Welcome Demetrius Knight

[Frank Booth]

(6 hours ago)SladeX Wrote: Sure, we’re not experts, but recent track record is spotty at best.
The fear is we’ve drafted Murphy 2.0, and a defensive version of Sample.

The notion that we shouldn’t spout our uneducated opinions on here is ridiculous, because that’s exactly why we’re here.

BTW I DID enjoy the call video immensely, and I think his heart will be in it. Definitely a guy I can root for!

the pep rally crew doesnt want people to share their opinions unless it's super positive

[BFritz21]

(7 hours ago)pally Wrote:

If you watch one "call" video... watch this one.

What a moment ? pic.twitter.com/hb8fVti7yE

— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) April 26, 2025

Not going to lie....... I got a little teary-eyed watching that.

I've been watching his highlights since we took him and I'm liking the pick more and more.

This dude's coming in at 25-years-old and has been around and played at the highest level. Also, I love that he's 25 because his mind will be more developed and he'll be more mature then dudes that are 21 or 22, and say what you want, but that actually will make him a better defender in the mental aspect of the game, so he'll be more ready than a lot of prospects.

I trust Golden in this one and I think that we could see Knight making some big plays for us this season.

[*bfine32*]

I loved Walker and Campbell at the position, but Walker was gone, and like most experts, we valued Stew over Campbell.

All talk is that this dude is used to replace Pratt, who remembers that draft?

There were 2 "elite" linebackers. Devin White went early, and Pitt caught us "sitting on our hands" and jumped us for Devin Bush.

5 years later, our 3rd round LB has had a much better career than Bush and a comparable one to White.

I know we get mad when our players don't get picked but sometimes this clueless FO has a plan.

[Bengalstripes9]

I mocked Nolen, Ratlidge, and Knight.

The draft went pretty similar in the top 3 rounds.

Knight is a great fit with Cincy and a great player.

They end up with a guard very similar in the 3rd.

Stewart has a higher upside than Nolen so honestly I feel pretty good.
They addressed guard and the front 7 on defense with good players.

If they could add Ty Robinson or a good RB or another lineman in the 4th that’s a solid draft in my opinion.

Yeah I’d have liked a safety like Starks but a pass rusher is more valuable. And Knight can have a similar impact in the game to a safety.

[coachmcneil71]

(Yesterday, 09:42 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I wanted Demetrious Knight as our Viper, he is not like Pratt, stupid comparison. I thought we could get this guy in the 4th round because
of his age and kept looking for him in my Mocks but he was never there. Great speed, great smarts and will start next to Logan right off the
bat coming off the edge when needed, he wasn't used as a blitzer much from what I understand at SC.

I wanted us to draft Guard here though, Ratledge or Watts the FS. I like the player, not where he was taken, we could of traded back and
gotten him pretty sure. But the player is not the one to hate on here at all. All you guys are going to like Knight if he can stay healthy.

If the knock on Stewart is that he lacks "instinctual football skills", I would venture to say that Knight is the polar opposite. From what I watched, he seems to flow and let the game come to him. I like how he quickly makes the decision to go from defending the flats to coming up and hammering an opposing QB.

He closes quickly! When he decides to commit he brings it!

[Bengalstripes9]

(6 hours ago)bfine32 Wrote: I loved Walker and Campbell at the position, but Walker was gone, and like most experts, we valued Stew over Campbell.

All talk is that this dude is used to replace Pratt, who remembers that draft?

There were 2 "elite" linebackers. Devin White went early, and Pitt caught us "sitting on our hands" and jumped us for Devin Bush.

5 years later, our 3rd round LB has had a much better career than Bush and a comparable one to White.

I know we get mad when our players don't get picked but sometimes this clueless FO has a plan.

Agree. They picked a player that will be a good starter and he was the top linebacker on the board—likely to come off soon.

If you draft a good starter for your defense in round 2 I don’t see a problem with that. Most experts see him as a good starter.

[SunsetBengal]

(6 hours ago)SladeX Wrote: Sure, we’re not experts, but recent track record is spotty at best.
The fear is we’ve drafted Murphy 2.0, and a defensive version of Sample.

The notion that we shouldn’t spout our uneducated opinions on here is ridiculous, because that’s exactly why we’re here.

BTW I DID enjoy the call video immensely, and I think his heart will be in it. Definitely a guy I can root for!

That's right Slade. Don't ever let anyone tell you what to think, how to feel, or who to love or hate!

[CottonHill]

(6 hours ago)BFritz21 Wrote: Not going to lie....... I got a little teary-eyed watching that.

