Demetrius Knight Jr., the South Carolina football team's sixth-year linebacker, came in with a reputation. Head coach Shane Beamer heard of Knight Jr.'s character on and off the field from Knight Jr.'s previous coach, who called him a "favorite."
Knight Jr. made his way to the SEC Conference at the beginning of this year after having a breakout season at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte.
The sixth-year linebacker finished his 2023 season with 96 tackles, one-and-a-half sacks and three interceptions, one of those leading into the only touchdown of his career.
Knight Jr. was ready to call South Carolina home when he transferred from Charlotte after spending his first four seasons at Georgia Tech.
“Especially moving around as I have, here it felt like home and the welcome home thing isn’t just for show,” Knight Jr. said. “You really feel like you are at home and once the recruiting visits stop, the love that you feel from everyone doesn't stop either.”
Knight Jr. was not always set on playing defense. He originally played quarterback during his high school career and was recruited to play quarterback at Georgia Tech initially.
“Going back to my quarterback days, when I know I am having success in certain formations, if I can see this again I know where to go with the ball, so we kind of played off a little bit of that,” Knight Jr said. “Let him see one thing, come back real quick, and then it is a different coverage or blitz.”
While South Carolina was recruiting the sixth-year linebacker, head coach Shane Beamer called Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech’s former head coach, who had nothing but encouraging words about Knight Jr.
“I see exactly what he (Collins) means, he is an unbelievable person and player, just knowing the right things to say at the right time not just to players but coaches as well," Beamer said. "He will come up and say something where I am like a man, that is exactly what I needed to hear at that moment.”
Knight Jr. didn't just have to think of himself when making the move to South Carolina. He wanted to make sure his wife, along with their two children, were factored into the move as well. As important as football is to him, being a family man is the main explanation for his character.
“I have a new outlook on life, I would say it's an extreme blessing,” Knight Jr. said. “Being able to get home after this and see my daughter and she will have no idea I went to practice this morning and she will just want to see me smile and laugh.”
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound linebacker character has been making a positive impact on the field for the Gamecocks.
He has 47 total tackles in the 2024 season, with two forced fumbles and two sacks. He has the second-highest number of total tackles of the team, just a couple of numbers short of junior defensive back Nick Emmanwori.
Knight Jr. said he preaches to teammates and himself to keep a small margin of error.
He holds himself to a high standard of discipline on and off the field. This is to make sure he minimizes the margin of error for himself and his teammates in meetings, practices and games.
“If the locker room is dirty, and we go out there and jump offsides, it's going to come back to those details,” Knight Jr. said. “If the locker room is clean, then we play a clean game. If you are a jerk off the field, you are going to be a jerk on the field, and you are going to get 15-yard penalties up and down the field, and it's not a great look."
Before every home game, the Gamecocks have a tradition where they will walk through Gamecock Park led by the South Carolina Band. During this walk into the stadium, Knight Jr. is one of the players you will see dancing to the band's music.
“I just want to appreciate the band, let them know that week in and out whatever the turnout of the game is that we appreciate them," Knight Jr. said.
What's Next?
Knight Jr. and the Gamecocks will head on the road to Nashville, Tennessee, to play No. 24 Vanderbilt on Nov. 9. The game will be at 4:15 p.m. and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.