Demetrius Knight’s Inspiring Journey: From DoorDash Driver to NFL Draft Pick
The 2025 NFL Draft concluded this past weekend, and one of the standout stories belongs to linebacker Demetrius Knight, who was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round. Knight, one of several South Carolina Gamecocks drafted, shared a deeply personal story that reflects the resilience behind his rise.
Years ago, getting drafted meant everything to college athletes — it was often their first opportunity to earn a paycheck for their talent. But with NIL deals now in play, that dynamic has shifted. For Knight, however, financial hardship remained very real.
After his name was called in the draft, Knight revealed that during his college career, he worked as a DoorDash driver to help support his wife and daughter.
“My wife and I had our first baby in Charlotte,” Knight said. “She was only a couple months old, and we were not making very much at Charlotte, being a smaller school.”
Despite receiving some income from NIL deals, Knight said it all went to covering rent. With nothing left for essentials, he took matters into his own hands.
“I asked my wife how much was in the account, and it wasn’t enough to get us something to eat, so I had to go out in the Jeep Compass and make some deliveries,” he explained. “I had to do what had to be done.”
One story that stood out was from a 2022 matchup against Navy. Knight led the team with seven tackles, but that wasn’t the end of his night.
“I went home, put my daughter to sleep, then got in the car and started delivering food,” he said. “There’s no easy, quick ways to make money when you’re playing football.”
Knight’s collegiate journey began at Georgia Tech, before transferring to Charlotte. After a breakout 2023 season, he made the move to South Carolina, a decision he described as one of the simplest he’s had to make.
“For some of us in the portal and people like me that are at smaller schools, that’s what life is like, where we’re struggling to make ends meet,” Knight said. “So when we get an opportunity to hop in the portal after having a great season to go somewhere to help better our lives or, in my case, help my family, it’s a decision that has to be made.”
Now, as Knight steps into the next chapter with the Bengals, he does so with a well-earned contract — and a story of grit and sacrifice that will inspire many for years to come.
