Todd McShay reveals why he likes Clemson’s DeMonte Capehart as NFL Draft prospect

Clemson is a popular selection to win the national championship this year, partly due to the defensive talent on the roster. The likes of TJ Parker and Peter Woods get a lot of love from both college football fans and NFL Draft evaluators. But when breaking down Clemson, The Ringer’s Todd McShay took some time to evaluate DeMonte Capehart.

On a 1-5 scale, with one being the best, McShay has Capehart as a one when it comes to stopping the run. Pass rush is not the defensive lineman’s calling, coming at as a four in McShay’s opinion. Nobody is going to complain about having an elite run-stopper, though.

“I like him as a nose,” McShay said. “Either as a 0 or a 1 in an even or an odd front… Strong hands. What I thought he did best was control blockers. And honestly, I think he’s got really uniquely fast eyes locating the football.”

This will be Capehart’s sixth season of college football. A mix of injuries and playing during the 2020 season left him with eligibility. To McShay’s point, you will only find two career sacks on the stat sheet for Capehart. One came as a true freshman and another in 2023.

Steve Muench gave his thoughts on Capehart as a player too, echoing a lot of what McShay said. He did note that getting Capehart into a one-on-one situation will be key for Clemson. When only going up against a single interior offensive lineman, results usually wind up being positive.

“If you put him right on a center, you line him right over that center, or he only has to take on a guard, he doesn’t get doubled, he’s going to lock that dude out, he’s going to locate the ball, and he’s going to get off the block,” Muench said. “What else do you want from a guy playing on the inside? He’s really good at that.”

Capehart will get a good test to start the season, hoping to prove the glowing analysis correct. Clemson faces off against LSU in a massive opener, one both programs are putting a lot of stock into. From there, some quality ACC offensive lines appear on the schedule.

Others along Clemson’s front might wind up getting all of the headlines. McShay and Muench know what kind of player Capehart can be though, having an important role this year for the Tigers.