South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Demetrius Knight will be 25 when the 2025 NFL season kicks off. That could be a positive or a negative for NFL teams based on their needs. What isn’t a question is his work ethic and speed though, which should stand out at the NFL Combine.
Our Demetrius Knight scouting report gives the ins and outs of one of the most intriguing off-ball linebacker prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Demetrius Knight Scouting Report
Size: 6’1″, 245 pounds (Unverified)
Key Stat: One of four draft-eligible linebackers at least two sacks, 25 run stops, and a passer rating against under 62.0
Projected Role: Starting weakside linebacker
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Strengths
- Excellent first step explosiveness
- Plus football I.Q. (Former dual-threat quarterback recruit)
- Excellent size and speed for the position, both in upper quartile for off-ball linebackers
- Strong leadership qualities, named permanent captain at South Carolina in first spring with program
- Extensive special teams experience (681 career special teams snaps in every phase)
- Top-level acceleration, can close both sideline-to-sideline and downhill in a hurry
- Despite average height, has extreme length (33 1/4″ arms, 80 3/4″ wingspan)
Causes for Concern
- Hips can be a bit stiff at times
- One of the oldest prospects in the NFL Draft (Already 25)
- Lateral mobility is just average, especially given his vertical mobility and speed
- Can struggle in man coverage against smaller, more agile playmakers
- Lacks linebacker snaps, despite age (Just 1,452 defensive snaps in last 10 seasons, dating back to high school)
Ceiling: Pro Bowl-caliber weakside linebacker
Floor: Rotational linebacker/special-teamer
Demetrius Knight NFL Draft Outlook
What you think of Demetrius Knight likely boils down to how you view late-blooming, older prospects. Watch Knight in a Gamecocks uniform with no additional context and you might make him your top linebacker in the class.
But context matters.
Knight didn’t begin playing linebacker until college, and played just 269 defensive snaps in four years at Georgia Tech. Once he transferred to Charlotte in 2023 though, his career outlook changed.
Knight earned All-AAC Honors before transferring to South Carolina and thriving.
Knight is at his best when plays break down for the offense. Both of his sacks from last season came while playing zone coverage on plays that ended in scramble drills. His pure acceleration and speed are on full display when quarterbacks choose to break the pocket.
There individual plays that really jump out and Knight’s NFL Draft highlight package when he’s picked will be one of the best in the class.
He’s also going to shine at the NFL Combine, both in testing and in interviews.
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Knight’s a high-character individual. He’s been married for two years and he’s earned the respect of every locker room he’s been a part of. Not only does that leadership extend off the field, but it screams “green dot potential” as his high football I.Q. and standing as a former quarterback make him one of the best “film junkies” in the draft. Long story short, GMs are going to leave interviews wanting Knight on their team.
That, plus a strong 40 time, measurements, and on-field drills, should raise his stock.
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I’m not worried about Knight’s age. While he’s an older prospect in terms of trips around the sun, he still has room to grow as a player, given his relative lack of linebacking experience.
I’m more concerned about some stiffness in Knight’s hips. That can impact both his lateral movement and ability to mirror players in man coverage. But, with all the green flags on his profile, it’s a good sign that the biggest issue for an explosive linebacker is hips tightness. That suggests there isn’t much to be scared of in his profile.
Despite being a bigger linebacker, Knight’s size, coverage, and blitzing abilities suggest he’s a weakside linebacker at the next level and you can probably pencil him in as the starter there for whichever team takes him.
The plethora of special teams experience (and success) only serves to raise Knight’s floor as it’s essentially guaranteed that he contributes there for his NFL team. Overall, he’s an exciting prospect who should only see his stock climb as we near the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bottom Line: There are green flags galore in our Demetrius Knight scouting report. The combination of size, speed, and balanced production indicate he’s a guy who could move up draft boards.
Given some of my concerns with a few other linebacker prospects, I’m not willing to let age and hip stiffness get in the way of projecting Knight to have a great NFL career. I have not decided if I want to project Georgia Bulldogs defender Jalon Walker as a linebacker or edge rusher, but if he ends up designated as the latter, I’ll name Knight my LB1.
The special teams experience and football I.Q. suggest a high floor, while his length and athleticism give him a potentially elite ceiling. Don’t overthink it, this guy’s good.
Draft Projection: Second-Third Round
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