From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Clemson DL DeMonte Capehart.
No. 19 DEMONTE CAPEHART – 6’5”, 315 POUNDS (SIXTH YEAR SENIOR)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
DeMonte Capehart 6050/315 10 1/4 33 7/8 83
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.85 1.72 N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
8’11” 33.5 N/A
THE GOOD
– Prototypical size and length for a defensive lineman
– Exceptional speed and explosiveness for a defensive lineman of his size
– Good power throughout his body to anchor and absorb double teams
– Strong run defender who sheds blocks consistently
– Uproots offensive linemen with his long arms and strength, showing real knockback and drive power
– His ability to burst into gaps, chase plays sideline-to-sideline, and explode off the ball separates him from typical nose-stuffers
– Can two-gap well when asked to take on both sides of a blocker
– Initial punch is violent, drives back linemen, and can reset the line of scrimmage
– Does a nice job using his length to get into running lanes and bat passes
– Can play multiple positions along a defensive front
– Pursues ball carriers well and wraps up well as a tackler
– Wins consistently with his bull rush
THE BAD
– Lacks a pass rush plan and doesn’t set up his moves well with strategy
– Limited repertoire of moves to access as a rusher
– Gets stuck on blocks in pass-rushing situations too often
– Really needs to work on counters when his bull rush and power aren’t quick wins
– Plays too tall with his pad level that creates leverage disadvantages
– Had difficulty understanding pullers and misdirection on running plays
– Was at Clemson for 6 years with limited starts and snap count
– For as fast, strong, and athletic as he is, it doesn’t always translate to speed-power dominance across blockers’ faces
– Lack of pressure and sack productivity
STATS
– 12 starts and appeared in 57 games over 6 year career at Clemson University
– Career: 72 tackles (43 solo), 13.5 TFLs, 34 pressures, 3 sacks, 5 batted passes, 0 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 0 fumble recoveries, 6 missed tackles, 45 run stops, 5 penalties
– 2025: Started in 6 games and made 11 appearances
– 21 tackles (12 solo), 3 TFL, 11 pressures, 1 sack, 2 batted passes, 0 INTs, 0 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries, 4 missed tackles, 14 run stops, 0 penalties
– 74.5 run defense grade (8.6 percent run stop win rate; 1.3 average depth of tackle) per PFF
– 61.9 pass rush grade (5.2 percent pass rush win rate; 6.6 percent true pass rush win rate) per PFF
INJURY HISTORY
– 2025: Appeared for the spring game on crutches and a boot following a “cleanup” surgery on his leg.
– 2024: Suffered a nagging ankle injury requiring surgery that limited him to 11 games (6 starts). He was labeled week-to-week in November.
BACKGROUND
– DOB: 7/19/2002 (23 years old)
– Grew up in Hartsville, SC and played football and basketball at Hartsville H.S. before transferring to IMG Academy for his senior season
– 2026 invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl
– Initially played as a reserve his first 4 years for a deep Clemson defensive line before carving out a larger role in 2024
– Five-time ACC Honor Roll selection (2020-24)
– Three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree (2022-24)
– NFF Hampshire Honor Society member (NCAA athlete who maintains a minimum 3.2 GPA throughout their career)
– Rated as the number two defensive tackle as a high school prospect according to 247Sports
– Sports Illustrated All-American in his senior year with 44 tackles and 5.5 sacks
– Played in the 2020 Under Armour All-America game
– Earned a bachelor’s degree in sports communication, completed a graduate certificate, and finished a master’s program in athletic leadership
– Grew up mostly being raised by his mom and has three siblings
– Known amongst teammates and coaches as a hard-working, grounded person shaped by his upbringing and community support
– Loves to spend time with his grandfather and learn from older generations
– Enjoys playing video games and spending time with his family
– Interested in real estate for life after football
– Arrested in 2024 for unlawful possession of a firearm, but charges were later dropped
TAPE BREAKDOWN
DeMonte Capehart hasn’t had a traditional, linear path to success at Clemson, despite being a highly coveted national recruit out of high school. This was due to his having to wait his turn, a lack of development as a pass rusher, and his unique athletic traits. He did make a name for himself as a disruptive, explosive run defender who showed flashes of pass-rushing ability.
Watching him as a run defender is a thing of beauty. He has such a quick first step and knows how to get across a lineman’s face while simultaneously driving them into the backfield.
pic.twitter.com/nJTa9COyDt
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 1, 2026
Centers are really no match for his speed-to-power. If you don’t have help or a guard to go against him, he’ll win most of the time.
pic.twitter.com/wxp0ldUu0x
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 1, 2026
pic.twitter.com/y4Xx0c1Jiv
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 1, 2026
He also does a really nice job of un-gluing himself from blocks with a nice rip or swim move.
pic.twitter.com/o7gOPTAhzW
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 1, 2026
Most of his pass-rush wins are of the bull rush or second effort variety. He just doesn’t utilize many counters and doesn’t employ much of a pass-rush strategy if he can’t beat them with explosiveness or power.
pic.twitter.com/96YPpUANSD
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 1, 2026
When he doesn’t win, though, he’ll make sure to get his arms up and disrupt, or bat passes down with his long arms.
pic.twitter.com/Ypoqd5qltq
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 1, 2026
CONCLUSION
DeMonte Capehart offers a nice blend of size, athleticism, and power as a versatile defensive lineman. He projects best as an early-down 3-technique in an even front, where he can be an early-down run defender disruptor at first while developing his pass-rushing toolbox.
He could be a fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers as a defensive lineman that can play multiple positions, but would probably be best as 4i/3-technique in sub packages at first, who can also give you quality snaps sparingly in the A gap. Capehart definitely fits their physical and athletic profile for what they look for in a 3-4 defensive lineman.
He’s not a guy who can play major snaps eating up double teams, and it would really limit his athletic gifts. Capehart is more of an attacking defensive tackle who penetrates into the backfield quickly, and not a guy who can hold the line for prolonged periods of time consistently over the course of a game.
Capehart looks and plays a lot like Gervon Dexter Jr. Guys who both have inconsistent hand technique and pad level that limit their ability to win as pass rushers, but have starter upside if everything can come together developmentally. Capehart is a better run defender who could also be used as a big body on special teams in blocking situations.
NFL Projection: Day 3
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.3 (Rotational Player)
Grade Range: 7.0 – 8.0
Games Watched: at Boston College (2025), at Georgia Tech (2025), at Georgia (2024), at Texas (2024)
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