I've been watching his highlights since we took him and I'm liking the pick more and more.

This dude's coming in at 25-years-old and has been around and played at the highest level. Also, I love that he's 25 because his mind will be more developed and he'll be more mature then dudes that are 21 or 22, and say what you want, but that actually will make him a better defender in the mental aspect of the game, so he'll be more ready than a lot of prospects.

I trust Golden in this one and I think that we could see Knight making some big plays for us this season.

I know you always look for the positives, and that’s great, but being 25 in the draft is nothing but a negative. Especially on this case when he broke out in his 5th year at 24. That’s when he peaked physically and was playing against others who hadn’t.
Plus, he is what he is at this point, there isn’t any upside. Let’s just hope he can physically hang at this level

[CottonHill]

(6 hours ago)Bengalstripes9 Wrote: I mocked Nolen, Ratlidge, and Knight.

The draft went pretty similar in the top 3 rounds.

Knight is a great fit with Cincy and a great player.

They end up with a guard very similar in the 3rd.

Stewart has a higher upside than Nolen so honestly I feel pretty good.
They addressed guard and the front 7 on defense with good players.

If they could add Ty Robinson or a good RB or another lineman in the 4th that’s a solid draft in my opinion.

Yeah I’d have liked a safety like Starks but a pass rusher is more valuable. And Knight can have a similar impact in the game to a safety.

Just because you draft guys at a position of need that doesn’t mean that they are going to be good. I mean look at our last 3 drafts. Also, taking Knight in round 2 was a big time reach.

[Frank Booth]

(4 hours ago)CottonHill Wrote: Just because you draft guys at a position of need that doesn’t mean that they are going to be good. I mean look at our last 3 drafts. Also, taking Knight in round 2 was a big time reach.

whats wrong with our last 3 drafts? I thought they were great

[CottonHill]

(4 hours ago)Frank Booth Wrote: whats wrong with our last 3 drafts? I thought they were great

Is Duke Tobin related to you?you cannot honestly think that.

[Frank Booth]

(4 hours ago)CottonHill Wrote: Is Duke Tobin related to you?you cannot honestly think that.

go be negative elsewhere!

[BFritz21]

(4 hours ago)Frank Booth Wrote: go be negative elsewhere!

That's what I'm saying! He's looking for any reason to be negative instead of considering the positive things about the pick!

[Bengalstripes9]

(4 hours ago)CottonHill Wrote: Just because you draft guys at a position of need that doesn’t mean that they are going to be good. I mean look at our last 3 drafts. Also, taking Knight in round 2 was a big time reach.

I definitely agree. I disagree about Knight though. He was clearly one of the top 3 linebackers in the class as rated by most outlets. Most see him as an immediate impact starter at LB.

All of the linebackers other than the top one have been drafted much higher than expected. That’s the draft.

[Frank Booth]

(4 hours ago)BFritz21 Wrote: That's what I'm saying! He's looking for any reason to be negative instead of considering the positive things about the pick!

 hell yea BFritz

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(6 hours ago)coachmcneil71 Wrote: If the knock on Stewart is that he lacks "instinctual football skills", I would venture to say that Knight is the polar opposite. From what I watched, he seems to flow and let the game come to him. I like how he quickly makes the decision to go from defending the flats to coming up and hammering an opposing QB.

He closes quickly! When he decides to commit he brings it!

Oh yeah Coach, Knight has great instincts and can see what the Offense is going to do before they do it. Rare gift that you cannot teach.

I like the Barrett Carter LB pick as well who has the same knack. Now even Logan better watch his back, great competition at End and now LB.

I like our young Corners if they can stay healthy.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(4 hours ago)Frank Booth Wrote: whats wrong with our last 3 drafts? I thought they were great

You are such a troll Frank lol

[Sled21]

I don't know how anyone can watch Knight's highlights and not be stoked. The guy has instincts, speed and power.

[SunsetBengal]

(3 hours ago)Sled21 Wrote: I don't know how anyone can watch Knight's highlights and not be stoked. The guy has instincts, speed and power.

For a guy who's 25 years old playing against guys as young as 18, I would have expected him to be much, much more dominant. His stats and testing numbers are rather pedestrian. In fact his testing numbers are very similar, but slightly lower than Germaine Pratt. His scouting report reads pretty much the same as Pratt's, will be decent versus the run but could be a liability in coverage...

I just feel like they could have found the same guy, with a different face in the 4th or 5th, but as Bengal fans we've come to expect at least one "WTF?" pick in every draft.

[J24]

Getting a two down thumper at LB instead of solidifying the RG position is questionable at best.