ESPN Analyst: Why Demetrius Knight could fly up NFL Draft boards
The NFL season still has three games left but in many ways, offseason work has already begun in earnest.
With the college postseason all-star games starting, pro days on deck, and then the NFL Draft combine in a month, teams are already hard at work creating their draft boards.
South Carolina football fans saw what linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. was capable of during his one season in Columbia and it seems likely NFL teams will soon notice the same as they dive more into the senior from Locust Grove, Ga.
[Join GamecockCentral: $1 for 7 days]
But word is already getting out about the Senior Bowl participant who is one of several standouts who will be drafted this year from a historic South Carolina defense.
“Knight was the nucleus of a star-studded South Carolina defense,” Reid said. “After four seasons at Georgia Tech, he transferred to Charlotte in 2023 prior to landing with the Gamecocks. One Southeast area scout told me that he kept asking himself ‘who’s this No. 17?’ when watching South Carolina film.”
As one of three co-starters at linebacker in South Carolina’s defense, Knight finished his lone season in Columbia with 82 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception.
Top 10
- 1New
Jim Knowles
Ohio State DC is on the move
- 2
Chip Kelly
Two NFL teams emerge as suitors
- 3
John Calipari
Previews emotions of UK return
- 4
LSU TE viral dunk vs. Bama
5-star football player now hoops star?
- 5
Flau'Jae Johnson
Calls out South Carolina for playing late-father song
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.
“He has good eyes and instincts as a run defender, playing with patience before timing his acceleration when stepping downhill,” Reid continued. “He’s also savvy in coverage, as he keeps his head on a swivel and is always aware of the routes within his coverage.”
[Get USC Gamecocks app notifications]
As with any potential NFL prospect, there are areas of Knight’s game that he can improve or that he will look to show scouts he is capable of during the evaluation process.
“Knight still needs to improve his ability to take on and disengage from blockers with his hands,” Reid continued. “Those are reasons why he has received Round 4 or 5 grades from scouts, but Knight is a well-rounded prospect in an iffy linebacker class. He’ll be able to showcase his instincts and fluidity in pass coverage during the 1-on-1 and 11-on-11 settings at the Senior Bowl. It wouldn’t surprise me if Knight is drafted as high as the third round.”
Knight will get his first chance to show scouts first-hand what he’s all about this upcoming week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
