The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1340560
2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Oak Park (Mich.) High four-star defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny was patient and calculated during the recruiting process, wanting to take visits to mul- tiple schools that interested him. But with the COVID-19 pandemic and the N C A A s u b s e - quently declaring it a dead period until at least the end of the cycle for 2021 recruits, Benny was unable to be hosted by programs dur- ing his senior year. Dealing with a minor knee injury early in the fall, the 6-5, 275-pounder had time to think through his recruit- ment, moved up his timeline and committed to Michigan State Nov. 9, 2020. While it was obviously a blow for U-M to see a top target pledge to an in-state rival, head coach Jim Har- baugh and his staff continued to stay in touch, knowing anything can hap- pen before a pros- pect signs his letter of intent. "Once I commit- ted, they still told me they weren't giving up on me," Benny said of the U-M coaches. T h e t h re e - d a y early signing day began Dec. 16, with most committed players across the country officially inking with the Relationships Flipped Rayshaun Benny From MSU To Michigan With a tremendous blend of size (6-5, 275) and speed for a defensive lineman, Benny is a consensus four-star recruit per the three major services. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM 38 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2021 RAYSHAUN BENNY DEFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-5 • 275 OAK PARK H.S. DETROIT RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 98 9* 5 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 212 16* 7 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 19* 8 * Ranked at defensive tackle STATISTICS Year Tackles TFL Sacks 2020 32 11 5.5 2019 75 — 5 HONORS • Was named to The Detroit News Dream Team and MLive Dream Team as both a junior and senior. • Selected to the AP Division 1-2 All- State first team as a junior and senior. RECRUITMENT • Committed and signed with Michi- gan on Feb. 3, 2021, after decommit- ting from Michigan State. • Also held offers from Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and USC, among others. • Recruited by defensive line coach Shaun Nua and co-offensive coordi- nator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore.