Former NFL Scout Sees Potential Breakout Coming for Clemson DL

A former longtime NFL scout believes a big-time breakout season could be coming for this veteran Clemson defensive lineman.

Jim Nagy — the Senior Bowl Executive Director who spent 18 years as an NFL scout and worked for four Super Bowl-winning teams — sees DeMonte Capehart as a player with the physical tools to potentially put himself in the first-round pick conversation for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Nagy took to social media this week with plenty of praise for the Tigers fifth-year senior defensive tackle, saying the arrow is pointing up for Capehart entering the 2024 college football campaign.

Here’s what Nagy had to say about Capehart on X (formerly Twitter):

Want a 𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 that’s not appearing in any mock drafts this summer who has traits to be in Round 1 mix by next April?

It’s Clemson’ “arrow-up” DT DeMonte Capehart.

@CapehartDemonte (6043v, 320v, 33 7/8 arm, 10 1/8 hand) has some of 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 I’ve seen in past few draft classes.

NFL D-line coaches know they can’t coach this .

The flash plays are REAL!

An old scout once told me when evaluating D-linemen watch for how it looks when they put their hands on people & how it affects other bodies.

Clemson’s DeMonte Capehart simply overwhelms blockers with natural explosive power when he comes off ball with technique & force (see below).

@CapehartDemonte got mostly rotational reps behind draft picks Ruke Orhorhoro & Tyler Davis and @seniorbowl is excited to see him this fall in more expanded role.

Capehart emerged down the stretch in 2023 as one of Clemson’s most physical and most disruptive interior linemen.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder finished last season with 16 tackles (5.0 for loss), a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in 179 snaps over 12 games. He was also credited by the coaching staff with nine quarterback pressures, the second-most among Clemson’s interior linemen.

A former four-star and top-50 national prospect from the Palmetto State, Capehart enters 2024 credited with 32 tackles (9.0 for loss), 2.0 sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in 302 snaps over 34 career games.

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!