5-star Clemson football defensive tackle signee Demonte Capehart is coming to make an impact for the Tigers and he’s a monster.
The Clemson football program locked up two 5-star defensive tackles in the 2020 cycle: Bryan Bresee (who can play inside or outside) and Demonte Capehart.
Capehart, a Hartsville, SC native, committed to Clemson football back in June and has been 100 percent ‘All-In’ ever since.
Capehart spent his senior season at IMG Academy in Florida, working on developing his craft and getting prepared for the next level.
The defensive tackle is listed at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds by recruiting services, but he has put on a little more to his frame and will likely enroll at over 300 pounds in January.
Capehart is quick off the ball and is well-rounded when it comes to work in the interior of the defensive line. He’s not Dexter Lawrence who’s going to plug the middle and stop the run, but he’s also not a pass-rushing specialist. In many ways, Capehart is a nice mixture between Lawrence and future Clemson football Hall of Famer Christian Wilkins.
He has good footwork and a nice technique. He stays low and is able to use that lower-body power to push offensive linemen off the ball. Capehart does a good job using explosiveness and technique to get in the backfield and be disruptive.
The Tigers have some depth in 2020 at defensive tackle with everyone in the three-deep set to return, assuming no transfers, but Capehart will still have an opportunity to compete for playing time.
I really like his build and believe he could develop into the next great defensive tackle at Clemson with a year or two in the weight room and system. He’s got some time to continue his development, but as we stated above, that still won’t stop him from competing and garnering some playing time as a freshman.