The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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schools that held their verbal com- mitment. But after deliberating with his family, Benny decided to wait it out until the traditional signing day in February. Defensive line coach Shaun Nua, offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore — who was the tight ends coach at the time — and Harbaugh had built great rela- tionships with Benny over the years, and they continued to push for him. That hard work eventually paid off, with Benny decid- ing that he would flip and sign with U-M. "[I made the de- cision] sometime in January," Benny revealed, adding he kept it private until he let the U-M coaches know of his choice just before the Feb. 3 sign- ing day. "My relationship with those guys is real tight. That's a big reason why I chose Michigan — we're family. I feel like they're heading in the right direction with the new coaches and everything, and getting that old cul- ture back into the program like I re- member it." While U-M was undergoing ma- jor staff changes, including replacing former defensive coordinator Don Brown with Mike Macdonald, Benny already knew he was going to sign with the Wolverines. However, it still was significant to him that each new coach who was hired would almost immediately touch base and start re- cruiting him. "I wouldn't really necessarily say [the new coaches] played a role," Benny explained. "But as I was see- ing the new coaches get brought in, I said, 'Okay, I like this.' "It was crazy because when every- body was being brought in, they just kept hitting me up, trying to get me to flip. It was crazy because I already had my mind made up, but I didn't tell them because I wanted to keep it under wraps." From wide receiver signee Xavier Worthy's tweet telling fans to follow Benny on Instagram, to personal texts and calls from other members of the class convincing him to flip, Benny felt the love from his future team- mates, even when it looked like he may be suiting up in green and white. Now part of a class ranked No. 9 in the country per Rivals.com, Benny is enjoying the bond that the group has formed. "I like it … I feel like it's at home; it reminds me of Oak Park," Benny said. "The guys talk on a daily ba- sis. They have fun, and that's what I look for. I don't want to go some- where that's uptight. That's what I like about them. "And then I ap- preciated how ev- erybody tried to in- troduce me as soon as it happened, and even before that, just tried to get me going with the guys. I appreciate that. I like it." A consensus four- star recruit, ranked as high the No. 98 overall player in the country by Rivals, Benny will step into a defensive line room that has struggled over the last two seasons, especially inside at the tackle spot. As both a leader and player, Benny should be a positive influence right away. "The impact I feel I have as a leader, I feel like I've got a strong voice," Benny said. "I feel like my teammates all listen to me and respect me, be- cause I'm not going to lead them in the wrong direction." "He really is a player that other players gravitate to, that they look up to," Rivals.com Midwest recruit- ing analyst Josh Helmholdt added. "I think he's going to be an excellent addition to Michigan's locker room, let alone their defensive line room. "He's unique, because he has a very unique size/athleticism combination. For his size, you don't usually get guys who do have that quick-twitch type of ability." While Benny knows early playing time is not guaranteed, he's willing to work for it. "I definitely think I can see the field early," Benny said. "As long as I do my job, I definitely think I have the opportunity to. "It's not a big deal for me to start, but quality playing time is something that's important, so I'm going to do whatever I've got to do to make sure I see that playing time." ❏ Benny should provide an immediate boost in the middle of Michigan's defensive line, an area that struggled in 2020. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM MARCH 2021 THE WOLVERINE 39 2021 Projection Defensive line coach Shaun Nua and coordinator Mike Macdonald have an instant-impact player to work with in Benny. An explosive interior lineman, Benny will be ready to see the field right away, especially with the Wolverines be- ing quite thin at defensive tackle after Carlo Kemp's graduation. DID YOU KNOW? • Missed the first five games of his senior season after a knee surgery, with his team losing all five. Returned one game before the playoffs and led his team to the state semifinals. • Allowed just one sack as an offen- sive tackle during his junior season and zero as a senior. • Also forced three fumbles and re- covered two as a junior. THEY SAID IT • Rivals Midwest recruiting ana- lyst Josh Helmholdt: "The defensive tackle position is very difficult to re- cruit as a Midwest school, because there just isn't a lot of elite talent at the spot in this area. Rayshaun has the size, strength, quickness and ath- leticism that you don't find in a defen- sive tackle in this region very often." • Oak Park head coach Greg Carter: "We've had a lot of good line- men the last couple of years that got accolades on offense but ended up playing defense at the next level. We teach our linemen to be aggressive. You can't tackle on offense, but any- thing else goes. For him, it depends what they want out of their defensive linemen. He understands schemes. He can play inside or outside." 2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE