'That guy can't play for you': How Demetrius Knight defied a former team's expectations at South Carolina
On Monday, South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer was in Atlanta for SEC Media Days. Flanked by quarterback LaNorris Sellers, defensive back DQ Smith, and defensive tackle Nick Barrett, Beamer had several opportunities to speak at the 2025 SEC Football Kickoff.
During his opening statement to the large room of media, Beamer spoke about his team ahead of an expectations-laden fall. He also reflected a bit on last year’s team. Among the players the Gamecock boss mentioned, linebacker Demetrius Knight had an interesting note added to his story.
When asked about how his program attacks development, Beamer brought up Knight as a great example of working hard and being about the right things “from a character standpoint.” The praise was fitting. In just one year in Columbia, No. 17 became a captain and an All-SEC performer before earning selection in the NFL Draft’s second round by the Cincinnati Bengals. However, when Beamer mentioned Knight, he said that not everyone believed he could accomplish what he did at South Carolina.
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A clearly fired-up Gamecock coach said, “Demetrius Knight, who transferred in from another school, had been at two previous schools. One of those previous schools called us and said, ‘That guy can’t play for you.’ And, he ends up being an all-conference type guy.”
Not only did “that guy” play for South Carolina, but he thrived. As one of the unquestioned leaders of one of the top defenses in school history, Knight finished the year with 82 tackles, good for second on the team. He registered eight tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and one Palmetto Bowl-clinching interception. Knight earned a share of the team’s Joe Morrison Defensive MVP honor and won the Most Outstanding Senior trophy. Showcasing his work ethic, he also picked up shares of the team’s Strength and Conditioning Award and Nutrition Award. Earlier this summer, Carolina fans on GamecockCentral’s The Insiders Forum voted Knight as the fifth-best ‘backer in school history. That’s not bad for a player whose previous school thought he wasn’t talented enough to play in the SEC.
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Beamer did not specify which school had called with the incorrect evaluation of Knight’s abilities, but he played at both Georgia Tech and Charlotte before transferring to become a Gamecock. He didn’t play much in four years for the Yellow Jackets but was an all-conference player for the 49ers.
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Though many expectant NFL Draft picks opt out of bowl games, Knight elected to play in the Citrus Bowl. South Carolina had narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff and, instead, matched up with Illinois in Orlando. As a married man with two children, Knight explained during the lead-up to the contest why playing was important to him. “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.” The game didn’t go USC’s way, but Knight led the team in tackles.
The sixth-year senior didn’t just prove that he could play Beamer and the Gamecocks. In recent months, he has been proving he can play at the next level, too. Knight has been one of the NFL’s top first-year players through summer training camps, earning significant praise from the Bengals. He has earned first-team reps and could be a starter in Cincinnati as a rookie.
Knight and Cincinnati will begin NFL preseason play on August 7th against the defending Super Bowl champs. The Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles will play at 7:30 p.m. in Philadelphia.
