Note: The following appears in the South Carolina football gameday program.
DeMonte Capehart was born and raised in Hartsville, S.C., a small town northeast of Columbia with approximately 7,000 residents. He was raised by a single mom in a family that included three brothers and sisters. He credited his family and hometown roots for continuing to motivate and inspire him in his life.
“Growing up in Hartsville, it’s a small town, so everyone knows everyone. My mom was a single mom. She worked hard and prepared us well for this world. She deserves all her flowers. I have a village back home, and my village keeps me going.”
Capehart spent his first three prep years at Hartsville High School, where he lettered in football and basketball. It was during his playing days there that he began to gain national traction as one of the top defensive linemen in the country. He helped lead the school to a 12-1 record during his junior season, posting 40 tackles and 19 tackles for loss.
“In high school, I played basketball and football. Ultimately, I chose football. I committed to playing football when I was a junior. That was going to be the best chance I had.”
Capehart’s success at Hartsville High School caught the eye of two former Tiger assistant coaches, Todd Bates and Robbie Caldwell, and he committed to the program following his junior season. Having been born and raised in the Palmetto State, Capehart knew he wanted to stay close to home, and he considered his decision to commit to Clemson an easy one.
“I wanted to go to a school close to home. Ultimately, Clemson was at the top of the food chain. It was a no-brainer. I wanted to be one of those guys to add my two cents to the foundation that Clemson had already built here.”
Following the defensive tackle’s commitment to Clemson, Capehart decided to transfer to IMG Academy in Florida to finish out his high school career. He was coached there by Kevin Wright, the current tight ends coach at Indiana. Capehart considers IMG Academy as a significant stepping stone towards his time at Clemson, and he credited Wright for being an influential piece in his formation and growth.
“He was a great coach. I had a great time being on his wings and learning from him. He’s a warm-hearted guy and he loved his players. He made my experience at IMG once in a lifetime.”
Capehart enrolled at Clemson in January 2020. Now in his fifth season with the Tigers, #19 has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll four times and named an All-ACC Academic honoree twice.
Over the course of his Tiger career, Capehart has slowly built himself as a force to be reckoned with on the defensive line. He has 52 tackles and 10 tackles for loss in 42 games (six starts) in his career.
Capehart has spent his time at Clemson playing alongside many former Tigers who are currently in the NFL. He credited his recent success to the time he spent learning from his former teammates.
“Playing behind those guys and watching them when they were here, I learned how to work. I learned how to be a wholesome teammate, not just focused on me. All of those guys made it to where they wanted to be, but they were also great teammates at Clemson. I learned to be who I am around those guys. I’m so comfortable with those guys and I still have a strong relationship with them today.”
Recently, Capehart was named a P.A.W. Journey ambassador, a title bestowed on a select number of Clemson football players who exhibit leadership characteristics on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
“Being an ambassador means the world to me. It means that you are one of the leaders on this team. You want to set an example. When something goes wrong, you have to correct it and be that person in the group to help create change.”
With 2024 being his fifth year at Clemson, Capehart, who earned a degree in sports communication in May, is unsure about his plans after Clemson.
“I’m not really focused on that right now. I’m focused on how we finish. My team deserves my full attention. I want to finish strong with my teammates and see where I am at the end of this.”
Outside of football, Capehart loves spending time outdoors, including fishing, dirt biking and four-wheeling.
While his future after Clemson may be uncertain, it is obvious that Capehart has built a strong foundation, stemming from his time growing up in Hartsville, to his time at IMG Academy and from the past four years as a Tiger.
Whatever his next endeavor might be, there is no doubt he will rely on this foundation to find success.
