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