Tag: Rayshaun Benny

2024 Spring Football Preview: Defensive Line

2023 Starters: OLB Jaylen Harrell, DT Mason Graham, DT Kris Jenkins, DE Braiden McGregor
Losses: Reece Atteberry (transfer), Cam Goode (NFL), Harrell (NFL), McGregor (NFL)
Returning players: Josaiah Stewart (Sr.), Kechaun Bennett (RS Jr.), Rayshaun Benny (RS Jr.), T.J. Guy (RS Jr.), Ike Iwunnah (RS Jr.), Tyler McLaurin (RS Jr.), Graham (Jr.), Grant (Jr.), Derrick Moore (Jr.), Alessandro Lorenzetti (RS So.), Breeon Ishmail (So.), Cameron Brandt (So.), Roderick Pierce (So.), Brooks Bahr (RS Fr.), Enow Etta (RS Fr.), Aymeric Koumba (RS Fr.)
Newcomer: DE Dominic Nichols (Fr.)
Projected starters: OLB Stewart, DT Graham, DT Grant, DE Moore

Michigan had an excellent defensive line in 2023, and it might have been the best position group on the national championship squad. The biggest differential in the national championship game against Washington was Michigan’s defensive line against the offensive line of the Huskies. Washington had a couple potential high draft picks in that group, and the Wolverines tossed them around like rag dolls.

Whereas Michigan had dynamic edge rushers in 2021 with David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson, the interior of the defensive line has been the strength the past two years. That should be the case once again in 2024, though I’m expecting a little more pass rush from the edge guys this season. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are entrenched as the starters at defensive tackle, and they should be the #1 defensive tackle combo in the nation. Grant is 6’3″ and 340 pounds but is fast enough to chase down Penn State running backs from behind. Graham is 6’4″, 310 and plays with both explosion and technique.

Michigan needs someone to emerge from the backup ranks, as starter Kris Jenkins, Jr. and frequently used backup Cam Goode have both moved on. Rayshaun Benny broke his foot late in the season, too, and will probably not be full strength until the fall. This spring look for Roderick Pierce to get some heavy rotation after playing a decent amount as the fourth nose tackle a year ago. Ike Iwunnah is a fourth-year player who has yet to see the field, so it’s tough to see him breaking out at this point, and Alessandro Lorenzetti is another player with decent size (6’5″, 301) who has yet to see the field. Michigan will either have to play one of those inexperienced older guys or give a shot to some young guys who really needed to bulk up from “strongside defensive end” vibes to playing tackle, such as Cameron Brandt or Brooks Bahr.

On the edges, Josaiah Stewart – who spent his first two seasons at Coastal Carolina – and Derrick Moore seem like very good bets to start. Stewart should step in capably for Harrell, and Moore should slide in smoothly for McGregor. They both rotated heavily last year and received a ton of playing time, and Stewart in particular showed a lot of growth throughout the year as he adjusted to playing in the Big Ten.

Once again, the big questions come from the backup ranks. Who will step up to rotate into the game frequently? And will anyone turn into an elite pass rusher? T.J. Guy is a fourth-year player with a good bit of experience, and he could be a solid backup option. He’s probably not a game-changer at this point, so the guys fans really want to see are the likes of Breeon Ishmail and Enow Etta. Both had excellent potential coming out of high school, and Etta was a highly valued recruit who was absolutely dominant in high school (20+ sacks in each of his final two seasons) but played against inferior competition.

Aymeric Koumba is a second-year Frenchman, and Dominic Nichols is an early enrollee freshman. Both have potential but it seems a little early for them to make much of an impact.

2023 Season Countdown: #25 Rayshaun Benny

Name: Rayshaun Benny
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 296 lbs.
High school: Oak Park (MI) Oak Park
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #26
Last year: I ranked Benny #40 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He made 13 tackles.
TTB Rating: 81

Benny redshirted in 2021, playing in just three games. Last season he became a regular backup on the defensive line, though not heavily used. Mazi Smith, Mason Graham, and Kris Jenkins took up the majority of defensive tackle snaps, and all three shined more than Benny.

But the buzz has been building for Benny, and he seems to have become quicker during his couple years on campus. Despite putting on a few pounds since last year, he looked more athletic in the spring game than he did in his first or second years.

Smith is gone to the NFL, but Graham and Kenneth Grant are likely to take most of the nose tackle snaps. But with Graham likely playing more nose tackle this year, that opens up some more snaps at 3-tech for someone like Benny. He should have a good season, and it will be interesting to watch going into 2024 whether Michigan will aim to start Graham and Grant at the DT and NT positions, respectively, or whether they’ll play Benny at 3-tech and use Graham in both places. Those should be three starter-quality players for two spots in 2024.

Prediction: Backup defensive tackle

Thoughts on 2023 Spring Game

Okay, it’s time to put some thoughts about the spring game on paper.

QUARTERBACK: We know what J.J. McCarthy brings to the table, and Michigan was never going to let him factor into the run game, so whatever. This comes down to thoughts on the backups. After watching Michigan have a good 1-2 punch the past two years with McCarthy and Cade McNamara, there is a big question mark at the #2 quarterback spot in 2023. I thought redshirt sophomore Davis Warren once again outplayed the competition, which comes from Alex Orji and Indiana transfer Jack Tuttle. Tuttle had a couple decent throws and showed some decent athleticism on the run, but Warren is more accurate and probably a better decision maker, despite the fact that Tuttle is a sixth-year player. Orji has decent arm strength but leaves something to be desired when it comes to his timing and accuracy; running is the best part of his game, and he’s a change-up guy. I would put him at #4 on the depth chart.

Hit the jump for more.

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