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'Use That To The Best Of My Ability' - Demetrius Knight Highlights Quarterback History Ahead of Bengals Career
Jan 29, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; American team linebacker Demetrius Knight II of South Carolina (17) works in drills during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

 Demetrius Knight Jr. is ready to show his on-field speed to fans this coming season after a mid-career switch from quarterback to linebacker.

Knight was a dual-threat QB when he first enrolled at Georgia Tech out of high school. Now, he's a heat-seeking missile at the LB spot. Cincinnati selected him with the 49th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

"Been a quarterback all my life. That's what I thought I'd be doing in the NFL," Knight said in a Bengals social media video. "And to hear linebacker said at the end of my name ended up being the best switch for me."

Knight ran an impressive 4.58 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine and checked in as NFL.com's fifth-most athletic linebacker in the class.

Bengals fans are hoping that translates quickly from the experienced player.

"I still have that quarterback speed," Knight noted. "I also use that to the best of my ability, being able to disguise different things for quarterbacks, because I know what they're going to come to the line looking for. But also I developed the mentality to hunt. I still bring the energy, because I believe if you bring great energy to everybody around you, people feed off of it."

This article first appeared on Cincinnati Bengals on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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