Demetrius Knight II 2025 NFL Draft: ILB Scouting Report
In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, a talented ILB to keep on your radar is Demetrius Knight II. He’s a physical ILB from South Carolina with impressive leadership qualities. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Demetrius Knight II 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Knight II’s path to the 2025 NFL Draft is a testament to perseverance and adaptability. Initially a dual-threat quarterback out of Strong Rock Christian School in Georgia, Knight transitioned to linebacker upon arriving at Georgia Tech in 2019. His early years with the Yellow Jackets saw limited defensive snaps (roughly 270 over four seasons), primarily contributing on special teams.
Seeking a larger role, he transferred to Charlotte in 2023. While there, he exploded for 96 tackles and earned First-Team All-AAC honors. His final collegiate stop at South Carolina in 2024 solidified his reputation as a leader and playmaker, earning him team captain honors and multiple awards. Impressively, this included the Joe Morrison MVP Defense recognition. At 25 years old, by the start of his rookie NFL season, Knight brings maturity and a unique perspective to the linebacker position.
Overall, Knight possesses a sturdy, well-proportioned frame for his size, with long arms (nearly 33 inches) that enhance his tackling radius and ability to engage blockers. His 4.58-second 40-yard dash time showcases above-average speed for an inside linebacker, complemented by a quick first step and solid closing burst. While not an elite athlete in terms of lateral agility or top-end explosiveness, his combination of size, length, and straight-line speed fits the mold of a modern MIKE linebacker in the NFL.
HT: 6015
WT: 235
HAND: 1000
ARM: 3258
40: 4.58
Strengths:
- Run Defense Instincts: Knight’s transition from quarterback shows up in his ability to read and react to run plays. He quickly diagnoses blocking schemes and backfield action, positioning himself to meet ball carriers at or behind the line of scrimmage. His 8.0 tackles for loss in 2024 highlight his knack for penetrating gaps.
- Physicality and Tackling: A downhill thumper, Knight plays with a violent edge, delivering jarring hits and wrapping up consistently. His long arms and strong upper body allow him to take on and shed blocks from tight ends and linemen effectively.
- Blitz Timing: Knight’s explosive first step and understanding of offensive tendencies make him a dangerous blitzer. He times his rushes well, often disrupting plays in the backfield, as evidenced by his 2.0 sacks and multiple pressures in his lone South Carolina season.
- Leadership and Football IQ: Knight was named a team captain in his first year with the Gamecocks. His pre-snap communication and ability to align the front seven reflect his high football intelligence. His six-year college tenure has honed his instincts and decision-making.
- Special Teams Value: With over 600 career special teams snaps, Knight offers immediate impact as a core contributor in coverage and protection units.
Areas for Improvement:
- Lateral Mobility: Knight’s straight-line speed is impressive, but his hip stiffness and heavy feet limit his ability to change direction fluidly. This can leave him vulnerable when scraping sideline-to-sideline or mirroring quicker backs in open space.
- Coverage Skills: Knight’s zone awareness is adequate but unpolished. He occasionally loses discipline with his eyes, getting drawn out of position by play-action or misdirection. His lack of fluidity in man coverage hampers his ability to stick with athletic tight ends or running backs.
- Age and Ceiling: At 25, Knight is older than most prospects, raising questions about his long-term upside. His late bloom as a full-time starter (only two seasons with significant defensive snaps) suggests he may have less room to grow compared to younger prospects.
- Pass-Rush Refinement: While effective as a blitzer, Knight consistently lacks a diverse set of moves to win as a pass rusher. His production (4.5 career sacks) is solid but not elite for a pressure-oriented linebacker.
Conclusion:
Knight projects best as a MIKE linebacker in an aggressive, attack-oriented 4-3 defense that emphasizes run-stopping and calculated blitz packages. Schemes like those run by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Cincinnati Bengals could maximize his strengths—downhill playmaking, blitz timing, and physicality—while masking his coverage limitations with safety support. His special teams experience ensures early roster value, and with coaching, he could develop into a reliable two-down starter with situational pass-rush upside.
Knight’s game resembles that of Germaine Pratt (Cincinnati Bengals), another thickly built. That being, an instinctual linebacker with a knack for stopping the run and contributing on special teams early in his career. Like Pratt, Knight’s success will hinge on refining his coverage skills and leveraging his football IQ. He projects early as a high-end backup with the potential to become a solid starter after his rookie season.
Overall, Knight’s blend of maturity, physical tools, and production makes him a safe bet to contribute early in his NFL career. While his age and coverage limitations cap his ceiling, his intangibles and versatility should appeal to teams seeking a smart, tough linebacker to bolster their front seven.
Round Grade: 4th Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | Int | PD | FR | FF |
| 2019 | Georgia Tech | 12 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | Georgia Tech | 8 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | Georgia Tech | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | Georgia Tech | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Charlotte | 12 | 44 | 52 | 6 | 1.5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024* | South Carolina | 13 | 57 | 25 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Career | 61 | 131 | 98 | 17 | 4.5 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
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