The Clemson defensive line for 2025 got a significant boost on Wednesday night with DT DeMonte Capehart announcing that his waiver for a sixth season had been approved by the NCAA, and he will be back with the Tigers for one final season.
Capehart, a native of Hartsville, joined Clemson in the Covid season of 2020, a year that did not count against his eligibility. In 2021, he played 20 snaps over five games, and that was the season he appealed to the NCAA for a waiver.
This season Capehart missed some time due to an ankle injury. He started in six of the eleven games he played and totaled 27 tackles, including five in the playoff game loss at Texas.
Here’s the Clemson bio on Capehart:
2024: Credited with 27 tackles (1.5 for loss) and two pass breakups in 248 defensive snaps over 11 games (six starts) … contributed five tackles vs. No. 1 Georgia … made one tackle each in games vs. Appalachian State and vs. NC State … added three tackles vs. Stanford … posted three tackles and a pass breakup at Florida State … collected two tackles (one for loss) at Wake Forest … recorded three tackles vs. Virginia … made two tackles vs. Louisville … added two tackles vs. No. 8 SMU … contributed five tackles (0.5 for loss) at No. 3 Texas.
2023: Credited with 16 tackles (5.0 for loss), a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in 179 snaps over 12 games … also credited by the coaching staff with nine quarterback pressures, the second-most among Clemson’s interior linemen … All-ACC Academic Team selection … recorded two tackles vs. Charleston Southern … added two tackles (0.5 for loss) vs. Florida Atlantic … posted one tackle and a forced fumble at Syracuse … recorded one tackle vs. Wake Forest … made one tackle at Miami (Fla.) … posted a tackle for loss amid his two tackles at NC State … recorded two tackles, including 1.5 for loss, vs. No. 12 Notre Dame … added two tackles (one for loss) with one sack vs. Georgia Tech, earning team defensive player of the game … credited with one tackle and a pass breakup vs. No. 20 North Carolina … made one tackle at South Carolina and in the Gator Bowl vs. Kentucky.
2022: Credited with 13 tackles (2.0 for loss) in 83 defensive snaps over 13 games … All-ACC Academic Team selection … made two tackles at Georgia Tech … had another two tackles (including a shared tackle for loss) vs. Furman … recorded 1.5 tackles for loss among his two tackles vs. Louisiana Tech … made a tackle at Notre Dame … added one tackle vs. South Carolina … recorded two tackles vs. No. 24 North Carolina … made three tackles in the Orange Bowl vs. No. 6 Tennessee.
2021: Played 20 snaps over five games … made season debut vs. SC State … also saw action vs. UConn and at South Carolina.
2020: Played 20 snaps as a true freshman, being credited with three tackles (2.0 for loss) and a sack over four games … made collegiate debut vs. The Citadel, tying for the team lead with 2.0 tackles for loss and producing one sack among his three tackles.