tends to overrun performs when he performs quick
— Lateral quickness isn’t on the similar stage as his straight-line pursuit
— Higher in zone protection than in man protection
— Extra disruptive than productive as a blitzer
— Can be a 25-year-old rookie
BIO
— Sixth-year senior from Locust Grove, Ga.
— Born Jan. 4, 2000 (age 25)
— Three-star recruit, in accordance with Rivals
— Dedicated to Georgia Tech out of highschool
— Distant cousin of R&B singers Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin
— Cousin DeAngelo Corridor performed for 14 years within the NFL
— Performed in all 12 video games as a reserve in 2019 and had 18 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two cross deflections and a compelled fumble
— Performed in eight video games as a reserve in 2020 and had 18 tackles, one deal with for loss, and one compelled fumble
— Performed in all 12 video games as a reserve in 2021 and on particular groups and totaled six tackles
— Performed in 4 video games and redshirted in 2022 earlier than deciding to switch
— Transferred to Charlotte forward of the 2023 season
— Began 12 video games in 2023 and had 96 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions with 1 returned for TD, and 4 cross deflections
— Transferred to South Carolina forward of the 2024 season
— Performed in 13 video games with 10 begins in 2024 and had 82 tackles, eight tackles for loss with 2 sacks, three compelled fumbles, and an interception
— Honorable point out All-SEC (2024); First-team All-American Athletic Convention (2023); crew captain (2024)
— Married to spouse, Jensy, and has two kids
TAPE BREAKDOWN
South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr. has had fairly the highway to the NFL’s doorstep. The previous three-star recruit initially signed with Georgia Tech and performed in a reserve function to start out his school profession however by no means cracked the Yellow Jackets’ beginning lineup. He transferred to Charlotte in 2023 and had a breakout marketing campaign. Opting to indicate that he can play towards higher competitors, he transferred to South Carolina final season and confirmed out with the Gamecocks.
While you pop within the tape on Knight, you see a quick, explosive playmaker on the defensive facet of the soccer. He flows to the soccer with urgency, showcasing his sideline-to-sideline pace like on the performs under. He covers floor shortly to get to the quarterback or the runner trying to get to the nook.
Knight does a superb job diagnosing the play from his linebacker spot and enjoying with sound approach, maintaining his shoulders sq. to the road of scrimmage so long as doable earlier than opening up into the hole and to the ball provider. We see precisely that on this rep towards Alabama. Knight reads the run to the left and follows the blockers to the surface. He then triggers by way of the opening and proper into the runner for the deal with for no acquire on the play.
Knight’s pace additionally makes him an efficient blitzer up the center and across the edge. Masking floor shortly to get into the pocket like on this clip under towards the Crimson Tide, Knight places stress on QB Jalen Milroe as he releases the soccer.
Knight has the pace and consciousness to work round and beneath blocks. He additionally has the physicality and toughness to work by way of blockers as a downhill thumper. Watch the primary clip towards Alabama the place Knight slips the block within the field to make the deal with between the tackles for a minimal acquire on the play. We then see Knight run proper into the blockers, shedding the primary one to get in on the deal with whereas driving again the offensive lineman within the second clip to break down the pocket because the quarterback begins to throw the ball.
Demetrius Knight Jr. is able to operating in man protection with backs and tight ends however is healthier suited to zone protection the place he retains his head on a swivel and may break on beneath routes to deal with the catch or impression the cross on the catch level. Watch the clip under towards Clemson. Knight exhibits off the instincts to select off a missed alternative for the Clemson operating again beneath, sealing the win with simply seconds left on the clock.
CONCLUSION
Demetrius Knight Jr. is an athletic, dense linebacker who waited his flip to see the sector however has grow to be a playmaker in practically each aspect of the sport. He might be an older rookie, however he’s seasoned as a terrific run-and-chase defender who can struggle by way of or round blocks. He additionally brings competent play as a cross rusher and in cross protection.
When pondering of a professional comp for Knight, Germaine Pratt involves thoughts as a similar-sized linebacker with comparable athleticism. He was drafted within the third spherical in 2019 and has grow to be a staple within the Cincinnati Bengals’ protection. I foresee Knight having the same impression on the subsequent stage, probably turning into a starting-caliber off-ball linebacker inside his first two seasons within the league.
Projection: Day 2
Depot Draft Grade: 8.0 – Potential Starter/Good Backup (third Spherical)
Video games Watched: at Alabama (2024), at Clemson (2024), vs Missouri (2024)
