Tag: Rayshaun Benny

2022 Season Countdown: #40 Rayshaun Benny

Name: Rayshaun Benny
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 292 lbs.
High school: Oak Park (MI) Oak Park
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #26
Last year: I ranked Benny #64 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He played in three games and made 3 tackles.
TTB Rating: 81

Benny spent the 2021 season changing his body a little bit and learning to be a full-time defensive lineman. He played in three games, which allowed him to keep his redshirt. Luckily, Michigan stayed pretty healthy on the defensive line, so the Wolverines didn’t need to burn any unnecessary redshirts. There were some positive comments coming out from behind the scenes, and Benny was tough to handle for the offensive line in the spring game.

Michigan lost Chris Hinton, Jr. to the NFL in the off-season, and Benny should see some increased playing time because of it. The team also received a transfer in the form of UCF defensive tackle Cam Goode, but Goode is a little undersized and I don’t think he will get all of Hinton’s snaps. I think new defensive line coach Mike Elston will get Benny up to speed and he should be a pretty solid rotator at defensive tackle behind Kris Jenkins, Jr.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

2021 Season Countdown: #64 Rayshaun Benny

NOTE: I’m skipping from #66 Cristian Dixon to #64 Rayshaun Benny because Cornell Wheeler, who is transferring to Kansas, was at #65.

Name: Rayshaun Benny
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 275 lbs.
High school: Oak Park (MI) Oak Park
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Benny was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 32 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in five games.
TTB Rating: 81

Benny went through a meandering process to get to Michigan. A two-way lineman – who I think has more upside on offense – Benny seemed destined to sign with Michigan. Then a little bit out of the blue, he verbally committed to Michigan State. Rumors kept popping up that he would flip to the Wolverines, but he batted those rumors away and insisted that he would be a Spartan . . . except he didn’t sign in the December early signing period. As things moved along toward February, it seemed more and more likely that he would end up signing with Michigan, which he eventually did.

Michigan made a run on defensive tackles at the end of the recruiting cycle, and they also landed transfer Jordan Whittley from Oregon State. It’s hard to pin any single one of those freshmen or transfers down as being ready to contribute this fall, because they’re all unknowns at this point. Michigan has enough guys at defensive tackle this year to potentially plaster Benny to the bench, but the staff can’t really afford to redshirt every big defensive lineman in the class. Benny’s combination of size and athleticism seem to make him the most likely to play, but his strength and conditioning will probably place him in a backup role this season.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

Class of 2021: Historical Recruiting Comparisons

In case you’re not aware, I have a list of every Michigan recruit going back 20+ years and their rankings (LINK).

Below you will find each 2021 recruit and his closest ranked comparison by position in Michigan history. This might help boost – or temper – some expectations for what we will see from the class.

Hit the jump for the comparisons.

Rayshaun Benny, Wolverine

Oak Park (MI) Oak Park defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny flipped from Michigan State to Michigan on National Signing Day. Benny also fielded offers from Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, along with numerous others.

Benny is listed at 6’5″ and 275 lbs.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #19 DT
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #9 DT, #90 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 91 grade, #16 DT, #212 overall

Hit the jump for more on his commitment.

2021 Recruiting Update: National Signing Day II

Most FBS players signed with their teams in December, but a few guys didn’t sign for some reason or another. Here’s a look at some of the remaining players and what’s expected to happen in some cases.

Rayshaun Benny – DT – Oak Park (MI) Oak Park: Benny has been committed to Michigan State but didn’t sign during the early signing period for some unstated reason. He’s a 4-star, the #16 defensive tackle, and #192 overall. All signs have pointed to him signing with MSU . . . except for the fact that he didn’t sign with MSU. Michigan is still trying to get him to flip and he’s been listening to the coaches, so who knows?

Hit the jump for more.