{"id":820968,"date":"2025-01-18T23:12:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-19T05:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/18\/just-in-michigan-football-getting-huge-piece-of-defense-back-in-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-01-18T23:12:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-19T05:12:22","slug":"just-in-michigan-football-getting-huge-piece-of-defense-back-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/18\/just-in-michigan-football-getting-huge-piece-of-defense-back-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"JUST IN: Michigan Football getting huge piece of defense back in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It looks like Michigan will be getting a significant piece of the defense back in 2025, as defensive line coach Lou Esposito recently announce that Rayshaun Benny will return for his final season. Benny has appeared in 41 games on the defensive line and made three starts. It’s expected that his role will increase significantly in 2025 with the absence of both Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, two first round projections in the 2025 NFL Draft. <\/p>\n

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Spoke with Michigan DL coach Lou Esposito, who says DT Rayshaun Benny will be back next year. Also loves Jaishawn Barham\u2019s versatility \u2014 could play linebacker and edge in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ryan Zuke (@ryanzuke) January 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Here’s a closer look at Benny’s career numbers at the University of Michigan, courtesy of MGoBlue.com<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n

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At Michigan<\/strong>\u2022 Three-time\u00a0letterman (2021-22-23)\u2022 Has appeared in 41\u00a0games along the defensive line with three starts<\/p>\n

Senior (2024)<\/strong>\u2022 Generated two tackles for loss including an 11-yard sack among eight total stops against Fresno State (Aug. 31)\u2022 Hurried the quarterback and made two tackles against Texas (Sept. 7)\u2022 Delivered three tackles against Arkansas State (Sept. 14)\u2022 Made four tackles from the interior against USC (Sept. 21)\u2022 Broke up a pass, shared a sack, and made three tackles against Minnesota (Sept. 28)\u2022 Started as Washington (Oct. 5) as a nose tackle and played across the line, finishing with four tackles\u2022 Made three stops playing along the interior against Oregon (Nov. 2)\u2022 Credited with one tackle playing along the interior at Indiana (Nov. 9)\u2022 Made one solo tackle for loss against Northwestern (Nov. 23)\u2022 Assisted on two stops and broke up a pass at Ohio State (Nov. 30)<\/p>\n

Junior (2023)<\/strong>\u2022 Appeared in 14 games along the defensive line; made 27 tackles with 5.5 for loss including one sack, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble to earn his third varsity letter\u00a0\u2022 Three times\u00a0shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Bowling Green, Indiana, at Penn State\u2022\u00a0Assisted on one tackle playing along the defensive front against ECU (Sept. 2)\u2022 Assisted on one tackle playing along the defensive line against UNLV (Sept. 9)\u2022 Notched four tackles including one for loss playing on the defensive interior against Bowling Green (Sept. 16)\u2022 Delivered a pair of tackles playing on the interior and on special teams against Rutgers (Sept. 23)\u2022 On the road at Nebraska (Sept. 30), notched three tackles\u2022 Made two tackles including one for loss and broke up two passes playing on the interior at Minnesota (Oct. 7)\u2022 Against Indiana (Oct. 14) delivered two tackles for loss among three total stops\u2022 Played along the defensive front\u00a0at Michigan State (Oct. 21)\u2022 Made one assisted tackle against Purdue (Nov. 4)\u2022 Forced his first career fumble at Penn State (Nov. 11) and made three tackles including one for loss\u2022 At Maryland (Nov. 18), made three stops with a shared tackle for loss\u2022 Assisted on one tackle from the defensive interior against Ohio State (Nov. 25)\u2022 Assisted on three tackles against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 2)\u2022 Played along the defensive line against Alabama in the Rose Bowl\/CFP Semifinal (Jan. 1)<\/p>\n

Sophomore (2022)<\/strong>\u2022 Appeared in 13\u00a0games along the defensive line; made 13 tackles to earn his second varsity letter\u2022 Made one solo tackle playing along the defensive line against Colorado State (Sept. 3)\u2022 Contributed two solo tackles playing along the interior against Hawaii (Sept. 10)\u2022 Assisted on one stop from the interior defensive line against UConn (Sept. 17)\u2022 Chipped in a pair of tackles while playing along the defensive interior against Maryland (Sept. 24)\u2022 Played along the defensive line against Michigan State (Oct. 29), at Iowa (Oct. 1), at Rutgers (Nov. 5)\u2022\u00a0Made two assisted tackles playing along the defensive line at Indiana (Oct. 8)\u2022 Assisted on two tackles playing along the interior against Penn State (Oct. 15)\u00a0\u2022 Assisted on one tackle from the interior defensive line against Nebraska (Nov. 12)\u2022 Played along the defensive front and contributed on special teams at Ohio State (Nov. 26)\u2022 Assisted on a stop\u00a0from the inside against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 3)\u2022 Assisted on one tackle playing in the defensive line against TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl\/CFP Semifinal (Dec. 31)<\/p>\n

Freshman (2021)<\/strong>\u2022 Appeared in three games along the defensive line, made three tackles to earn his first varsity letter\u2022 Named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week for his role in preparing the offense to play Rutgers\u2022 Assisted on one tackle in his U-M debut playing along the defensive line against Western Michigan (Sept. 4)\u2022 Played as a defensive lineman against Northern Illinois (Sept. 18)\u2022 Credited with two solo tackles playing along the defensive line against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game (Dec. 4)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny (26) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images \/ Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on\u00a0Michigan Wolverines On SI\u00a0–<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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For additional coverage of University of Michigan athletics:<\/em><\/p>\n