Demetrius Knight
{{short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Demetrius Knight
|image=
|alt=
|caption=
|current_team=Cincinnati Bengals
|number= 44
|position=Linebacker
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|2000|7|21|mf=y}}
|birth_place=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|height_ft=6
|height_in=2
|weight_lb=245
|high_school=Strong Rock Christian School
|college=Georgia Tech (2019–2022)
Charlotte (2023)
South Carolina (2024)
|draftyear=2025
|draftround=2
|draftpick=49
|pastteams=
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
|status=Unsigned draft pick
|highlights=
|statseason=2025
|statweek=
|statlabel1=Tackles
|statvalue1=
|statlabel2=Sacks
|statvalue2=
|statlabel3=Forced fumbles
|statvalue3=
|statlabel4=Pass deflections
|statvalue4=
|statlabel5=Fumble recoveries
|statvalue5=
|statlabel6=Interceptions
|statvalue6=
|pfr=KnigDe00
}}
Demetrius T. Knight Jr. (born July 21, 2000){{Cite web |url=https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/roster/player/demetrius-knight-ii/ |title=Demetrius Knight Jr. |website=GamecocksOnline.com |access-date=April 26, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4427729/demetrius-knight-jr |title=Demetrius Knight Jr. |website=ESPN.com |access-date=April 26, 2025}} is an American professional football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Charlotte 49ers and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Knight was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life and high school
Knight attended Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, Georgia.{{cite web |last1=McElhaney |first1=Tori |title=After a nudge, Demetrius Knight thriving in his transition to linebacker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1716475/2020/04/01/after-a-nudge-demetrius-knight-thriving-in-his-transition-to-linebacker/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=7 December 2024}} Coming out of high school, Knight was unranked, where he committed to play college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.{{cite web |last1=Suguria |first1=Ken |title=QB Demetrius Knight is Georgia Tech's eighth commitment |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/demetrius-knight-georgia-tech-eighth-commit/1jLsZ1mgi7PJZu09xG1LhJ/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=7 December 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Suguira |first1=Ken |title=No stars, no problem for Tech commit Demetrius Knight |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/stars-problem-for-tech-commit-demetrius-knight/BRZdtuL1OKWdMcTxS86AbO/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=7 December 2024}}
College career
= Georgia Tech =
During Knight's four-year career at Georgia Tech from 2019 through 2022, he appeared in 36 games where he notched 51 tackles with three being for a loss, a sack, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, while also completing one pass for four yards.{{cite web |title=Demetrius Knight II |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/demetrius-knight-ii-1.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=7 December 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Sugiura |first1=Ken |title=Georgia Tech's Demetrius Knight takes familiar ride back to quarterback |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/ajc-tech-hedline/ZYDGQOOGUJFSTBNU5Y75YZZY4A/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=7 December 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Suguira |first1=Ken |title=After QB experiment, Georgia Tech's Demetrius Knight moves back to defense |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/after-qb-experiment-demetrius-knight-moves-back-to-defense/D652C3OBPVCRVCPICROZFXVDKA/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=7 December 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Suguira |first1=Ken |title=What algebra reveals about Georgia Tech's Demetrius Knight |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/what-algebra-reveals-about-georgia-tech-quarterback-demetrius-knight/9OYSO4KAKjwMceqYt16YTP/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=7 December 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Suguira |first1=Ken |title=Georgia Tech freshman Demetrius Knight running 'insanely fast' |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/georgia-tech-freshman-demetrius-knight-running-insanely-fast/VIbtmR0h7H4Tmgp0xvwdWJ/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=7 December 2024}}{{excessive citations inline|date=December 2024}} After the 2022 season, Knight entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite web |last1=Seguira |first1=Ken |title=Georgia Tech's Demetrius Knight in transfer portal |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/georgia-techs-demetrius-knight-in-transfer-portal/FZW3NGMA65G7TAB6JE6TWHG6SY/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=7 December 2024}}
= Charlotte =
Knight transferred to play for the Charlotte 49ers.{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Hunter |title=Charlotte 49ers football: Transfer linebacker Demetrius Knight leading by example |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/charlotte-49ers/article278098727.html |website=The Charlotte Observer |access-date=7 December 2024}} In 2023, he notched 96 tackles with six being for a loss, three interceptions, and a touchdown for the 49ers.{{cite magazine |last1=Brewer |first1=Fisher |title=Charlotte linebacker Demetrius Knight has committed to playing for the Gamecocks in 2024 |url=https://www.si.com/college/southcarolina/recruiting/gamecocks-score-big-adding-a-productive-transfer-linebacker |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=7 December 2024}} After one year with Charlotte, Knight once again entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite web |last1=Kaye |first1=Jordan |title=South Carolina adds productive transfer linebacker via Charlotte 49ers |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article283858293.html |website=The State |access-date=7 December 2024}}
= South Carolina =
Knight transferred to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.{{cite web |last1=Kesin |first1=Lulu |title=From Shane Beamer to Dylan Stewart, why South Carolina football listens to transfer Demetrius Knight |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2024/10/10/demetrius-knight-south-carolina-football-shane-beamer-dylan-stewart/75543791007/ |website=Greenville Online |access-date=7 December 2024}} In week 10 of the 2024 season, he notched seven tackles in a 28-7 win over Vanderbilt.{{cite web |last1=Veltri |first1=Jack |title=Demetrius Knight Jr. 'wowed the guys' with motivational words before South Carolina's win in Nashville |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/south-carolina-gamecocks/news/demetrius-knight-jr-wowed-the-guys-with-motivational-words-before-south-carolinas-win-in-nashville/ |website=On3.com |access-date=7 December 2024}} In the 2024 regular-season finale, Knight intercepted quarterback Cade Klubnik with 12 seconds remaining to help the Gamecocks seal a rivalry win over Clemson.{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Treyvan |title='Don't flinch': South Carolina's defense needed a hero. Demetrius Knight delivered |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article296356254.html |website=The State |access-date=7 December 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1 5/8
| weight = 235
| dash = 4.58
| ten split = 1.58
| twenty split = 2.69
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 7.12
| vertical = 31.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 22
| arm span = 32 5/8
| hand span = 10
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/demetrius-knight-jr/32004b4e-4976-7772-482c-aa2ff921c6dd |title=Demetrius Knight Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 27, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1031432&DraftYear=2025 |title=Demetrius Knight Jr. College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 27, 2025}}
}}
Knight was selected with the 49th pick in the 2025 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.{{cite web |last=Dietz |first=Matthew |title=Bengals select LB Demetrius Knight Jr. in second round of 2025 NFL Draft |website=WLWT |url=https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-bengals-nfl-draft-2025-demetrius-knight/64594324 |date=April 26, 2025 |access-date=May 2, 2025}}
Personal
Knight is cousins with former Pro Bowl defensive back DeAngelo Hall and distant cousins with musical superstars Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Michael Marot {{!}} Associated |date=2025-04-23 |title=Shedeur Sanders leads a large contingent of legacy players in this NFL draft class |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/23/nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders-legacy-players/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/football/roster/demetrius-knight-ii/10669 Charlotte 49ers bio]
- [https://ramblinwreck.com/roster/demetrius-knight-ii/ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets bio]
- [https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/roster/player/demetrius-knight-ii/ South Carolina Gamecocks bio]
{{Cincinnati Bengals 2025 NFL draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Demetrius}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Charlotte 49ers football players
Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players
Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football players