Demetrius Knight provides valuable presence for Gamecocks
The South Carolina linebacker group lost one member to the transfer portal Tuesday in Bangally Kamara. However, a valuable presence both on and off the field remains. Sixth-year transfer Demetrius Knight Jr. has made plays and mentored others in his first year with the Gamecocks.
Knight was a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection while at Georgia Tech. He spent four years in Atlanta and his most recent season with the Charlotte 49ers. For a Gamecock defense with a handful of underclassmen contributors, Knight has been there to steady the ship.
“I was preaching during the halftime of the Ole Miss game, ‘There’s a small margin for error in these games,’” Knight said. “I tell them, you can have those mistakes on Tuesday, but you go watch the film then on Wednesday, Thursday you correct those … it goes back to, again, being a leader.”
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Freshman EDGE Dylan Stewart has been, statistically, one of the best performers on the Gamecock defense. However, on Saturday, he committed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a sack that would have ended the Ole Miss drive.
Knight spoke about Stewart’s mistake and the advice he had for him when he spoke to the media on Tuesday this week.
“I let him know that it’s in the heat of the moment, you’re a freshman, people have high standards for you because of the guy that you are,” Knight said. “One game, one action doesn’t define you … all this week, we’re building his confidence back up.”
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Knight, who earned a degree in literature, media and communication from Georgia Tech, received some praise himself from head coach Shane Beamer.
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“I love Demetrius Knight,” Beamer said. “When we were recruiting him, I called Geoff Collins, who was his head coach at Georgia Tech and is now at North Carolina … he said, ‘Demetrius Knight is probably my favorite player that I’ve ever been around in my career.’”
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Statistically, Knight has been able to produce. He’s tied for fourth on the team with 21 tackles so far through five games. But there’s an argument that the locker room presence he provides to a young defense is more valuable.
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With the loss of Kamara to the portal, Knight will see increased playing time at the linebacker position.
But regardless of what Knight does on the field, his presence and ability to coach as a player will continue to not just improve his production, but the production of other Gamecocks defenders as well.
