2026 NFL Combine Risers: Demonte Capehart (Clemson)

Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell covet highly athletic, violent players in the trenches. Capehart is a tailor-made for Kelvin Sheppard’s physical, attack-oriented scheme.

Feb 27, 2026

DEMONTE CAPEHART | DT | CLEMSON

Published: February 26th, 2026 | 10:09PM

BIO & BACKGROUND

BIO & BACKGROUND Hailing from Hartsville, South Carolina, DeMonte Capehart concluded his high school career at the powerhouse IMG Academy in Florida, earning High School All-American honors and a spot in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game. Arriving at Clemson, he navigated a loaded depth chart, spending his first four seasons as a rotational backup before emerging as a primary starter in his final campaigns. Across six seasons and 57 career games for the Tigers, Capehart proved his loyalty by staying the course at Clemson instead of entering the portal, developing a power-driven play style within their defensive trench culture.

After speaking with an NFL scout at the combine about Capehart’s day, it was clear that he had attracted some attention, “he has a rare blend of size and explosive power—one of the most physically gifted interior defensive linemen in this class.” ~ NFL Scout

2026 NFL COMBINE

After watching Capehart tear up the Combine floor drills, I immediately went to film to watch this guy terrorize interior linemen with the same power and displacement. He has positioned himself as a draft stock riser, putting on an absolute athletic freak show for scouts, executives, fans and media members.

Height: 6’ 4 7/8”
Weight: 313 lbs
Arm Length: 33 7/8”
Hand Size: 10 1/4”
40-Yard Dash: 4.85 seconds (1.71s 10-yard split)
Vertical Jump: 33.5”
Broad Jump: 8’ 11”

The buzz surrounding Capehart exploded following his testing numbers. Operating smoothly around obstacles during field drills, he used his massive length to effortlessly knock away dummies, proving he possessed the best movement skills among the taller defensive tackles in attendance. What I noticed right away was his surprising bend and flexibility mixed with an extremely rare 40-time for a 313-pound interior defender (4.85-seconds). Firmly placing him on the radar for teams needing a run-stuffing anchor with big time pass rush upside.

Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema declared that while evaluators sometimes overthink testing numbers, Capehart “might have been the biggest ‘winner’ from DL” on Day 1,” and I agree.

COLLEGE PRODUCTION 2025

Capehart operated as a heavy-handed rotational piece for Clemson’s defensive line in his final season, providing sheer physical dominance in spurts.

Games Played: 12
Total Tackles: 21 (16 Solo / 5 Assisted)
Tackles for Loss: 3
Sacks: 1
Passes Broken Up (Batted): 2
PFF Overall Grade: 71.2 (74.5 Run Defense Grade) across 347 snaps
Total Pressures: 11

SCOUTING REPORT

Strengths

Violent Hands & Brute Force: Delivers a heavy-handed strike at the point of attack, effortlessly knocking offensive linemen backward and resetting the line of scrimmage.
Elite Athleticism: Moves with exceptional lateral fluidity for a 313-pound man, allowing him to navigate traffic and chase down ball carriers from the backside.
Two-Gap Anchor: Possesses the lower-body strength and wide frame to anchor against double teams and plug interior running lanes effectively.
Alignment Flexibility: Showcases the versatility to shift across the defensive front, taking snaps at 0, 1, 3, 4i, and 5-technique.

Developing Areas

Raw Pass-Rush Repertoire: Relies heavily on raw power and a pure bull rush; needs to develop immediate counter moves and refine his hand-fighting technique to consistently beat NFL guards.
Pad Level Inconsistencies: Due to his towering 6-foot-5 frame, he occasionally plays too upright, allowing interior linemen to win the leverage battle and stall his momentum.
Experience Deficit: Despite spending six years at the college level, his overall snap count remains limited, making him a developmental projection rather than a polished product.

FILM STUDY

Context: Film evaluated includes 2024 and 2025 matchups against Georgia, Louisville, Texas, and Virginia. Analysis: Against Virginia in 2024, Capehart posted an elite 76.9 PFF grade, showcasing his ability to violently displace guards (in every game) and disrupt the timing of the backfield. When engaged in run defense against Georgia, his sheer brute force was undeniable—he routinely commanded double teams and held the point of attack, functioning as an immovable object. However, the tape also reveals a player who disappears for stretches as a pass rusher, failing to generate consistent pressure when his initial power rush is neutralized. His motor runs hot, but his lack of refined secondary pass-rush moves caps his immediate impact on pure passing downs.

COLLEGE SCHEME FIT ANALYSIS

The Scheme: While at Clemson, Capehart was deployed as an alignment-versatile interior piece. Role: The Tigers shifted him constantly based on the offensive formation, allowing him to two-gap as a shade nose tackle or shoot gaps violently as a 3-technique. He was rarely deployed as the primary pass-rushing threat; instead, he served as the physical anchor who commanded double teams to keep second-level linebackers clean and create isolated, one-on-one matchups for Clemson’s edge rushers.

DETROIT LIONS COMPATIBILITY & SCHEME FIT

Defensive Fit (Kelvin Sheppard): Capehart is a tailor-made block of clay for Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s physical, attack-oriented scheme. His ability to align anywhere from a true nose to a 4i fits perfectly into Detroit’s multiple, variable-front structures.
Run Defense Enforcer: Playing alongside Alim McNeill, Capehart would provide the Lions with massive interior beef, demanding double teams and instantly shutting down A and B-gap rushing lanes.
Culture Fit: General Manager Brad Holmes and Head Coach Dan Campbell covet highly athletic, violent players in the trenches. Capehart’s raw power, heavy hands, and perseverance through a crowded depth chart align exactly with Detroit’s demanding organizational standards.
Developmental Ceiling: While not an immediate three-down starter, he offers elite value as an early-down run stuffer with the explosive physical traits necessary to develop into a terrifying pass rusher under the right coaching.

DRAFT PROJECTION & NFL COMPARISON

NFL Analysts Consensus Round Projection: Day 3
Rock’s Locks Draft Projection: Land Between Picks 144 - 180
NFL Comparison: DeForest Buckner (Raw) / Grover Stewart
Rationale: Like Stewart, Capehart brings overwhelming size and brute strength to anchor against the run. If he refines his pass rush, his length and elite movement skills closely mirror a young, unpolished Buckner.

FINAL TAKE

DeMonte Capehart is the quintessential high-ceiling, Day 3 developmental gamble. He does not possess the extensive collegiate resume or technical polish of a surefire first-round pick, but his verified Combine numbers are terrifying. You cannot teach a 313-pound man to run a 4.85-second 40-yard dash, and you cannot coach nearly 34-inch arms. If Brad Holmes is looking to inject pure violence and rare athletic traits into the interior of the defensive line, Capehart is a mandatory target. He projects as an immediate rotational run-stopper who possesses the physical tools to evolve into a premier, game-wrecking 3-technique by his second season in the league.

I know what you are thinking “we don’t need projects.” I hate to break it to you but all players in this draft are projects. Almost every player on day 3 are extremely raw and developmental prospects. The Lions have 3x 6 round picks, and they should use one on an extra defensive linemen.