Background

DeMonte Capehart grew up in Hartsville, South Carolina. Teammates and family call him "Cuddie." He attended Hartsville High School for three years before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for his senior season, where he started all 10 games with 44 tackles, 16 TFL, and 5.5 sacks while helping IMG to a 9-1 record and No. 9 national ranking, earning Sports Illustrated First-Team All-American and a selection to the Under Armour All-America Game. ESPN ranked him the No. 27 overall prospect nationally and the No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2021 class. He committed to Clemson on June 5, 2018, following his junior year. Extraordinary patience defined his career, as he played behind a succession of NFL defensive tackles and Clemson's defensive line produced seven draft picks during his tenure. He logged just 20 snaps in both 2020 and 2021, with the NCAA granting a waiver to count 2021 as a redshirt year, then escalated his role to 83 snaps in 2022 and 179 in 2023 before earning his first career starts in 2024. That year, he started 6 games and posted 27 tackles before an ankle injury cost him three games and sent his weight up to approximately 330 pounds during recovery. In his sixth and final year in 2025, he started 6 games and logged a career-high 344 snaps with 29 tackles, 3 TFL, and a sack. His academic record is exceptional: a bachelor's degree in sports communication, a graduate certificate in athletic leadership, and a master's degree in athletic leadership, with five ACC Honor Roll selections and membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society requiring a minimum 3.2 career GPA. After his tenure at Clemson and out of eligibilty, he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Physical Attributes

RAS:

Where is this on the tape? The quick get-off is there every snap, but I do not think I saw his true speed ever. Think that may have had to do with his role, but he also may be an underwear olympian.

Data and Tape Analysis

If you are unfamiliar with my DT radar charts, you can find more information here

I was so excited to watch Capehart after seeing his combine testing. Then I watched his on-field drills and felt quite disappointed with how he moved in more than just a straight plane. So then I looked at his radar chart and, meh? As his last hope, I looked at his tape and, man.

If DeMonte Capehart were a periodic element, he would be a noble gas. His body has a pH of 7.0. The glasses he drinks from are never half full, yet never half empty. His favorite food is plain rice and unseasoned chicken breast. At the end of the year, his number one genre on Spotify Wrapped is elevator music. The inevitable flag on the back of his helmet will be that of Switzerland. Out there like Tony Snell, just doing cardio.

Rarely did Capehart effect a play, and when he did, it was totally unremarkable. From a guy with a 9.96 RAS! That should be illegal!

Grade and Outlook

A body to have on the interior that will not actively contribute to winning or losing football games. If someone can unlock that 9.96 RAS at 24 years old, godspeed.

Grade: 4.0 (Late 4th Rounder / Early 5th Rounder)