This Clemson Tigers star has already made a strong vow to his new NFL team.
Clemson Tigers defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart certainly wasn't one of the flashier names in the NFL Draft, nor was he even one of the more highly-touted Clemson players available.
But there are some who believe Capehart could be a massive a sleeper, and not surprisingly, that includes Capehart himself.
The 23-year-old was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the NFL Draft over the weekend, something that did not come as too much of a surprise to him.
“I remember when Coach [Todd] Bowles told me when I went down for my [Top] 30 visit, it just played in my head so many times that we would talk again,” Capehart said during his introductory press conference. “Just was just one of the things that I kept playing in my head when I saw my phone buzzing. I was like, ‘Oh my God, no way.’”
The Buccaneers were certainly fired up to land Capehart, and vice versa. Capehart then made a bold promise to Bowles and his new team.
DeMonte Capehart. Credit: Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK.“You know what you just did?” Capehart asked Bowles. “You just got the best D-tackle in the draft, coach. ... Let’s go to work.”
Capehart began his collegiate career at Clemson all the way back in 2020 and spent six seasons with the Tigers, gaining an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic year and then redshirting in 2021.
The 6-foot-5, 313-pound defender put together a couple of really impressive seasons at Clemson his last two years with the program, most recently registering 21 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack in 2025.
Capehart's numbers certainly won't jump off the page, but he clearly possesses significant potential as a run defender. He also tested very well at the Scouting Combine, ranking third among all defensive tackles in NFL.com's athleticism score.
“I think I can bring tenacity, that energy, that swagger to that defense,” Capehart added. “To all the Bucs fans, you’re getting a guy that’s committed, a guy that knows what he wants, and knows what to bring every single day, a guy that knows how to work, and a guy that’s going to give you his all.”
We'll see if Capehart ends up being one of the biggest steals of Day 3.
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