The Buccaneers continued with their defensive line makeover, using their first of two fifth-round picks to select Clemson defensive tackle Demonte Capehart.
He’ll serve as vital depth upgrade with his overall size and on-field attitude, possibly getting snaps at 5-technique and nose tackle in the second line behind Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, and A’Shawn Robinson. He’s a six-year college player, but the physical traits suggest there’s more potential yet to be unearthed.
Let’s learn more.
Demonte Capehart Career Stats
A Hartsville,
SC native, Capeheart dominated from the get-go in high school thanks to his size and athleticism. His dominance earned him a transfer to the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida, where he led the team with 16 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during his senior season.
Capehart fielded his pick of schools as a four-star recruit and No. 5 defensive tackle of the 2020 class (34th overall). He decided to stay close to home and enrolled with Clemson, and stuck there all 6 years because of his close bond with the defensive line coach Nick Eason — even turning down significant NIL money to transfer.
As part of a stacked defensive line throughout his time with the Tigers, Capehart never even started a game until his redshirt senior season in 2024, but he did consistently rotate in during the years prior. He played 57 total games (12 starts), totaling 72 total tackles (13.5 for loss), 3 sacks, 5 passes defensed, and 1 forced fumble.
A team leader praised for his leadership and positive influence, Capehart earned 2 degrees and a certification during his time at Clemson — a bachelor’s in sports communication, a master’s in athletic leadership, and a graduate certificate in athletic leadership.
Athletic Testing
Capehart is another elite athlete added into the fold by the Buccaneers — the third straight one in the draft class.
He is a massive, well-built human at nearly 6-foot-5, 312 pounds with 34 1/2” arms and 10 1/4” hands. He’s unnaturally skilled as a mover at that size, posting an eye-popping 4.85 40-yard dash (1.71 10-yard split). He posted explosive jumps as well with a 33 1/2” vertical and 8-foot-11 broad.
His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.96 is No. 9 for defensive tackles in the last 40 years.
What Type of Player Is Demonte Capehart?
Capehart has very much been the promise of something more without the consistent actualization of it.
He is long and very strong with heavy hands and a good anchor, making him a valuable asset versus the run. He can power through some guards while holding the line versus better ones, which will get him snaps on a defensive line that was light in the pants the last couple years.
He’s not stationary, however, as he syncs up his hand and feet movements to sift through traffic and get off his man to make plays. His huge wingspan lets him collect quarterbacks and runners who try to escape his grasp in the backfield.
His pass rush is a lot less defined, as he’s pretty much a straight-ahead power pusher who wants to collapse the pocket. He’ll need to develop more primary moves and counters if he ever hopes to see feasible snaps on passing downs.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Capehart is an older prospect (24 years old) with limited production but sky-high athleticism and effort to work with, so he’s far from a lost cause. Simultaneously, expectations of him ever becoming a starter should likely be tempered.
He will fill a needed role as space-eating, run stuffer depth, and hopefully the coaching staff can coax a little more out of his unique athletic profile.
What do you think, Bucs Nation? Let us know in the comments below.
