2 min read • March 03, 2023
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Upon first glance, Maryland wideout Dontay Demus Jr. seems to have all the makings of an NFL wide receiver.
However, his 2021 knee dislocation and multiligament tear will likely give teams pause about his future and ability to be an effective receiver in the league, according to the Pro Football Docs.
Based on the health of his right knee, he is more likely to go undrafted than be taken in the first round (or even within the first two days).
The fact that Demus made it back to play his senior season after the October 2021 injury is great in and of itself, but there is no way he can be the same player post injury, according to our panel of doctors with past NFL head team physician experience.
Based on video of the injury (warning: graphic), Demus likely suffered a torn ACL, LCL and PCL in his right knee against Iowa on Oct. 1, 2021. He played all 12 games in 2022, but fell significantly down draft boards in his senior season.
Last November, Demus led the Terrapins in receiving against No. 2 Ohio State with 5 catches for 67 yards, but did so wearing a knee brace – over a year and a month since the original injury.
Unfortunately, he will likely never regain the explosiveness and ability to cut he had pre-injury.
Demus was a 3-star recruit out of high school, but the 6-foot-4, 205 pound wideout quickly rose up draft boards before his 2021 injury.
He racked up 41 catches for 625 yards and 6 touchdowns during his sophomore year and had 28 catches for 507 yards and 3 touchdowns before suffering the injury in the fifth game of his 2021 season.
In 12 games last season, he had 22 catches for 233 yards and 1 touchdown.
The 22-year-old is currently projected to go in the 6th round. He will take part in workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine, with the wide receiver position group scheduled to begin workouts on Saturday.
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