Ourlads' Profile:
2025 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about DEMETRIUS KNIGHT JR.:
South Carolina | Hometown: Locust Grove, GA | HT: 6015 | WT: 235 | 40 time: 4.58 | Hand: 1000 | Arm: 3258 | Wing: 8138
Two year starter, one at Charlotte and one at South Carolina. Spent his first four years at Georgia Tech and redshirted after four games his senior year. Transferred to Charlotte in 2023 where he was first team All-AAC. At South Carolina he was honorable mention All-SEC in 2024. Good size, length and an ideal thick build for an off the ball linebacker. Smooth mover with fluid change of direction. Patient with initial read and followed by a quick and normally precise reaction. Excellent inside run fits, he’s a downhill thumper who takes on blocks with strong hands stunning and separating. Can get through straight up blocks or use a rip move to beat a block working the alley or outside. Explodes through open windows making plays at the line or in the backfield. Stays on the back hip of a ball carrier pursuing runs outside the box with a direct path to the ball. Has solid lateral range to the sideline with a closing burst on tackles. Shows fundamental tackling skill gathering with knee bend, wrap and drive. Long arms give him a big tackle radius to make plays in space. Has speed to cover a back releasing to the flat and accelerate breaking on the throw. Has the speed to stay in phase deep. Has been effective as a pressure rusher, blitzing when the protection dictates it. Has made some plays in that role. Flashes cover skill as a zone defender using his length in the throwing lane. Can be a little slow to flip his hips to close voids in zones. Takes an occasional false step reacting which can affect lateral burst. Has some trouble mirroring route breaks of shifty backs. He’s a solid run defender but needs to develop consistency in coverage to be more than a two down linebacker. The traits and upside are there of a complete NFL linebacker.
2024 Stats: 82 T, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, 3 FF, 1 INT. OSR:12/35. BP-22, 10-1.56. Draft projection: 1st/2nd round