Why so many South Carolina players are choosing to play in the Citrus Bowl
Demetrius Knight didn’t want to live with the regret.
Now, there is reason to opt out of a bowl game — especially if you’re Knight. Right now, the South Carolina linebacker is expected to go on day three of the NFL Draft, which would bring along a solid rookie contract.
That’s a pretty tempting carrot for the 24-year-old who’s already married and has a young son and daughter.
In his lone year at South Carolina, he has proved all he can prove. He was Usain Bolt in pursuit, using great quickness to beat running backs to the edge and finishing the year with 75 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a pair of forced fumbles.
He also made perhaps the most memorable play of the season when he picked off Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik to seal the Gamecocks’ Palmetto Bowl victory. Knight is already a South Carolina legend. Also, his draft stock probably won’t improve by playing in the bowl game.
So why would Knight play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve against Illinois, where there is at least a chance that he could get injured and watch his NFL hopes take a hit?
“Just being led by the Holy Spirit to finish,” Knight said. “He didn’t bring me this far just to quit and throw in the towel. … He’s kept me safe throughout the entire season. He’s not gonna switch now. He’s not gonna change now. He’s not gonna allow me to go out there and jeopardize anything.”
And then there’s the thought of regret.
Knight began thinking of his two young kids and the example he wanted to set for them. If he quits on his team, what example does that set for them? What lesson would they take for that? In a few years when they say they’re too tired and don’t feel like doing homework, what could he say? Their response could easily be, “Well you didn’t play against Illinois.”
“Then I’ve got to live with that,” Knight said. “I want to show (my children), you know, finish what you started. When you start it, finish it. That’s a good quality in a person.”
So far, only one South Carolina player — edge Kyle Kennard — has officially opted out of the bowl game, though it’s possible running back Rocket Sanders could join the list. Sanders posted to X that he’s declaring for the NFL Draft. While he didn’t mention the Citrus Bowl, a team source told The State that Sanders hasn’t practiced with the team ahead of the game.
Illinois, for its part, has only had one-opt out so far — though it’s a big one. The Fighting Illini will be without their top pass catcher, wide receiver Pat Bryant (54 receptions for 984 yards with 10 touchdowns).
Still, it seems South Carolina is going to be close to full strength when it plays Illinois in Orlando. Since the matchup was announced, South Carolna coach Shane Beamer was adamant that his locker room was ready to compete, and was ready to try and become only the fifth team in program history to ever win 10 games in a season.
That was motivation for safety Nick Emmanwori — an Irmo native who is projected as a second-round NFL Draft pick — to play in the bowl game.
“It’s a huge thing to get that 10th win,” Emmanwori said. “For the city. For the state of South Carolina. For the program.”
Emmanwori was honest that South Carolina’s players were “disappointed” after the Gamecocks — who won six-straight games to finish the season — missed out on the College Football Playoff.
Beamer told the Gamecocks that Florida State probably felt the same way last year, when the Seminoles were left out of the dance after going undefeated. They had a million opt-outs, got slaughtered in the Orange Bowl then went 2-10 this season.
“We kind of just want to come with a different mental approach,” Emmanwori said, “and show what we can do in the bowl game. Make a statement there.”
This story was originally published December 21, 2024 at 8:00 AM.
