By Adeniyi Precious 
South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. made a big impression at Gamecocks’ Pro Day on March 18, catching the eyes of the Dallas Cowboys and at least five other NFL teams.
Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported that Knight Jr. met with multiple linebacker coaches and even had a sit-down with Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Many scouts see him as a top-50 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft in April.
Knight Jr. had a standout season with the Gamecocks, racking up 82 tackles (57 solo), three forced fumbles, and an interception. NFL.com gave him a prospect grade of 6.36, while Bleacher Report rated him 7.2, projecting him as a third-round pick with the potential to become a starter. Scouts praised his instincts and ability to read plays quickly.
He wasn’t the only one making waves. Safety Nick Emmanwori also impressed scouts, including Steelers defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander, who spent time chatting with him before drills.
Other Gamecocks showed off their skills as well:
Gage Larvadain posted the best vertical jump (38.5 inches) and ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash.
Gilber Edmond led in the broad jump (10-8 feet).
Debo Williams crushed the bench press with 32 reps of 225 pounds.
JuJu McDowell dominated agility drills, posting a 4.23-second shuttle and a 7.08-second 3-cone drill.
In total, 25 South Carolina players worked out in front of 68 NFL officials from all 32 teams, hoping to boost their draft stock before April.