Set to play in bowl game, Demetrius Knight Jr. embracing final weeks at South Carolina
Demetrius Knight Jr. wasn’t giving this up. Not a chance in the world.
After making the game-winning interception to help South Carolina complete a 17-14 win over Clemson, a Clemson ball boy came up to Knight and asked for the ball still in his hands back. Yeah, not going to happen.
The sixth-year linebacker pointed up to the sky to thank the Lord for helping him through the big play. Then he put his other arm over the ball, protecting it from harm’s way. He wasn’t letting this ball out of his possession. And he still hasn’t to this day.
“Yes, I do still have that ball. That’s a moment that I told myself I would never forget,” Knight said. “… It got emotional. I know he didn’t understand at the time but I’m like, ‘If you were in my shoes, you wouldn’t want to give this ball up either.’ So, I wanted to let my son have that one. So, he’s got that one forever.”
[Join GamecockCentral: $1 for 7 days]
When the Gamecocks arrived in Columbia after making the bus ride back from Clemson, Knight no longer had the ball in his hands. He instead opted for an even greater prize: the Palmetto Bowl trophy. As he got off the bus, he hoisted it up and was showered with cheers from the Gamecock fans who waited for the team’s arrival.
Ever since then, that’s pretty much what his life has been like. Wherever he goes, people flock to him and know what he did. He’ll only play at South Carolina for one season, but to these fans, they’ll remember his name forever.
“My wife has noticed that very well now where she’ll see fans see me before I see them,” Knight said about some of his fan interactions. “She’s like, ‘Oh, here we go.’ And I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ She’s like, ‘They’re gonna come ask you.’ It turns into a little conversation, so she takes the kids and goes to the car.”
Knight is always happy to meet the fans that love to watch him play. He’ll make the time for them and still always have that big smile on his face. But while he enjoys it, there have been times where fans have come up to him at slightly awkward times.
“Other situations have happened where I’ve been at home doing my dadly duties and taking trash to the the bin. A neighbor comes out and it’s kind of awkward; he stood there for a second and I guess he knew who I was, but he wanted to make sure,” he said.
Top 10
- 1New
Bowl insurance
Historic policies for Hunter, Shedeur
- 2Hot
Nick Saban endorsed
Lane Kiffin suggests as commish
- 3
Diego Pavia
Vandy QB ruling forces change
- 4
Notre Dame takes shot
Announcer trolls Fighting Irish
- 5
Stephen A. Smith fires back
Beef with Kirk Herbstreit continues
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“I feel him staring but he’s not looking at me. So, I’m like, ‘He’s gonna ask me at some point.’ So, once I finally put the recycling in, he’s like, ‘Oh, aren’t you…’ Yes. So, it’s been a lot of notoriety but it’s nice. Love the fans here.”
[GamecockCentral has gift subscriptions]
That interception against Clemson could’ve been the final memory of Knight’s time as a Gamecock. It would’ve been a fitting end to his story and college career. No one would’ve blamed him for not playing in South Carolina’s upcoming bowl game if that’s what he wanted to do.
“I have kids and I didn’t want my daughter and my son to be like, ‘Oh, why didn’t you play in the last game?’ and I’m like, ‘I didn’t feel like it or I feel like I would get injured.’ I don’t want to give them an excuse,” Knight said.
The Citrus Bowl will be Knight’s last hurrah as the Gamecocks face Illinois on Dec. 31. After that, he’ll prepare for his future at the next level and eventually participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl. But playing in the bowl game means a great deal to him.
“I want to show (my kids) how to finish what you start,” Knight said. “When you start it, finish it and that’s a good quality in a person.”
